As I search for a site, I feel the need to elaborate on my program in a more concrete way than I have done so far. My design goals are these:

• Create a school that focuses on environmental/experiential education– that is, teaching children while creating an intimate connection with nature
• Create an environment that enhances one’s connection with the outdoors
• Provide this experience to those who need it most– those children whose access to nature is most limited (families of limited means, minority populations, people within inner cities)
• More succinctly, I imagine this project to be a magnet or charter school, focused on the environment, located in a moderately urban (or older suburban) setting.

With these goals in mind, I can begin to translate my ideas into more specific site qualities:

• Adjacency or immersion in a natural landscape– or space where the natural landscape can be restored (a city park, disused parking lot, etc)
• Accessible by those children whose access to nature is most limited (either within their neighborhood or easily reachable by public transit)

Thus! I will lay out a few site potentials:

1

All Things Go!

Create a patch of native prairie in the middle of Chicago, Illinois.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10905727

While the richness of Chicago’s ecological and social history are extremely enticing, there are the overwhelming logistics of picking the right site, visiting, getting to know the neighborhood, etc, etc…

2

Up In the Woods

Take advantage of the wealth of wilderness (as it were) of Portland’s Forest Park.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/30744084

This site is probably most advantageous in terms of its potential for connections to nature. Those living in the (quite affluent) neighborhood of this park don’t really need a school to access it, but its location within the city of Portland (and not far from downtown at that) means public transit is a possibility.

3

Swamp Stompin’

Connect North Portland students with the Smith and Bybee Wetlands Natural Area.

http://www.panoramio.com/photo/10508441

A restored native Oregon habitat, in close proximity to some of Portland’s less affluent neighborhoods.

A second option for this would be to restore a local North Portland park to a more functioning native ecosystem.