The Schoolyard Restoration project is part of a nationwide program started by the Earth Partnership for Schools at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Arboretum. Our restoration program, called the RESTORE Partnership, links local teachers in Benton and Linn counties with resources and support to create outdoor learning laboratories on their school grounds.  We are currently working with seven schools on various projects: 

Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis  – Corvallis, OR

Kings Valley Charter School – Kings Valley, OR

Muddy Creek Charter School – Corvallis, OR

Mountain View Elementary School – Corvallis, OR

Calapooia Middle School – Albany, OR

Foster Elementary School – Sweet Home, OR

Hamilton Creek School – Lebanon, OR

The Institute for Applied Ecology provides support and expertise to teachers who are interested in starting a restoration project at their school. Each participating school has a monthly RESTORE Day when students focus their effort on completing restoration activities. Each school’s project is unique and designed to suit the needs, location, and abilities of the school. All the restoration activities include native plantings, but the specific projects range from restored wetland areas to structured outdoor classrooms to interpretive trails on surrounding properties. The RESTORE Partnership gives students and teachers the skills they need to complete projects that can be used for outdoor learning for years to come. 

Interested in restoring your schoolyard? Contact Jody Einerson for more information.

IAE and the Kings Valley Charter School would like to thank Habitat for Humanity of Benton County for their donation of materials for an interpretive kiosk.

IAE and the Boys and Girls Club of Corvallis would like to thank Marys River Lumber Company for their donation of materials for a raised bed.