Sewickley Academy

Over the past year, we have continued to grow and enrich our Nature Explore Classroom in meaningful ways.

In the Secret Garden, we added new plants designed to support pollinators and offer edible
experiences for the children, further connecting them to the natural cycles of growth and nourishment. We also added benches to create welcoming spaces for rest, observation, and gathering. One of the most exciting additions was renting chickens to live in the garden for a period of time. This gave the children daily opportunities to care for animals, observe their behaviors, and better understand the responsibilities of tending to living things—an experience that quickly became a favorite.

In April 2025, a strong storm caused significant damage to the open field portion of our outdoor
classroom, bringing down the largest oak tree on our campus. While it was sad to lose such a majestic tree, it became the starting point for a rich investigation. The children explored questions about why the tree fell, examined its structure, and used it for imaginative play and age-appropriate risky exploration. This experience inspired so much curiosity and creativity that it became the focus of our end-of-year Kindergarten performance. The fallen oak, once a symbol of loss, became a powerful and beautiful learning opportunity—one that brought our school community together in wonder and discovery.

Learn more about this classroom on their certification page!