The outdoor classroom at Julian Newman Elementary buzzed with activity throughout the day on Friday as students yanked weeds, hauled bags of soil, dug holes and learned the ins and outs of gardening.

Friday marked the school’s big push to get the outdoor classroom up to snuff and ready for planting and expansions that will include a song bird sanctuary, a woodland wildlife and wildflower area, and a water feature.

The Outdoor Classroom Program was made possible through a partnership between the Alabama Wildlife Federation, Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and Alabama Cooperative Extension System. The AWF recently granted the school $1,000, which allowed them to expand and improve the outdoor space.

Over the years, the outdoor classroom at Julian Newman has undergone numerous changes and additions, offering students “endless opportunities to explore the world,” said Sharla Birdsong, the school’s principal.

Now that the school is transitioning into a medical- and health-themed academy, the outdoor space and garden has become more relevant than ever.

“We want to expose students to real-life situations,” Birdsong said. “Whether it be observing an animal in its natural habitat or observing the life cycle of a plant.”

Third-grade teacher Katie Roberts said, “I don’t think our students are aware how there is a huge connection between our plants and animals and gardening that goes back to our health and our environment. The academy is not just about taking care of the body, but the environment, our mental health our physical health.”

Three teachers, Roberts, Holly Hargrove and Tyler Nay headed up Friday’s project, which they described as taking what they already had and giving it a facelift.

They refreshed the beds, conditioned the soil to get it ready for seeds and seedlings, dug up the grass along the back side of the school so they could install a songbird sanctuary, and started preparing a corner of the sanctuary for a pond. Across the Pond in Huntsville was on hand to help with that aspect of the project.

Working in 30 minute time slots, students from every class at Julian Newman joined their teachers, parent volunteers, and several members of the Limestone County Master Gardeners Association to get the outdoor space ready for the upcoming school year. Joy Thomas, a consultant from the Alabama Wildlife Federation, also showed up to teach students how to work the soil.

“They love playing in the dirt,” said Thomas, a fourth-grade science teacher at Barkley Bridge Elementary in Hartselle. “Let’s hope they are getting some weeds, too.”

She leaned over to help second-grader Brileigh Wise remove a stubborn weed embedded in the ground where the future bird sanctuary will be built. Then, the two of them grabbed their shovels and started leveling the dirt on the surface of the sanctuary.

“There’s a lot of upfront work in gardening,” Thomas said. “I tell them you have to imagine it’s going to be gorgeous.”

Fourth-grader Caleb Howell couldn’t wait to get outside Friday and work in the garden. He said he loves the feeling of being outdoors and having his hands in the soil.

“It’s a lot better than being stuck in a classroom,” added Howell’s classmate, Jack Deemer.

Roberts hopes working in the garden beds will give her students “ownership of their learning.”

“When they work on something themselves, they care more about it and want it to be successful,” Roberts said. “ It teaches so many aspects along with state standards. The things they are doing here teach real-life experiences they can relate to.”

Fourth-grader Jordan Murray said taking care of the plants has taught her responsibility. She is hoping the garden area will flourish long after she has moved on to the intermediate school.