OHS outdoor classrooms: an investment in students and nature

By Reagan Rozzi

Photo of northeast outdoor classroom taken by Reagan Rozzi

For students of the brick-smothered, windowless, beige-painted Owasso High School, staying focused in class can be a difficult task. Students can easily begin to daydream in the dreariness as opposed to feeling focused in an engaging environment. To combat staring into space, OHS provides an outdoor classroom that allows students and teachers to fully mentally immerse themselves in their curriculum and physically in the nature around them.

The wooded area, which is located north of the school’s softball field, contains various trails, bridges, animals and a classroom complete with bench seating for its attendees.

Photo of north outdoor classroom taken by Reagan Rozzi

Shannon Chatwin of the East Campus science department has taken on the role of upkeeping the two-decade-old OHS staple. 

“There was a previous teacher 20 years or more ago that had originally put some kind of a trail into the area, but when I came to Owasso High School it was nothing but a bunch of trees and weeds, … there wasn’t really anything,” Chatwin shared. “I had Eagle Scout projects come in and they put down tons of rocks and made trails.” 

Young scouts fenced the area and built seating and bridges as well. In addition, Chatwin also farms several goats that are not only used by her Environmental Science classes, but are also adorable additions to the isolated area. 

Various photos taken by Reagan Rozzi

Unfortunately, knowledge of these classrooms is almost nonexistent, often used only by Chatwin’s courses, forensic classes, the student mentorship quadrant and occasionally field trip groups from the town’s middle schools. The clearing can be used by any teacher at any time, but because of its isolation, many don’t use it at all. 

Chatwin says, “You don’t even know that you’re in Owasso when you’re in the middle [of it].  … You could do art, you could do English and you could do science. You could do all kinds of things out in that outdoor classroom.”

Chatwin personally uses the classroom several times a month depending on the current unit and season of the year. Forensics courses set up crime scenes for their students to practice, where student mentors also utilize the environment for miniature field trips.

Recent district meetings have discussed the possibility of tearing down the classroom to create another road or bus loop, but those who use the classroom refuse to go down without a fight.

“We are one of only less than five schools in the Tulsa area, and such, that actually [has] an outdoor classroom, and that really sets apart Owasso High School because it shows that we are invested in teaching and having hands-on projects!” Chatwin expressed. 

It is vital for the outdoor classroom to remain as it can be used for students to compare infinite biomes, as well as serve as inspiration or a calming environment for any class that utilizes it.

On OHS’s West Campus, there is another, smaller outdoor classroom located behind the north pond. Chatwin also serves as the sole staff upkeeper, installing a dam to prevent water overflow and a seating area for the classes.

Photo of West Campus outdoor classroom taken by Reagan Rozzi 

Through spreading the word of this outdoor utility, those who created, upkeep, and consistently use the classroom hope to convince those opposed to the importance of such a unique OHS quality. Without the classroom, students are left trapped in the plain mundane of the educational environment.