1 00:00:03,040 --> 00:00:04,720 I want to welcome our audience to this 2 00:00:04,720 --> 00:00:07,200 learn podcast. It is in these podcasts 3 00:00:07,200 --> 00:00:08,880 that learn wants you to meet experts 4 00:00:08,880 --> 00:00:10,400 that can help you in your work as school 5 00:00:10,400 --> 00:00:12,000 leaders or perhaps partners in the 6 00:00:12,000 --> 00:00:14,480 education landscape. The topic for this 7 00:00:14,480 --> 00:00:16,320 podcast is outdoor environments and our 8 00:00:16,320 --> 00:00:20,039 guest is Melissa Turnbite. 9 00:00:20,080 --> 00:00:21,760 On the learn website, you will find on 10 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:23,680 the research page under the COE 11 00:00:23,680 --> 00:00:25,680 sustainability and the element of 12 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:27,760 outdoor environments research in this 13 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:29,279 area being discussed along with 14 00:00:29,279 --> 00:00:32,079 potential resources to access. Melissa, 15 00:00:32,079 --> 00:00:33,360 I want to welcome you to the learn 16 00:00:33,360 --> 00:00:34,960 podcast. It's good to have you here to 17 00:00:34,960 --> 00:00:36,320 speak with us about this important 18 00:00:36,320 --> 00:00:38,719 topic. I know you have an extensive 19 00:00:38,719 --> 00:00:40,160 research and work background in the area 20 00:00:40,160 --> 00:00:42,000 of outdoor environments. Others have 21 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:43,280 noted your expertise as well, 22 00:00:43,280 --> 00:00:45,600 recognizing you as the Rednew 2021 23 00:00:45,600 --> 00:00:47,120 architect of the year as well as the 24 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:49,120 Houston Business Journal's Women Who 25 00:00:49,120 --> 00:00:51,760 Mean Business Award in 2022. Would you 26 00:00:51,760 --> 00:00:53,280 now please share with the audience some 27 00:00:53,280 --> 00:00:54,719 more of that background and experience? 28 00:00:54,719 --> 00:00:56,800 Thank you, David, for having me and I'm 29 00:00:56,800 --> 00:00:58,800 so excited to talk about this topic that 30 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:02,800 is so um near and dear to my heart. Um I 31 00:01:02,800 --> 00:01:05,119 have really come upon this during the 32 00:01:05,119 --> 00:01:07,439 pandemic when we were all spending so 33 00:01:07,439 --> 00:01:09,600 much time inside and in front of 34 00:01:09,600 --> 00:01:12,320 computers that it really um made it 35 00:01:12,320 --> 00:01:14,479 aware to me um as well as to a lot of 36 00:01:14,479 --> 00:01:15,760 school districts the importance of 37 00:01:15,760 --> 00:01:17,920 spending time outside. And so it was 38 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:19,680 with that that I've been fortunate to 39 00:01:19,680 --> 00:01:20,880 partner with so many wonderful 40 00:01:20,880 --> 00:01:23,520 organizations and really learn more 41 00:01:23,520 --> 00:01:26,479 about this topic about how important it 42 00:01:26,479 --> 00:01:28,960 is for kids to go outside. Um, and I've 43 00:01:28,960 --> 00:01:30,400 been fortunate to work with school 44 00:01:30,400 --> 00:01:32,079 districts across the country doing this 45 00:01:32,079 --> 00:01:34,640 on a micro scale with just transforming 46 00:01:34,640 --> 00:01:37,040 a few little small spaces to get kids 47 00:01:37,040 --> 00:01:39,360 outside to complete transformations of 48 00:01:39,360 --> 00:01:41,119 campuses to make them native 49 00:01:41,119 --> 00:01:44,079 environments um with lots of different 50 00:01:44,079 --> 00:01:46,960 um spaces for students to learn outside. 