2019 Outdoor Laboratory of the Year
The James Cole Outdoor Education Center (JCOEC) at James Cole Elementary School, Lafayette, Indiana was selected as the 2019 Outdoor Laboratory of the Year. The award was announced at the Tree Farm Breakfast at the Indiana Hardwood Lumberman’s Association (IHLA) convention in Indianapolis on February 4, 2020. Kris Ziller, Laboratory Contact and Chairman of the Board of Keep Stockwell Beautiful, Inc. (KSB) accepted the award at the Hoosier Association of Science Teachers, Inc. (HASTI) convention in Indianapolis on February 10th.
The education center was established over 20 years ago by a group of teachers and parents. After sitting idle for several years, Keep Stockwell Beautiful, Inc. began a transformation of the center in 2009. A grant from Lowe’s helped reestablish wetlands. Other grants helping in the revitalization effort were from Greater Lafayette Community Foundation, John and Ruby Parks Foundation, and Wal-Mart.
The education center uses curriculum from different resources. Nature Explore, which was developed by the Arbor Day Foundation, is used and meets National Education Standards. Waste in Place, developed by Keep America Beautiful, is also used. Supplemental materials are used from Project Wild and Project Wet. Local natural resource professionals involved in center programs include Purdue Extension Services, Purdue Forestry, Take Flight Education, Tippecanoe County Parks and Recreation, Tippecanoe County Partnership for Water Quality, Tippecanoe Soil and Water Conservation District, and Tippecanoe Solid Waste.
A variety of programs are offered covering such topics as birds of prey, macro invertebrates, native plants, soil health, and wetlands habitat. High school students and students with disabilities also use the center and participate in the programs. Fishing is a crowd favorite and is included at the end of each program. Each year “Pond Day” is held to demonstrate the variety of habitats available at JCOEC. An annual “Regatta Race” is conducted for fourth graders. The teams build boats from cardboard and duct tape and race the boats across the wetlands.
The education center is used by all 16 teachers (100%) serving over 280 students (100%) throughout the year and all grade levels. KSB uses the center during the spring, summer, and fall for special guests. The center is maintained by volunteers throughout the year. Youth groups such as the Boy Scouts, church youth groups, and Cole Cubs participate in the maintenance and development.
This is the 43th year of Indiana Tree Farm sponsoring the Outdoor Laboratory of the Year. Education is one of the key objectives, recognition is the other. The laboratory of the year is selected by the Indiana Tree Farm Committee which is composed of a cross section of 31 resource professionals from throughout the state.
Ken Day is retired Forest Supervisor of the Hoosier National Forest.