13 February . 2019
Outdoor Learning Center opens at West Cypress Hills Elementary
Students in all grade levels at Lake Travis ISD’s West Cypress Hills Elementary School are eagerly getting their hands in the soil and growing new knowledge, thanks to one of the school’s newest additions, an Outdoor Learning Center.
The Outdoor Learning Center is located at the rear of the school building, behind the fourth and fifth grade classrooms.
The center is dedicated to bringing hands-on learning experiences to students in all grade levels, and serves as a place where parents, staff and community members can gather together and contribute to learning experiences. The project supports West Cypress Hill’s vision of bringing authentic learning experiences to its students, promotes a sense of community and encourages innovative teaching practices in science and other subjects.
Surrounded by a grove of native live oak trees, the Outdoor Learning Center includes an outdoor classroom with benches and a shaded instruction board. More tables are scattered throughout the site.
The circular butterfly and native plant garden is built around a paw print of the school’s mascot, Tully the Tiger.
A series of keyhole gardens is also built around another paw print from Tully. They are called keyhole gardens because a “slice” removed from the circular shape of the each planter looks like a keyhole, and makes it easy for young gardeners to reach all of the plants.
The center also includes a series of bio-retention ponds.
This exciting new learning resource was made possible by various fund-raising projects supported by the entire Lake Travis community.
Learn more about the highly regarded Lake Travis ISD schools serving Sweetwater.