51 00:01:46,960 --> 00:01:48,560 So, I'm really excited to share with you 52 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,560 more about about that. Well, I know 53 00:01:50,560 --> 00:01:52,079 you're really inspired by this work and 54 00:01:52,079 --> 00:01:53,439 I know you've inspired a lot of people 55 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:56,079 around this in school districts and I I 56 00:01:56,079 --> 00:01:57,600 know that there's an extensive amount of 57 00:01:57,600 --> 00:01:59,119 research there, but we can't cover all 58 00:01:59,119 --> 00:02:00,399 that research in the amount of time 59 00:02:00,399 --> 00:02:03,280 dedicated this podcast, but would you 60 00:02:03,280 --> 00:02:04,719 please share with the audience some of 61 00:02:04,719 --> 00:02:06,320 those key insights or pieces of 62 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:07,680 information that you think districts 63 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:09,599 would want to know around outdoor 64 00:02:09,599 --> 00:02:12,959 environments? Absolutely. So, um this 65 00:02:12,959 --> 00:02:14,640 has been studied for a number of years. 66 00:02:14,640 --> 00:02:17,920 you know, we have spent um our as as 67 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:20,080 humans most of our lives outside and 68 00:02:20,080 --> 00:02:21,840 until recently is when we've now 69 00:02:21,840 --> 00:02:23,520 converted most of our time to being 70 00:02:23,520 --> 00:02:26,080 spent inside and with that we've noticed 71 00:02:26,080 --> 00:02:28,400 all kinds of ill effects because of 72 00:02:28,400 --> 00:02:31,360 that. So um there was a great study in 73 00:02:31,360 --> 00:02:34,800 2018 um that was talking about the 74 00:02:34,800 --> 00:02:36,640 importance of improved test scores if 75 00:02:36,640 --> 00:02:38,560 kids can spend time outside. But then 76 00:02:38,560 --> 00:02:40,000 there was a wonderful study by the 77 00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:42,879 University of Illinois in 2019 um in 78 00:02:42,879 --> 00:02:45,200 conjunction with the children in nature 79 00:02:45,200 --> 00:02:47,840 network that showed that if kids can 80 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:50,239 spend time outside not only do they have 81 00:02:50,239 --> 00:02:51,840 higher test scores which is important 82 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:53,840 for school districts um especially with 83 00:02:53,840 --> 00:02:55,519 all of the learning loss that has come 84 00:02:55,519 --> 00:02:59,200 out of COVID but it's because they learn 85 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:02,800 critical thinking skills problem solving 86 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:05,840 um teamwork and so it's these kind of 87 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:09,360 attributes that nature fosters ers. Um, 88 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:11,280 and so that was really inspiring to me 89 00:03:11,280 --> 00:03:13,519 of how can we find ways to get kids 90 00:03:13,519 --> 00:03:16,319 outside. Um, especially kids that have 91 00:03:16,319 --> 00:03:18,560 gone through some sort of trauma, 92 00:03:18,560 --> 00:03:20,560 they're economically disadvantaged. A 93 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:21,840 lot of times those kiddos don't always 94 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:23,360 have the same time and opportunities 95 00:03:23,360 --> 00:03:26,400 outside. And so creating environments 96 00:03:26,400 --> 00:03:28,959 outside has really helped them. It can 97 00:03:28,959 --> 00:03:30,720 be as simple as looking out a window. 98 00:03:30,720 --> 00:03:34,239 There was another study in um in 2020 99 00:03:34,239 --> 00:03:36,080 that showed if kids can even look out a 100 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:38,640 window, they have improved test scores 101 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:40,560 um and they have an overall sense of 102 00:03:40,560 --> 00:03:42,799 health and well-being. So it can be so 103 00:03:42,799 --> 00:03:44,799 small as a window or it can be something 104 00:03:44,799 --> 00:03:48,080 much more um elaborate as actually going 105 00:03:48,080 --> 00:03:49,840 outside and creating these environments. 