Community Partnership Boosts Summer Learning Through Outdoor Classrooms
Designed as the capstone experience for Breakthrough Birmingham scholars, Outdoor Classroom blends STEAM education with environmental exploration, allowing students to apply the science, math, and critical thinking skills they've developed. By using some of Jefferson County's most treasured natural spaces as living classrooms, the program encourages curiosity, confidence, and a deeper connection to the world around them.
Over five days in July, 20 student scholars from across Birmingham explored Red Mountain Park, Ruffner Mountain, and Turkey Creek Nature Preserve. Each location offered unique opportunities for discovery through interactive lessons, field investigations, and team-building activities that strengthened communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills.
Students learned about Birmingham's rich mining history and the communities that helped shape the city while also exploring the area’s diverse ecosystems. They studied native plants and wildlife, the geological history of these landscapes, and discovered the immense biodiversity of Turkey Creek and why it should be protected.
"Our greenspaces are community assets that tell and preserve the story of generations before us," said Darryl Washington, CEO of Jefferson County Greenways. "They are the connective tissue of our history and community. I'm excited to see these special spaces utilized as outdoor classrooms to enrich the learning experience for students."
This year's program was made possible through support from the Alabama State Department of Education's Alabama Afterschool and Summer Advancement Program (ASAP) grant. The funding expanded Outdoor Classroom by providing educational materials, accessibility equipment, and program evaluation conducted by the Alabama Public Service Training Initiative.
The grant also enabled scholars to learn directly from local experts and community leaders, including La'Tanya Scott, CLEAN manager for the Cahaba River Coalition, archaeologist Will McCollum, poet and educator Jermaine Thompson, and community leader and Jefferson County Greenways’ Commissioner Evanne Batain Gibson. Their expertise helped demonstrate how science, history, art and storytelling intersect in our greenspaces.
By connecting classroom learning with real-world experiences, Outdoor Classroom shows that Birmingham's parks and preserves are more than places to recreate and explore—they are vibrant spaces to inspire the next generation of leaders.