The Big Dig: Trinity Basin Preparatory and Out Teach’s Outdoor Learning Lab

A commitment to learning and a supportive community is a part of the Trinity Basin Preparatory (TBP) identity ensuring that our schools are a place where students of all abilities can thrive. Across our campuses, TBP is helping to provide our educators with a variety of teaching methods to meet the needs of diverse learners. In light of this, Trinity Basin Preparatory and Out Teach were proud to co-host “The Big Dig” event at TBP’s Pafford campus in Fort Worth, marking the opening of our second Outdoor Learning Lab on a Trinity Basin Preparatory campus. Out Teach is a national non-profit organization that coaches and inspires teachers to unlock student performance with the power of outdoor experiential learning. 

Building the Outdoor Learning Lab

On April 27, 2023, students, teachers, parents, and community volunteers gathered for a special project: building an Outdoor Learning Lab sponsored by Higginbotham. This new Outdoor Learning Lab will offer dozens of curriculum-aligned features, giving students hands-on, real-world activities to get them more engaged in science, math, and literacy lessons while boosting their well-being. The volunteers from many Fort Worth community partners got to work where some began constructing learning areas where students will engage in science and math education, planting new trees and gardens, and assembling benches and tables for the students to use. By the end of the day, the Outdoor Learning Lab was taking shape -looking colorful and welcoming for the students to explore.

Benefits of Outdoor Experiential Learning

Outdoor experiential learning is a powerful tool that deepens students’ understanding of academic concepts, sparks their curiosity, and gets them excited about learning. As Out Teach describes, “Every Outdoor space is a classroom waiting to happen.” In the Outdoor Learning Lab at TBP’s Pafford campus, students will have access to a variety of outdoor features that will enable them to learn by doing.

With the Outdoor Learning Lab’s curriculum, students can investigate the properties of soil and learn about the different types of plants that grow in specific environments, observe pollinators in their natural habitat, and learn fractions in specialized stations, to name a few experiences. From studying natural phenomena and spending time outside working alongside their peers, students will have the opportunity to engage with the natural world in a way that is both fun and educational.

The Outdoor Learning Lab not only benefits students academically but it also boosts their health. Spending time outdoors has been shown to increase physical activity levels, improve mood, and boost positive behavior while promoting creativity, curiosity, and critical thinking. With these real-world applications, students will be able to connect what they learn in the classroom to the world around them.

An Exciting and New Learning Opportunity

The Big Dig event marks the exciting opening of Trinity Basin Preparatory and Out Teach’s second Outdoor Learning Lab. We are proud to co-host this event and look forward to seeing the positive impact the Outdoor Learning Lab will have on TBP students and our community for years to come.