106 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:51,200 But those were some of the pieces that 107 00:03:51,200 --> 00:03:54,000 really inspired me that this is good for 108 00:03:54,000 --> 00:03:56,400 kids physical health, social health, 109 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,959 emotional health. Um, and then obviously 110 00:03:58,959 --> 00:04:00,959 their overall success with test scores 111 00:04:00,959 --> 00:04:02,720 and and kind of the success for the 112 00:04:02,720 --> 00:04:04,720 future, right? And Melissa, if I could, 113 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,159 I'd like to extend on that a little bit. 114 00:04:06,159 --> 00:04:08,239 You struck a curiosity as they're 115 00:04:08,239 --> 00:04:09,519 looking out those windows. That's 116 00:04:09,519 --> 00:04:12,159 obviously lowhanging fruit, but is there 117 00:04:12,159 --> 00:04:13,840 something about the effect of it being 118 00:04:13,840 --> 00:04:15,760 green versus like concrete and black 119 00:04:15,760 --> 00:04:17,120 asphalt and that kind of thing that's 120 00:04:17,120 --> 00:04:18,320 really important? Would you share a 121 00:04:18,320 --> 00:04:19,759 little bit about that? That's great. 122 00:04:19,759 --> 00:04:20,880 That's absolutely great question. 123 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,360 Actually, this same study showed if kids 124 00:04:23,360 --> 00:04:26,639 can look outside at trees in particular, 125 00:04:26,639 --> 00:04:28,800 um that that and and green environments, 126 00:04:28,800 --> 00:04:31,440 but specifically trees, that that was um 127 00:04:31,440 --> 00:04:33,840 really contributing factor. So, as we're 128 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:35,280 looking at, as you know, as an architect 129 00:04:35,280 --> 00:04:36,800 for education, as I'm looking at 130 00:04:36,800 --> 00:04:38,479 designing schools, if I can not only 131 00:04:38,479 --> 00:04:41,040 create windowed classrooms, but also 132 00:04:41,040 --> 00:04:42,880 classrooms with a view of of trees and 133 00:04:42,880 --> 00:04:45,360 tree canopies or um that's really 134 00:04:45,360 --> 00:04:47,680 important to me. And so that's something 135 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:49,199 that I would like to share with school 136 00:04:49,199 --> 00:04:50,880 districts that it doesn't have to be 137 00:04:50,880 --> 00:04:52,960 complicated and hard, but if they can do 138 00:04:52,960 --> 00:04:55,120 that, just that simple move can help 139 00:04:55,120 --> 00:04:56,639 help students and help improve their 140 00:04:56,639 --> 00:04:58,560 scores. Thank you for that, Melissa. 141 00:04:58,560 --> 00:05:00,639 Now, in your experience, if a district 142 00:05:00,639 --> 00:05:02,400 wanted to engage in this work, what are 143 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:04,000 s what are some of those opportunities 144 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:05,440 or what I like to say predictable 145 00:05:05,440 --> 00:05:07,520 positive outcomes that they would want 146 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:08,880 to make certain their internal and 147 00:05:08,880 --> 00:05:11,280 external communities were made aware of? 148 00:05:11,280 --> 00:05:13,039 one, I think it's important to 149 00:05:13,039 --> 00:05:16,160 understand that time spent outside isn't 150 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:18,160 wasted time. It's it's valuable time. 151 00:05:18,160 --> 00:05:20,400 And so, you know, implementing finding 152 00:05:20,400 --> 00:05:23,680 ways for their communities and their um 153 00:05:23,680 --> 00:05:25,840 their educational team to understand how 154 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:27,919 they can teach outside. So, not only 155 00:05:27,919 --> 00:05:29,280 creating the environments with 156 00:05:29,280 --> 00:05:31,680 partnering with it could be architects, 157 00:05:31,680 --> 00:05:34,080 landscape architects, um it could be 158 00:05:34,080 --> 00:05:37,360 some great members of the community. Um 159 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:38,960 I've done a recent campus where we 160 00:05:38,960 --> 00:05:40,400 partnered with the children in nature 161 00:05:40,400 --> 00:05:42,000 network and the nature conservancy. 