Lynnfield Middle School will open its first outdoor classroom this fall, Principal Stephen Ralston said.
The project began in the spring, when he approached the parent-teacher organization’s board with the idea of repurposing a space outside of LMS into a classroom, he said.
He said the only other similar class he is aware of is at Clarke Middle School in Lexington. The space was a community project when he worked there in 2004 and differs because it is “more of a mini-amphitheater style with benches only.”
The space used to have six storage containers, but was remodeled into the outdoor classroom within a week, he said.
The materials and tables for the project cost $9,000 and were funded by the LMS PTO, Ralston said.
He also thanked Mike Chiulli and Chiulli Landscaping Inc. for the site-preparation work and donation of labor, and Ryan Dalton and Woodmaster Tree Service for the donation and spreading of the wood chips.
Any teacher can reserve the space for class periods and activities and it is close enough to the school that it has a strong Wi-Fi connection, Ralston said.
“We are hoping our students and staff will enjoy the space and use it on good weather days throughout the school year,” Ralston said. “It can be a nice break from the four walls of the traditional classroom.”
