The purpose of the Outdoor Classroom is to accommodate learning through multiple intelligences, focusing on the Naturalist Intelligence by learning in the outdoors as well as about the outdoors. It is an opportunity for Colegio Maya students to hold their classes outdoors where they might be able to read beneath a tree, write a poem or sing a song that is inspired by the sky-wind-trees, draw a beautiful landscape, walk/run through the paths, in addition to studying the marvel of the local flora, fauna, stars and water from a scientific perspective while practicing minimum impact measures. This natural medium and accompanying activities allow for students to continue to explore and develop their own personal leadership qualities in a dynamic, yet peaceful manner. In Richard Louv’s Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, he details the current need for children (all of us really!) to establish a connection with and an appreciation for nature (Environmentalism, Creativity, Health, the Future!). With the Outdoor Classroom, we recognize this need, starting with our own school population – and aiming to extend out to the rest of the world around us.

Outdoor Classroom Objectives:

• To learn about and appreciate nature and to learn experientially within the setting afforded by nature.
• To provide opportunities and experiences to come together / to dialogue / to problem solve / to build community;
• To provide opportunities and experiences for emerging leaders of today and tomorrow for effective leadership in a global society;

1. Members of Colegio Maya’s community agree to abide by all rules and practices as set by San Luis. This includes caring for the facility as if it were their own. Colegio Maya in its use of San Luis will use the following Minimum Impact Practices:
1. Tread lightly and leave no trace behind: Respect paths, facilities and designated areas;
2. Keep things clean: “No Garbage” is our main school rule. All generated trash will be removed after each visit;
3. Protect and conserve water sources
4. Allow space for flora and fauna: Respecting them and not removing them from the site.
5. Be considerate of others in the shared use of the facilities.

2. Activities developed and held in the Outdoor Classroom will serve as the foundation blocks for a program to share with other youth/educational programs. These need be documented and housed with the Outdoor Classroom coordinator (Curriculum Facilitator). In addition whenever possible, when hosting an active learning activity in the Outdoor Classroom, materials and instructions should be prepared to leave in place so that others might enjoy the same learning experience.

3. Safety is of the highest importance in attending to 1-Safety, 2-Learning & 3-Fun of the active learning experience in the Outdoor Classroom. In addition to ensuring the students’ application of minimum impact practices, careful supervision is required in attending to movement in and around the forest and pond.

4. Attention to logistics is necessary in the arrangement of transportation, communication with parents (permission forms), student preparation (materials needed), and weather while respecting the larger picture of institutional instruction that involves other teachers/classes.

Spirit of Learning:

Colegio Maya values quality Active Learning as engaged in by its faculty and students. Faculty passion for teaching include the following possible areas of learning in the Outdoor Classroom.