162 00:05:42,000 --> 00:05:43,520 There's always wonderful resources that 163 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:45,280 is trying to infuse this but 164 00:05:45,280 --> 00:05:47,360 understanding how they can actually 165 00:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,759 teach and get kids outside. It doesn't 166 00:05:49,759 --> 00:05:51,120 always have to be teaching. It can be 167 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,199 brain breaks. It can be you know in 168 00:05:53,199 --> 00:05:55,280 elementary school recess. But finding 169 00:05:55,280 --> 00:05:57,199 ways to get kids outside and being very 170 00:05:57,199 --> 00:05:59,840 intentional about it so that we don't um 171 00:05:59,840 --> 00:06:02,000 design spaces that aren't utilized. We 172 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:03,520 really want these spaces to be utilized. 173 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:05,600 And so getting buyin from the community, 174 00:06:05,600 --> 00:06:08,240 from teachers, um from the district so 175 00:06:08,240 --> 00:06:10,479 that it isn't the garden that everyone 176 00:06:10,479 --> 00:06:12,639 has seen at a campus that was good 177 00:06:12,639 --> 00:06:14,880 intentions and then gets mowed over, 178 00:06:14,880 --> 00:06:16,639 right? So that would be my first thing. 179 00:06:16,639 --> 00:06:19,759 And then really um from the making it 180 00:06:19,759 --> 00:06:22,560 happen, the there are so many partners 181 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,800 that want to have this happen. Energy 182 00:06:24,800 --> 00:06:26,240 companies, you know, whoever's your 183 00:06:26,240 --> 00:06:27,600 energy provider, they're trying to get 184 00:06:27,600 --> 00:06:29,919 trees into schoolyards. They'll probably 185 00:06:29,919 --> 00:06:32,400 donate them to for you. So again, even 186 00:06:32,400 --> 00:06:33,680 if you're just talking about planting 187 00:06:33,680 --> 00:06:35,919 some trees, you probably can do it for 188 00:06:35,919 --> 00:06:38,880 slim to no cost but high impact for your 189 00:06:38,880 --> 00:06:41,120 school, right? And I want to point out 190 00:06:41,120 --> 00:06:43,039 you you you said two things that I think 191 00:06:43,039 --> 00:06:44,319 is important for our audience to hear. 192 00:06:44,319 --> 00:06:47,039 The intentionality piece and how 193 00:06:47,039 --> 00:06:49,039 intentional one needs to be and I I love 194 00:06:49,039 --> 00:06:50,240 the fact that you talk about the 195 00:06:50,240 --> 00:06:52,160 partners in that process and being very 196 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:53,919 intentional. And then the other is you 197 00:06:53,919 --> 00:06:55,919 mentioned the children in nature network 198 00:06:55,919 --> 00:06:58,880 and the nature conservator conservatory. 199 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:01,520 those two uh uh uh entities are members 200 00:07:01,520 --> 00:07:03,520 of the learn uh community as well and 201 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:05,440 we'll be podcasting stuff with them as 202 00:07:05,440 --> 00:07:06,400 well. So I want to make sure the 203 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,160 audience hears that and knows to look 204 00:07:08,160 --> 00:07:11,759 for that uh in the future. Now relying 205 00:07:11,759 --> 00:07:13,840 upon that same experience Melissa though 206 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:14,960 you know there are potential 207 00:07:14,960 --> 00:07:16,560 implementation barriers that districts 208 00:07:16,560 --> 00:07:18,479 have to be prepared for as they go down 209 00:07:18,479 --> 00:07:20,560 this pathway. Would you share some of 210 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:22,800 those please? Sure. Well, I think the 211 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:24,240 first one which was the positive but 212 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,199 also can be a a barrier is understanding 213 00:07:27,199 --> 00:07:29,039 the importance of time outside and that 214 00:07:29,039 --> 00:07:33,039 it's not wasted time. Um and that that 215 00:07:33,039 --> 00:07:35,120 time you know learning I think we've all 216 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:36,479 understand that science can happen 217 00:07:36,479 --> 00:07:38,160 outside right everyone with the kids 218 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,120 with the you know m uh microscopes and 219 00:07:41,120 --> 00:07:43,199 magnifying glasses but you know if you 220 00:07:43,199 --> 00:07:45,520 think about historically all learning 221 00:07:45,520 --> 00:07:48,400 has originated from nature right all of 222 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:52,479 the the um kind of um math theories you 223 00:07:52,479 --> 00:07:56,080 know the um the golden spiral the the 224 00:07:56,080 --> 00:07:58,319 best writings came from nature. So 225 00:07:58,319 --> 00:08:02,000 finding ways um that all academics can 226 00:08:02,000 --> 00:08:04,720 go outside um and that it's it's good to 227 00:08:04,720 --> 00:08:06,800 spend time outside. Um so for I think 228 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:08,720 that's can be an obstacle is as you know 229 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:10,639 certain certain curriculum thinks they 230 00:08:10,639 --> 00:08:12,240 they have so much to teach they can't go 231 00:08:12,240 --> 00:08:13,840 outside but actually their kids are 232 00:08:13,840 --> 00:08:17,039 learning better outside. Um, also I 233 00:08:17,039 --> 00:08:19,039 think sometimes a hurdle is depending on 234 00:08:19,039 --> 00:08:21,599 what you're doing with your site. Um, 235 00:08:21,599 --> 00:08:22,800 that getting the maintenance and 236 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:24,960 operations team on board so they know 237 00:08:24,960 --> 00:08:26,720 what this new spaces they might have to 238 00:08:26,720 --> 00:08:29,120 maintain, right? Because some some of 239 00:08:29,120 --> 00:08:31,840 the best intentions get lost there and 240 00:08:31,840 --> 00:08:34,640 making sure that they have buy in um to 241 00:08:34,640 --> 00:08:36,959 understand what it is to maintain it um 242 00:08:36,959 --> 00:08:38,880 and take care of it. And then also 243 00:08:38,880 --> 00:08:41,200 changing the paradigm so that parents, 244 00:08:41,200 --> 00:08:44,480 the community, board members understand 245 00:08:44,480 --> 00:08:46,399 again that if they see kids running 246 00:08:46,399 --> 00:08:48,560 around and join running to numbers and 247 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:49,920 things that they are learning math, 248 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,120 they're just doing it in a different 249 00:08:51,120 --> 00:08:53,600 way. Or if you have a native landscape, 250 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:54,880 right, which is better for the 251 00:08:54,880 --> 00:08:57,600 environment um and brings in wildlife 252 00:08:57,600 --> 00:08:59,600 and is better for the kids breathing 253 00:08:59,600 --> 00:09:01,519 that it might look a little wild and so 254 00:09:01,519 --> 00:09:03,600 it's not the manicured landscape that 255 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:05,360 people have always seen. So, I think 256 00:09:05,360 --> 00:09:07,680 it's it's um it's an educational 257 00:09:07,680 --> 00:09:09,680 opportunity for the community more um 258 00:09:09,680 --> 00:09:11,600 but it can also be a barrier and so 259 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:13,440 making sure to get ahead of it and 260 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:15,200 really tell the community about the 261 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:16,480 great things that are happening is 262 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:19,040 important. And I I love that natural 263 00:09:19,040 --> 00:09:20,800 landscape piece and I know I've learned 264 00:09:20,800 --> 00:09:22,800 a lot of that from you and and from 265 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:24,880 another individual in our community, but 266 00:09:24,880 --> 00:09:26,880 it's it's fascinating to think about how 267 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:29,040 those native grasses and things can be a 268 00:09:29,040 --> 00:09:31,519 part of the landscape of schools because 269 00:09:31,519 --> 00:09:33,279 we've been so used to putting out big 270 00:09:33,279 --> 00:09:35,839 fields of grass everywhere and it's just 271 00:09:35,839 --> 00:09:37,920 mowed down. And so you're right that 272 00:09:37,920 --> 00:09:39,600 engaging your