Academics
When Lansing Christian School relocated to our picturesque 66-acre campus over 20 years ago, we envisioned that the vast acreage and wooded wetlands would one day become an integral part of our students’ Christian education. As part of our 5-year strategic plan developed in 2020, we prioritized optimizing the school’s facilities and grounds to better support our community and programs. To achieve this, we embarked on significant steps in 2021 to identify and develop outdoor spaces that enhance outdoor teaching and learning.
Why Outdoor Learning, and Why Now?
- Connecting with Creation: As Christians, we believe that creation serves to bring us closer to God. At Lansing Christian School, we have the unique opportunity to help students see, understand, and experience God’s presence through nature, and to learn how to steward and care for His creation.
- Holistic Health Benefits: Time spent in nature is vital for our students’ physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Research indicates that children engage with their surroundings through their senses, and that being in nature sharpens, calms, and excites these senses, thereby stimulating thinking, creativity, and wonder.
- Enhanced Focus and Concentration: Studies have shown that natural settings boost children’s attention spans and improve their ability to concentrate. Learning in nature supports better academic outcomes and overall well-being.
- Balancing Screen Time: In an era where children spend considerable time on screens as part of their daily lives, it’s essential to balance this with outdoor experiences. Our beautiful campus offers a wealth of natural resources, and we are excited to use the outdoors as an additional platform to support holistic student development.
Initiatives and Developments
Working in collaboration with an architect, we pinpointed key structures to enhance outdoor learning environments across our campus. Through the dedicated efforts of several parents who generously volunteered their time and contributed over $200,000, we began implementing these enhancements. Thanks to the support of our community, the following developments now enrich our outdoor learning initiative:
- Trails and Outdoor Learning Spaces: Approximately two miles of walkable trails wind through our wooded areas, featuring larger clearings transformed into adaptable outdoor classrooms for students from PreK to 12th grade.
- Natural Playground: Crafted from fallen trees and wood sourced on-site, our natural playground offers climbing logs, a recycled rowboat for imaginative play, and a creative zone for building structures with natural materials.
- Learning Pavilion/Elementary Playground: Adjacent to the youth soccer field, this pavilion accommodates two classes and offers sweeping views of our wooded wetlands, enhancing outdoor learning experiences.
- Sledding Hill: A newly expanded sledding hill on the south side of the playground has become a favorite, including for senior students who join kindergarten buddies for an annual sledding event.
- Amphitheater: Nestled between our middle and high school wings, the amphitheater makes optimal use of the natural landscape’s slope. It features a stage trellis, seating for approximately 60 people, and additional space for overflow seating.
- Patio Spaces: Two patio areas outside the commons space provide ideal spots for lunch breaks, collaborative learning sessions, or meetings.
- Greenhouse: Our greenhouse fosters hands-on learning opportunities, allowing students to observe growth processes and delve into scientific concepts firsthand.
- Pumpkin Patch: Serving as an outdoor classroom, the pumpkin patch helps educate students about plant biology, agriculture, and the lifecycle of pumpkins, while also encouraging outdoor activity and providing a break from traditional classroom settings.
- Butterfly Garden: This serene haven provides students with practical opportunities to discover metamorphosis, butterfly dietary preferences, and habitat requirements firsthand.