Conserving Outdoor classrooms
“We started Learning Landscapes 14 years ago. It’s been baby steps, but we have been able to create something that will endure.” ~Rob Wade, Learning Landscapes Coordinator
The Feather River Land Trust launched Learning Landscapes in 2004. In partnership with generous landowners and public school districts, Learning Landscapes conserves natural areas as “outdoor classrooms” within a 10-minute walk of every K-12 public school in the Feather River Watershed--reaching 2,500 schoolchildren annually--and supports their educational use.
Conserving and stewarding these outdoor classrooms on campuses and natural areas next to public schools makes it easier for teachers to bring students outside to learn, play, and steward the land.
Conserving and stewarding these outdoor classrooms on campuses and natural areas next to public schools makes it easier for teachers to bring students outside to learn, play, and steward the land.
serving six unique communities
Learning Landscapes includes all of Plumas County and portions of Lassen and Sierra counties, serving six communities throughout the 2.3 million acre Feather River Watershed.
Since 2004, we have partnered with visionary landowners to permanently conserve and/or develop MOUs for educational use of 16 properties serving 13 schools. Learning Landscapes outdoor classrooms are adapted to the unique features and needs of each community. Click on the thumbnails below to view a short video about each community's outdoor classrooms:
Diverse habitats, diverse ownership agreements
Learning Landscapes seeks to make it easy for teachers and students to come outside and learn in a variety of natural settings. Each school has access to one or more natural outdoor classrooms with a variety of habitats. Each outdoor classroom has a unique landowner agreement, from fee title ownership by the Feather River Land Trust, to school district property, to ownership by private ranchers, public agencies, or companies.
For example, in the town of Portola, C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School has access to 145 acres of Plumas National Forest, which includes creek habitat. Portola Jr/Sr High has access to a large forested outdoor classroom on school property, as well as creek habitat a short walk away at the city park. See the maps below:
For example, in the town of Portola, C. Roy Carmichael Elementary School has access to 145 acres of Plumas National Forest, which includes creek habitat. Portola Jr/Sr High has access to a large forested outdoor classroom on school property, as well as creek habitat a short walk away at the city park. See the maps below:
Click on each community name below to see maps of outdoor classrooms and types of owner agreements.
- Westwood Outdoor Classrooms: 2 properties with forest, meadow, and riparian habitats.
- Chester Outdoor Classrooms: 3 properties with forest, meadow, wetland, riparian habitats, historic barn
- Greenville Outdoor Classrooms: 2 properties with forest and riparian habitats
- Quincy Outdoor Classrooms: 4 properties with forest, meadow, wetland, and riparian habitats plus working ag land
- Portola Outdoor Classrooms: 3 properties with forest and riparian habitats
- Loyalton Outdoor Classroom: 1 large property with meadow and riparian habitats plus working ag land
Get started conserving outdoor classrooms in your community: See our Program Toolkit