maintenance crew is really 273 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:40,880 important if you're going to have those 274 00:09:40,880 --> 00:09:42,800 kind of landscapes. They generally don't 275 00:09:42,800 --> 00:09:44,560 know how to deal with them. So that's 276 00:09:44,560 --> 00:09:47,279 right. That's right. Yeah. The exciting 277 00:09:47,279 --> 00:09:49,360 thing about the native landscapes is 278 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:52,000 that it helps not only um eventually 279 00:09:52,000 --> 00:09:53,279 your maintenance and operations team 280 00:09:53,279 --> 00:09:55,760 because they're native, but it also is 281 00:09:55,760 --> 00:09:58,000 creating a sense of place for kids so 282 00:09:58,000 --> 00:09:59,200 they know what it looks like. You know, 283 00:09:59,200 --> 00:10:00,560 I think schoolyards across the country 284 00:10:00,560 --> 00:10:02,000 historically have all looked the same 285 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:04,000 whether you're in Maine, Southern 286 00:10:04,000 --> 00:10:06,399 Florida, you know, California, they all 287 00:10:06,399 --> 00:10:08,320 have grass, a couple, you know, trees, 288 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:10,720 shrubs, and a swing set. But really, it 289 00:10:10,720 --> 00:10:12,800 should mimic the climate and the 290 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:14,399 environment that you're in because not 291 00:10:14,399 --> 00:10:16,000 only is it easier to maintain, but then 292 00:10:16,000 --> 00:10:17,519 it helps you understand like what it is 293 00:10:17,519 --> 00:10:19,839 to be, you know, from Texas or what it 294 00:10:19,839 --> 00:10:21,920 is to be from California. So, it's an 295 00:10:21,920 --> 00:10:23,680 exciting opportunity. Um, but yeah, 296 00:10:23,680 --> 00:10:24,959 you're right. Getting ahead of it is 297 00:10:24,959 --> 00:10:27,360 important. I like that. Now, would you 298 00:10:27,360 --> 00:10:29,040 please take some time to share with our 299 00:10:29,040 --> 00:10:30,640 audience how this work has impacted 300 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:32,880 schools and perhaps students that you 301 00:10:32,880 --> 00:10:34,880 have seen as you've done this work 302 00:10:34,880 --> 00:10:37,200 across the country? Absolutely. That's 303 00:10:37,200 --> 00:10:39,920 that's an exciting opportunity. So I um 304 00:10:39,920 --> 00:10:41,440 as I mentioned I've been fortunate to do 305 00:10:41,440 --> 00:10:43,600 this across the country and it can be in 306 00:10:43,600 --> 00:10:46,800 different scales. Um we are working with 307 00:10:46,800 --> 00:10:48,800 San Bernardino Unified School District 308 00:10:48,800 --> 00:10:52,320 right now and um they because of water 309 00:10:52,320 --> 00:10:54,560 shortage in California they have um 310 00:10:54,560 --> 00:10:57,120 paved an asphalt all across their whole 311 00:10:57,120 --> 00:10:58,880 schoolyard. And so we are taking this 312 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:01,519 opportunity to break up some of that 313 00:11:01,519 --> 00:11:03,680 asphalt, plant some more trees so that 314 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:06,000 these kids can look outside. Um, but 315 00:11:06,000 --> 00:11:08,800 also paint s simple as painting the 316 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:10,800 asphalt so that kids understand bird 317 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:12,480 migration. So we're doing it native 318 00:11:12,480 --> 00:11:13,760 migration as well as some Native 319 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:16,320 American tribal patterns. So that again 320 00:11:16,320 --> 00:11:18,160 creating a sense of place, but it's 321 00:11:18,160 --> 00:11:20,240 creating engagement so that kids want to 322 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:22,320 go outside and it's exciting and it's 323 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:24,480 fun. It helps cool off the environment. 