Dozens of schools throughout New Jersey have developed and maintain on-site outdoor classrooms that are used by students throughout the day as part of their coursework - not just in science, but in social studies, language arts, mathematics and art.

Imagine students being actively engaged in learning while using outdoor trails, butterfly and flower gardens, man-made ponds and wetlands, observation decks, bird blinds, amphitheaters and diverse wooded areas. Such sites are both popular as well as possible on most school properties, including very built urban and suburban environments.

The Outdoor Classroom Network of New Jersey is dedicated to training, networking and promoting the development or enhancement of schoolyard habitat projects for educational purposes. NJDEP's Division of Fish & Wildlife workshops (WILD School Sites) are open to any teacher or environmental resource person interested in establishing, maintaining, and effectively using this type of learning environment.

The network is an affiliate of the Alliance for New Jersey Environmental Education (ANJEE). Staff within the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection helped develop the network and assist with coordinating its activities.

Highlights

• Promotes communications and the sharing of ideas, resources, problems and expertise.

• Acts as a clearinghouse for information on similar projects statewide.

• NJ Division of Fish & Wildlife offers certification and a sign proclaiming certified "Wild School Site" status for schools that meet the criteria for certification.

• Offers mentoring to teachers who need help getting started.

• Facilitates training opportunities among network members.

Network Membership          Habitat Photographs      Wild School Sites Workshops  Compass Basics Grant Opportunities ---------------- NJDEP NJ NRCS WHIP Grant U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Project Learning Tree GreenWorks!       Toyota Tapestry Mini-Grants Lowe's Outdoor Classroom Grants EEdNews Grant Listing Youth Garden Grants™ National Wildlife Federation National Gardening Association  Schoolyard Clinometer Basics Wildlife Listings ---------------- Birds of New Jersey Mammals of New Jersey Reptiles of New Jersey Amphibians of New Jersey U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service (NJ)            Conserve Wildlife Foundation (NJ) New Jersey Audubon Society Butterflies & Hummingbirds (NJAS)  Slideshow Sampler  (WILD School Sites workshops) Plant Listings ---------------- Native Plant References Drought Tolerant Species Butterfly Gardens Butterfly Gardens & Habitats Hummingbird Flowers and Plants         Attracting Hummingbirds Deer-Resistant Plants Plants of the NJ Pine Barrens Information About Plants (NJ) USDA Plants Database A Dozen "Must Have" Plants (NJAS) Recommended Nectar Plants (NJAS) Rain Gardens Plants for Rain Gardens  Powerpoint Text  Rain Garden Manual  for New Jersey Part 1 (pdf)  Certified Wild School Sites           Rain Garden Manual  for New Jersey Part 2 (pdf)  Outdoor Classroom Links

Please note: Links to non-State of New Jersey sites do not imply any official State of New Jersey endorsement of or responsibility for the opinions, ideas, data, or products presented at those locations, or guarantee the validity of the information provided. Links to non-State of New Jersey servers are provided solely as a reference to information on topics that may be useful to the general public.

Target Audience(s)
All educators and environmental resource personnel

Additional Information
Outdoor Classroom Network of New Jersey
Division of Fish and Wildlife, NJDEP
Pequest Natural Resources Education Center
605 Pequest Road
Oxford NJ 07863
Phone: 908-637-4125
Fax: 908-637-6735
www.nj.gov/dep/fgw

Marc Rogoff
Environmental Education Specialist
Constituent Services Office
NJDEP Box 402
Trenton NJ 08625
Phone: 609-292-1474
Fax: 609-292-3198
E-mail: marc.rogoff@dep.state.nj.us