‘REWILDING THE SCHOOLYARD - DISTRICT, LAND TRUST MAKE SPACE FOR OUTDOOR LEARNING
by ERIC WELCH
Bonner County Daily Bee Staff Writer | January 31, 2025
KOOTENAI — Six months ago, a small piece of school-owned property beside Kootenai Elementary was contributing little to the students next door.
A combination of woods and wetlands, the area was appealing to educators aiming to expand the school’s outdoor education opportunities, but teachers were discouraged from using it because of persistent marshiness that made it impossible to visit without tracking mud throughout the school’s halls and classrooms.
In July, nonprofit Kaniksu Land Trust set out to change that. Since then, the organization has replaced the area’s primitive dirt trails with gravel paths, installed several culverts and a small footbridge to help students traverse the area, and created six unique outdoor classrooms designed to facilitate a variety of lesson types.