324 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,440 So that's kind of on a a simple but but 325 00:11:27,440 --> 00:11:30,160 impactful scale. I also have done the 326 00:11:30,160 --> 00:11:33,600 extreme opposite here in Houston for 327 00:11:33,600 --> 00:11:36,240 Alleaf Independent School District. Um, 328 00:11:36,240 --> 00:11:38,880 and we um, it's a brand new early 329 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:41,760 childhood center for preK students and 330 00:11:41,760 --> 00:11:44,320 we have transformed the entire site into 331 00:11:44,320 --> 00:11:46,720 prairies. So again, thanks to these 332 00:11:46,720 --> 00:11:48,720 great partners at the Nature Conservancy 333 00:11:48,720 --> 00:11:50,640 and Children in Nature Network and some 334 00:11:50,640 --> 00:11:53,360 other local um, we got it all donated. 335 00:11:53,360 --> 00:11:56,079 It was all privately donated from um 336 00:11:56,079 --> 00:11:58,560 groups, philanthropists. And so we 337 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:00,880 planted over 200 trees. We have pocket 338 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:03,200 prairies. We have a variety of outdoor 339 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:04,800 environments for these kids that 340 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:06,480 otherwise really don't have access to 341 00:12:06,480 --> 00:12:09,519 nature. And it is so exciting and 342 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:11,839 inspiring to see them look outside. 343 00:12:11,839 --> 00:12:14,079 They're seeing as the seasons change, 344 00:12:14,079 --> 00:12:15,680 they're seeing butterflies and different 345 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:18,320 wildlife come. And so, um, it's really 346 00:12:18,320 --> 00:12:20,240 hopefully changing the paradigm of what 347 00:12:20,240 --> 00:12:22,800 schools look like, um, especially in our 348 00:12:22,800 --> 00:12:25,200 area. So, uh, those are some of the kind 349 00:12:25,200 --> 00:12:27,440 of extreme examples, but, um, and 350 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:28,959 everything in between. So, what it's 351 00:12:28,959 --> 00:12:30,639 been such an opportunity and Melissa, 352 00:12:30,639 --> 00:12:32,720 I'm assuming that story in Alleaf as as 353 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,639 well as San Bernito, um, is that area is 354 00:12:36,639 --> 00:12:38,480 open to the community as well. So, it's 355 00:12:38,480 --> 00:12:40,639 engaging the community differently in in 356 00:12:40,639 --> 00:12:43,120 that uh, um, area as well. Right. 357 00:12:43,120 --> 00:12:44,959 Exactly. It's becoming kind of a hub of 358 00:12:44,959 --> 00:12:47,519 the community. And we have walking paths 359 00:12:47,519 --> 00:12:50,160 through um not in so much in San 360 00:12:50,160 --> 00:12:51,839 Bernardino but in in Alleaf we have 361 00:12:51,839 --> 00:12:54,000 walking paths through the site. So the 362 00:12:54,000 --> 00:12:56,560 idea that I wish I could take as my own 363 00:12:56,560 --> 00:12:59,120 but again as the nature conservancy was 364 00:12:59,120 --> 00:13:01,279 what if we create almost national parks 365 00:13:01,279 --> 00:13:03,360 but within our schoolyards. So again 366 00:13:03,360 --> 00:13:05,600 creating a sense of place a sense of 367 00:13:05,600 --> 00:13:07,760 nature um and then distributing it 368 00:13:07,760 --> 00:13:09,200 across the country so that our 369 00:13:09,200 --> 00:13:11,040 schoolyards become those kind of native 370 00:13:11,040 --> 00:13:13,440 parks. right now. If there was a 371 00:13:13,440 --> 00:13:15,200 district, I know you talked about Alleaf 372 00:13:15,200 --> 00:13:17,200 and perhaps it's Aleaf, but if there was 373 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:19,040 a district that you wanted to highlight 374 00:13:19,040 --> 00:13:20,639 that's doing remarkable work in this 375 00:13:20,639 --> 00:13:22,959 area for our audience who might want to 376 00:13:22,959 --> 00:13:24,240 investigate this, they might want to 377 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:26,399 come to this district, what would it be? 378 00:13:26,399 --> 00:13:28,079 Yeah, I would say Aleaf would be a great 379 00:13:28,079 --> 00:13:30,880 one just because um they they took a 380 00:13:30,880 --> 00:13:33,920 chance on this