Outdoor Education Center

Nestled in the western corner of James Cole Elementary School sits the Cole Outdoor Education Center. The Cole Outdoor Education Center was created shortly after the school opened in 1988 by the Cole PTO. This three-acre area is surrounded by a chain-link fence and features a one-acre pond as its centerpiece. Originally a 'borrow pit' for early farmers in the area, the land is now a pond and a wetland.  The pond is surrounded by a gravel path. On one side of the pond is the amphitheater seating area where whole class experiences can occur. On the other side of the pond sits a shelter with a cement floor and tables for learning experiences requiring teamwork or writing. Trees and many different types of plants surround the pond. The Cole Wetlands sit on the north end of the Cole Outdoor Education Center. Keep Stockwell Beautiful, one of the smallest affiliates of Keep America Beautiful in the world, created this wetland area when it received a grant from Lowes to rejuvenate the space. The invasive willows were removed and three wetland ponds and two docks were created in their place, allowing students and teachers up-close, personal access for learning. The wetland also contains a bat house, a rain garden, and an apple orchard. Cole teachers have access to this space for a variety of educational experiences. Students have explored footprints, scat, fish (mostly small bluegill are caught), and the insect life around the pond and wetlands. We also sometimes have the privilege of respectfully watching a mother Canadian Goose care for her nest and her babies. The Outdoor Education Center is sometimes open to the public for exploration and "Strolls in Serenity". 4 1/3 laps around the track equals a mile so visitors can exercise and also commune with nature. This space has many purposes and is an integral part of what makes Cole unique.

In days gone by every child knew what the milkweed plant was and how important it was to the life cycle of a monarch butterfly. As life has quickened and long walks down gravel roads have been replaced by long commutes to ball practices and other events, some of these connections have faded. At James Cole Elementary School, we are fortunate to call this area our own. It is a lovely space.