Ecologistics signs declaration supporting Living Schoolyard Month

Ecologistics has signed on as a community partner to support the Living Schoolyard Month Resolution (ACR-128) establishing an annual, statewide celebration of school grounds to be held each year in May. The term “Living Schoolyards” is used in the resolution, authored by Assembly Member Phil Ting of San Francisco, to encompass a variety of related school ground greening efforts including: school gardens, green schoolyards, outdoor classrooms and school ground-related sustainability efforts. The Outdoor Classroom exposes students through direct experience to nature areas and demonstration models such as weather stations, water flow systems and renewable energy installations.

The new Living Schoolyard Month resolution is an important milestone in California’s approach to promote outdoor green spaces for all children in K-12 public schools. It touches on the importance of garden-based learning and nutrition education, but also education for the health of ecosystems including the students’ own school grounds and neighborhoods. Through stewardship activities, students come to understand that their schoolyards are a microcosm of global environmental issues.

Anyone who wants to get involved promoting and implementing Living Schoolyard Month should contact Teresa Lees, coordinator of environmental education through the San Luis Obispo County Office of Education at Teresa@creec.org.