St. Joseph University School – the oldest operating Catholic elementary school in the Diocese of Buffalo – is in the midst of launching a project that will see teachers, students, and landscape architects re-envisioning a significant and unproductive greenspace. The plan is to transition the space into a unique outdoor classroom setting, that will accommodate a program called Outdoor Education Program: Learning Through Nature.
There are two parts to the program:
- Integrating the school curriculum for all grade levels into lessons and experiences that are conducted outdoors and using nature as the classroom
- Developing a nutritional education program using the outdoors to learn about where food comes from and the value of fresh fruits and vegetables
“An initial grant from a private donor provided the funds to begin the planning phase for this ambitious endeavor,” said Principal Mark Mattle. “The first step is developing the physical environment to house the program. This process is a collaborative effort involving teachers, students and landscape architects to reimagine what is currently an expanse of green space adjacent to the school.
“Once fully developed, plans will be shared with the student and faculty community, parishioners and community stakeholders. An initial announcement about the project is planned for our annual Back to School Event in August that will highlight nature experiences for students and include an ice cream social in the school cafeteria.”
“This program is another reflection of the school’s commitment to educating the whole child — physically, socially and spiritually,” added M. Anne Wojick, director of curriculum & partnership. “No other school in the Diocese currently offers such a program.”
Hopefully this program will inspire other education-based entities to reevaluate their own lawns, to see if they can be more productive. There is essentially nothing beneficial to a green lawn, other than to play sports, for example. By converting a lan into a garden, people can grow food, attract pollinators, enjoy flowers in bloom, and simply live life the way that it was intended. Green lawns have been promoted by the lawn industry for generations. They are a tool to sell lawn mowers and weed killer. Kudos to St. Joseph University School for initiating this program that will benefit everyone involved.
St. Joseph University School | 3275 Main St, Buffalo, NY 14214
There are a limited number of openings for the 2024-25 school year. To learn more about this one-of-a-kind program and all that SJUS has to offer, please call (716) 835-7395 for a personalized visit and more information about funding assistance and the registration process. Additional information about the school can be found at sjsbuffalo.org.