The Land as a Teaching Tool

“Teaching children about the natural world should be treated as one of the most important events in their lives.”

So says Thomas Berry, theologian and environmentalist, and Cold Spring School employs the land to do just that.

Two miles of nature trails on campus can be used by IPS students in learning about wetlands, native plants and trees, water resources, wildlife and birds. Our four-acre open field is ideal for students to enjoy field days, outdoor learning labs, and camping.

We have outdoor raised garden beds for students to learn about growing vegetables and fruits; demonstration gardens of native trees, shrubs, and wetland plants; and a year-round greenhouse to teach seed germination and plant growth.

With these invaluable resource close at hand, IPS has a tremendous opportunity to grow “environmental education” into something bigger than we can imagine. What if each 4th grade classroom would annually take a field trip to our outdoor learning lab to experience nature first-hand, all here within the city limits!