Shawe Clean up for Outdoor Classroom Area

The outdoor lab consists of trails, creeks, bridges, an outdoor classroom, and several outdoor observation areas that can be used by any teacher on campus for student learning.

Photo Thanks To Prince of Peace Schools

(Madison, Ind.) - With the school year off to a good start, Pope John teacher, Stephen Sims, realized that being outdoors and learning was going to be very important for his Pope John science classes, especially with the guidance from the CDC that recommended students have the opportunity to be outdoors for learning due to COVID-19. Sims, a fifth and sixth-grade science teacher at Pope John and a 2002 graduate of Shawe Memorial, started working this summer on the Prince of Peace Outdoor Learning Lab that was built during his time as a student at Shawe during the late ’90s with teacher, Lynn Chattin. The outdoor lab consists of trails, creeks, bridges, an outdoor classroom, and several outdoor observation areas that can be used by any teacher on campus for student learning.

When asked about this project Stepehen Sims stated, “I started cleaning up the trails this summer for use this school year but then came up with the idea to get my students and their families involved by hosting an “outdoor cleanup day” on Saturday, August 22nd. Many students, parents, teachers, administrators, and Prince of Peace Catholic Church parishioners and community members showed up to help with the effort. The trails are now a great place for outdoor learning for both Pope John and Shawe. It was a great way for students to social distance, enjoy nature, and prepare a great space to be used by so many.”

Sims considers this project as a labor of love and a thank you to his former teacher, Mrs. Chattin, who helped build not only the outdoor lab but also his love for science. He has enjoyed using the space with his students teaching them about habitats, organisms, and just taking the time to hear and enjoy the sounds of nature around them.

Photo Thanks To Prince of Peace School