In January 2006 Maury parents got together to plan a school garden that would allow students to engage in hands-on-science activities. With design help from the ACPS garden coordinator, Wendy Sparrow, they broke ground that spring on an unused section of the playground bordering Russell Road. Parents built two raised beds and dug long flower beds. Funds from the PTA paid for materials and plants. By May, kindergarteners had planted vegetables, first graders had sowed peanuts, and second graders had planted flowers and herbs that would attract butterflies. That fall a new crop of kindergarteners and first graders would reap the harvest.Since its founding, Maury’s garden has become a spot for learning and recreation for all grades. On any given day, students can be found observing plant development or creating flower patterns. This past year, third graders under the supervision of Maury science teacher, Stefan Fisher, observed the flowering and fading of their red tulips, planted as part of the "Journey
North" project that tracks the spread of spring across the US and Canada. At present, Maury’s first attempt at growing cotton—a Virginia cash crop included in social studies curriculum—looks like a success. And thanks to a generous parent and some labor from our second graders, the garden now boasts a special strawberry bed.The outdoor classroom has also grown in terms of its infrastructure. In April 2007, Boy Scout Troop 135 gathered to help Regan Mukai in his Eagle Scout project—the construction of three handsome benches and a new raised bed. Seating in the garden area has since expanded even more with the PTA’s purchase of two sturdy picnic tables. ACPS also provided a water barrel.
Maury outdoor classroom was created by the PTA and operates with the help of many volunteers, who water, weed, dig, and help coordinate activities. Thanks to all of them!