um on this um kind of 381 00:13:33,920 --> 00:13:36,079 endeavor and we've had it hasn't been 382 00:13:36,079 --> 00:13:37,920 always easy. you know, there's been as 383 00:13:37,920 --> 00:13:40,560 we're planting and lessons learned. Um, 384 00:13:40,560 --> 00:13:42,160 but I think the because of the 385 00:13:42,160 --> 00:13:43,760 struggles, we have a lot of those great 386 00:13:43,760 --> 00:13:46,480 lessons learned and um and and just 387 00:13:46,480 --> 00:13:48,240 opportunities. Plus, these are kids that 388 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:49,600 don't really have it. So, I definitely 389 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,000 would reach out to them. There are other 390 00:13:52,000 --> 00:13:54,399 um districts across the country that are 391 00:13:54,399 --> 00:13:57,040 invested and um there are actually 392 00:13:57,040 --> 00:13:58,800 school district partnerships that are 393 00:13:58,800 --> 00:14:00,720 starting to form so that they can learn 394 00:14:00,720 --> 00:14:03,040 from each other because the struggles um 395 00:14:03,040 --> 00:14:05,040 I was on a call with some a woman from 396 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:07,120 Dearbornne, Michigan. her struggles are 397 00:14:07,120 --> 00:14:08,800 very different than us in Houston, Texas 398 00:14:08,800 --> 00:14:12,000 of how to get kids outside. So, um I 399 00:14:12,000 --> 00:14:15,199 would definitely say lean into to 400 00:14:15,199 --> 00:14:18,160 Alleaf. Um lean into the children in 401 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:19,760 nature network because they are building 402 00:14:19,760 --> 00:14:22,160 a cohort of school districts that are 403 00:14:22,160 --> 00:14:25,360 actually doing this work. Um and and I 404 00:14:25,360 --> 00:14:27,440 think and then look in your to your 405 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:29,519 local partners that in your community. 406 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:31,360 there are plants of each one of these 407 00:14:31,360 --> 00:14:33,120 organizations within your community that 408 00:14:33,120 --> 00:14:35,440 can help you um kind of navigate this 409 00:14:35,440 --> 00:14:37,760 path. Well, that segus to my next 410 00:14:37,760 --> 00:14:39,519 question, which is if a district or 411 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:40,880 partner were interested in exploring 412 00:14:40,880 --> 00:14:42,240 more deeply into this work, how would 413 00:14:42,240 --> 00:14:44,160 they go about contacting you and 414 00:14:44,160 --> 00:14:46,000 arranging for deeper conversations? 415 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:48,399 That's great. Um well, I would love to 416 00:14:48,399 --> 00:14:49,839 further this conversation. I'm so 417 00:14:49,839 --> 00:14:52,560 passionate about it. Um so, um they can 418 00:14:52,560 --> 00:14:56,880 reach out to me. My my email is Melissa 419 00:14:56,880 --> 00:14:58,959 Mlsa. 420 00:14:58,959 --> 00:15:04,240 Turnbar tur nb au g at pbbk.com. 421 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:09,120 You can call our office um at PBK and um 422 00:15:09,120 --> 00:15:12,240 and then also you can also um send me 423 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:15,120 send me a a text a note. Um I'd love to 424 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:16,480 further the dialogue. We have a 425 00:15:16,480 --> 00:15:18,000 landscape architect group actually 426 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:21,440 because of this um called Edgeland um 427 00:15:21,440 --> 00:15:23,199 that can also you can look for 428 00:15:23,199 --> 00:15:26,079 inspiration images um and so I'd love to 429 00:15:26,079 --> 00:15:28,000 love to further the conversation. 430 00:15:28,000 --> 00:15:29,519 Wonderful. Well, thank you Melissa for 431 00:15:29,519 --> 00:15:30,959 being a part of this important work of 432 00:15:30,959 --> 00:15:32,959 supporting our students and schools and 433 00:15:32,959 --> 00:15:34,560 thank you for your participation in 434 00:15:34,560 --> 00:15:37,040 Learn Podcast. I'm honored. Thanks. No, 435 00:15:37,040 --> 00:15:40,440 thanks so much.