NEWS PHOTO EMMA BENNETT
Carlye Marshall and Richard Dell with Pembina install an outdoor classroom at Dr. Ken Sauer School on Tuesday.
jappel@medicinehatnews.com@MHNJeremyAppel
Construction is underway for Ken Sauer School’s outdoor classroom.
Workers with Pembina, which donated $15,000 for the project, were outside the school Tuesday, constructing picnic benches to be used for outdoor classes.
Vice principal Carla Carrier says the outdoor classroom will serve “as an extra learning space that the teachers will have flexibility to use.”
It will help illustrate concepts in the curriculum about nature and the outdoors, particularly in science, she said.
“We’re just adjacent to that natural grass park area, so the outdoor classroom being so close is really nice. It’s a chance for investigation, it’s a chance for a flexible place for teaching and learning, and having the kids be active outdoors,” said Carrier.
It also helps students “develop respect and appreciation for nature and the environment around them,” she added. “Being outdoors promotes a sense of well-being and enjoyment for students.”
Hailie Gale, a Ken Sauer teacher, says she plans to get her kindergarten and Early Learning Program students to decorate the outdoor classroom today.
“We’re going to try to beautify the space more than it’s already going to be,” she said. “In addition to the tables and benches that are going to be out there, we’re going to be looking to design our own planter boxes for the outdoor space.”
Gale said her students are looking forward to the “hands-on experience,” working with tools such as glue and wood.
Curtis Marshall was one of the Pembina employees at Ken Sauer on Tuesday to help build the learning space.
He said promoting education is one of the best ways for the pipeline company to give back to the local community.
“Pembina is really concerned about education and helping students, and providing alternative methods and means for them to learn,” said Marshall.
