Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program
Master Plan Checklist
Each year, your planning committee should review the Master Plan Checklist below to help you create a
comprehensive “game plan” for the upcoming year. Your Master Plan will help you stay organized and
focused, and will help you create a sustainable Outdoor Classroom site that is an effective educational tool.
Remember—Keep It Simple and Have Fun!
 Purpose: Determine/Review the purpose of your outdoor classroom. The purpose for your outdoor
classroom should be determined and reviewed each year before you begin to develop any new outdoor learning
stations or other related projects. This will help your committee accomplish its goals, prioritize its outdoor classroom
projects, avoid any inessential projects, and guide your plans for years to come.
The Purpose of our Outdoor Classroom includes the following:
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Utilize Hands-on Activities with Students
Provide Inquiry-based Learning Opportunities
Meet ALSDE Course of Study Objectives
Increase Test Scores
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Teach about Conservation
Get Students Outdoors
Make Learning Fun
Create Wildlife Habitat
In addition, we hope to…__________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
 Faculty Survey: Survey your Faculty at the beginning of each school year and record the survey
results below. The Faculty Survey should help you gather feedback such as what learning stations the teachers
would/do use the most, what resources they may need to use the outdoor classroom as an educational tool, and who
would like to serve on the planning committee this year. Download the “Example Faculty Survey” under the
“Planning Materials” link on the AWF’s Outdoor Classroom webpage (see below) and edit it as needed.
When will you survey your faculty? ________________________________________________________
Note: To maximize the # of surveys returned, hand out surveys at the beginning of a faculty meeting and collect them at the end.
Faculty Comments & Suggestions:_________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
 Activity Resources: Take inventory of the activity resources your faculty has/needs to utilize the
outdoor classroom more efficiently as an educational tool. Utilize the example “Outdoor Classroom Activity
Resources Inventory” sheet under the “Planning Materials” link on the AWF’s Outdoor Classroom webpage (see
below) to organize your activity resources and determine what resources your faculty still needs. For more activity
ideas, click the “Free Conservation Ed Activities” link on AWF’s Outdoor Classroom webpage.
Outdoor Classroom Activity Resources Inventory Date:_______________________________________
Activity Resources Still Needed:___________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
For more info about the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program,
Visit AlabamaWildlife.org & Click on the Butterfly…
Outdoor Classroom Master Plan Checklist – 1713
Alabama Outdoor Classroom Planning Guide Appendix, Page 11 (1 of 3)
Outdoor Classroom Master Plan Checklist
 Goals: List your planning committee’s Goals for the outdoor classroom this year. Your goals for the
year should help guide your project choices for the year, which will be listed below.
The Goals for our Outdoor Classroom this year include the following:
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Begin Developing our Outdoor Classroom
Increase Hands-on Learning Opportunities
Increase Class Participation in the Outdoor Classroom
Increase Student Participation in the Maintenance Plan
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Expand our Outdoor Classroom
Increase Community Involvement
Develop a Student Service Learning Project
Conduct a Wildlife Habitat Restoration
In addition, we would like to…______________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
 Projects: Prioritize what projects your planning committee would like to accomplish this year.
Your projects should help you accomplish your goals for the year, address any faculty needs expressed in the Faculty
Survey, and include projects that need to be completed from the previous year. After you prioritize your projects
below, create an “Individual Project Plan” for each of your projects using the “Individual Project Plan Worksheet”
under the “Planning Materials” link on AWF’s website. Remember, be careful not to take on too much!
Our Outdoor Classroom Projects for this year include the following:
 Learning Station(s) – List the learning station(s) you would like to develop such as a butterfly garden.
 Outdoor Classroom Component(s) – List the component(s) you would like to add such as outdoor seating.
 Educational Activities – List what types of activity resources your faculty needs or what type of activities
you would like to develop such as Outdoor Classroom Field Journals or Activity Kits.
 Communication Projects – Increase communication about your outdoor classroom by developing a bulletin
board, educational signs or kiosks for learning stations, or a plant identification guide for your school.
 Fundraising – Apply for a grant or hold a fundraiser to raise funds for the projects you have identified.
 Maintenance Plan(s) – Hold Work Days for community volunteers, establish a “Learning Station Adoption
Program” for classes to help with day-to-day maintenance, or ask Student Clubs to assist on a weekly basis.
 Special Events – Organize an Environmental Education Day where students rotate through a variety of
conservation education activities, certify your site through the AL Outdoor Classroom Program, or inviting
professionals from the conservation field such as a forester to demonstrate conservation career opportunities.
Outdoor Classroom Project
Person in Charge
Estimated
Cost
Estimated
Date
For more info about the Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program,
Visit AlabamaWildlife.org & Click on the Butterfly…
Outdoor Classroom Master Plan Checklist – 1713
Alabama Outdoor Classroom Planning Guide Appendix, Page 11 (2 of 3)
Outdoor Classroom Master Plan Checklist
 Outdoor Classroom Layout: Create or update your Outdoor Classroom schematic that includes
the layout of where the outdoor learning stations will be located within the outdoor classroom area.
The schematic may also include other features in the outdoor classroom area such as walkways, nature trails, central
heat and air units, electrical outlets, water spigots, and fences. Note any changes in the outdoor classroom layout
below. Also, be sure to attach a copy of your updated schematic to your current Master Plan for future reference.
Outdoor Classroom Layout Notes/Updates:_________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________________
 Maintenance Plan: Establish/Review your Maintenance Plan for the school year and the summer.
Utilize the “Maintenance Plan Checklist” under the “Planning Materials” link on the AWF Outdoor Classroom
webpage to help your committee establish an effective, sustainable maintenance plan for the year. Encourage teacher
and student participation in the maintenance of the outdoor classroom by creating an “Outdoor Learning Station
Adoption Program,” and by utilizing student clubs for weekly maintenance needs such as picking up garbage or
watering plants. Also, be sure to review your Maintenance Plan from the previous year to determine what worked and
what did not.
Maintenance Plan Checklist Review Date:___________________________________________________
Maintenance Plan Notes:_________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
 Faculty Updates: Present an Outdoor Classroom Update to the faculty at the beginning of each
semester and throughout the year on an as-needed basis. Keeping key people like the principal, faculty, and
maintenance staff informed and involved are vital to the success and sustainability of your outdoor classroom.
Faculty Presentation #1 Date & Notes:______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
Faculty Presentation #2 Date & Notes:______________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
 Parent Updates: Present an Outdoor Classroom Update to the PTA/PTO at the beginning of each
year. Parents can provide valuable volunteer and financial support for your outdoor classroom. Keep them involved!
PTA/PTO Presentation Date(s) & Notes:____________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The Alabama Outdoor Classroom Program is a partnership between:
Alabama Cooperative
Extension System
Alabama Wildlife Federation
www.alabamawildlife.org/classrooms/
Outdoor Classroom Master Plan Checklist – 1713
Alabama Department of
Conservation & Natural Resources
Alabama Outdoor Classroom Planning Guide Appendix, Page 11 (3 of 3)