Fairhaven Schools Unveil New Outdoor Classrooms

Think about your days as a student. On gorgeous fall days, or when the weather was hotter towards the end of the school year, the class would beg to have the lesson be taught outside. Once in a great while, the teacher would give in, but there was never an appropriate spot to set up shop to do some serious learning.

Those times have changed in Fairhaven.

Fairhaven Public Schools officially celebrated the opening of brand-new outdoor classrooms this week at both the East Fairhaven and the Wood Elementary Schools. The ribbon-cutting marked the completion of a project designed to expand learning spaces and give students more opportunities to learn outside.

Superintendent Tara Kohler explained that the classrooms were funded through federal COVID relief dollars. While other districts used the money for expensive HVAC retrofits, Fairhaven took a different approach, creating permanent outdoor spaces that will benefit students for years to come.

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Each classroom includes shaded areas, seating, whiteboards, and greenery designed to make the outdoors an extension of the school day. The structures protect students from the sun while still giving them the freedom of fresh air. Kohler noted that the setup could allow each class to spend at least one period a week outdoors, in addition to recess.

“These classrooms aren’t just about COVID, they’re about creating a long-term benefit for our students,” Kohler said. “Being outdoors provides a change of scenery and new opportunities for science, environmental learning, and curiosity.”

The plantings were carefully selected for educational purposes, giving teachers a chance to integrate lessons about the local environment into everyday instruction.

With the ribbon cutting complete, both East Fairhaven and Wood Elementary students can now step outside for a change of pace in their learning day. Kohler said the district is “thrilled to be providing something that will engage kids and inspire wonder for years to come.”