Olson Middle, Elementary to dedicate outdoor classroom

Olson Middle and Elementary School students will be able to learn outdoors on the grounds of the school complex after the “Green Team” finishes their work in May.

Together the Green Team has worked for several months to plan an outdoor learning area and grounds improvement project.  The project will culminate in mid May with plantings, landscaping and the construction of an outdoor classroom on the grounds of the Olson Elementary/Olson Middle School complex.

“Working on the project and utilizing the outdoor classroom offers environmental and service learning opportunities for students,” said Todd Rowekamp, Olson Middle School assistant principal.  “The Bloomington community benefits from beautification of the grounds and the potential for expanded public use of the pond area.”

The Green Team is advised by a coordinator from Tree Trust, a non-profit agency that works to improve the urban natural environment by providing outreach education and job training to youth.  Members of the team include administrators, teachers and other staff members from both schools, and community partners from Toro, the City of Bloomington and the Minnesota Valley Country Club. 

On Monday, May 15, Toro and Minnesota Valley Country Club donated heavy equipment and employee labor to prepare the sites on the school grounds that will receive plantings, the outdoor classroom and other improvements.

On Thursday, May 18, teams of students and staff from the two schools and employees from the community partners organizations completed the plantings, followed by a dedication ceremony in the early afternoon.

The finished project will include the following improvements:

• An outdoor classroom near the pond on the east side of the school complex, including the construction of benches.

• Trail construction and improvement around the pond including the removal of brush and dead trees that pose potential safety hazards.

• Tree and shrub plantings along the south side of 102 Street between the elementary building and the pond.

• Tree and shrub plantings for beautification in other identified areas around the school complex.