Outdoor Learning Environments Symposium

Portland, Ore. – Outdoor learning environments are important for encouraging healthy behaviors and improving the physical, educational and mental wellbeing of children. They provide a setting for exploration, inquiry and learning. Additionally, they empower environmental literacy and promote learning in many educational disciplines. 

Join A4LE in this two-day symposium where we will explore how to establish, gain and maintain community support for your programs. Experts in outdoor learning will present evidence regarding the components, programs, teacher training and capital improvements needed to install Green Schoolyards. We will also hear from districts as they share examples of exceptional outdoor environments.

The event will be held at the Leftbank Annex in Portland, Oregon and include site visits to schools in both Portland and Vancouver.

Go here for more information.

Featured

  • Benson Polytechnic High School in Portland, OR

    Preserving Legacy, Designing for the Future

    As historic academic buildings age, institutions face a difficult decision: preserve and adapt or demolish and rebuild. How do we honor the legacy of these spaces while adapting them to meet the needs of modern learners?

  • Stanford Completes Construction on Graduate School of Education Facility

    Stanford University in Stanford, Calif., recently announced the end of construction on a new home for its Graduate School of Education, according to a news release. The university partnered with McCarthy Building Companies on the 160,000-square-foot project, which involved two major renovations and one new construction effort.

  • University of Arizona Approves New Residence Hall

    The Arizona Board of Regents recently approved plans for a new residence hall at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Ariz., according to a news release. The new facility is scheduled to open in fall 2028 and have the capacity for more than 1,200 students, enforcing a new university expectation that all first-year students live on campus.

  • Deferred Maintenance Issues Growing at Universities, Gordian Reports

    U.S. colleges and universities are falling increasingly behind on facilities maintenance and repair, according to Gordian’s 13th annual State of Facilities in Higher Education report. The deferred capital renewal burden has reached $156 per gross square foot, an 8% increase over the previous year.