San Antonio Zoo School

Yesterday was the ribbon cutting and grand opening of the Will Smith Zoo School at the San Antonio Zoo. This project started in 2015 and has come together quickly to transform the building and grounds into an Outdoor Learning Environment. It is a shining example of what a little innovation can do to create a space that facilitates active and unstructured play, while also providing a place for young children to have a daily connection with nature.

It has been an honor to work on this project from inception to completion. The Dallas Zoo is now on track to do the same and I have met with them twice now to explore ideas and help them make connections. Outdoor Learning Environments (OLE) are quickly becoming popular for childcare centers and preschools. Through our partnership with Department of State Health Services (DSHS), we are on the front lines defining this “rethinking” around how children should spend their time while at a childcare centers. I’m excited that once again, Texas is leading the way. This is all part of the long term system change that can seem nebulous for so long as the ground work gets laid, then quickly transform into a positive, tangible trend.

There are 3 more childcare center OLE! demonstration sites in process at – Texas Tech University, Austin Community College and Pasadena Headstart School. Additionally a “school yard park” is being installed at Barrington Elementary School in Austin that is part of the Cities Connecting Children to Nature project and uses the OLE! design principles.

Thank you all for your continued support of TCiN. It was an honor to represent TPWD at the ribbon cutting yesterday. Please find a few links to some of the media from yesterday’s event.

More here: Kens5, San Antonio Express News and My San
Antonio.