Outdoor Learning Spaces

List of 15 items.

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  Animal Care

  High Meadows’ animals live in the Barnyard area where students learn responsibility and empathy while caring for our resident rabbits, goats, sheep, and a host of chickens.
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  Archery Range

  The archery program takes place in Rebecca’s Range, named for Mema Crawford’s granddaughter, Rebecca Crawford, who was a High Meadows teacher and counselor.  Located deep in the Lower Meadow, the program has challenged students to achieve mastery through a series of requirements that emphasize safety and personal growth since High Meadows began in 1973.
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  Bouldering Wall

  Located behind and at the base of the Early Years building, the Bouldering Wall is used—with adult supervision--by all ages. The “routes” are followed by noting the colored hand and foot holds. Staff members instruct children about proper climbing techniques as children gain confidence and proficiency.
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  Children's Garden

  Our children’s vegetable and flower gardens are used three seasons of the year as a teaching tool for children to grow vegetables. Also of note is the large Loquat tree, a native of Bermuda, planted and cared for by groundskeeper Neil Gibson.
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  Mema's Garden

  Originally the herb and vegetable garden of Florence “Mema” Crawford, mother of co-founder Bill Crawford, Mema’s Garden now houses bird-feeding stations, butterfly and insect pollinators, numerous flower and herb varieties, and native plant landscapes. Students visit with each other on the gazebo’s bench swing, which was built by alumni and parents in recognition of our 40th anniversary. Children and other community members painted the floor tiles—if you look closely, you will find one with a painting of Mema herself! 
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  Fig Tree

  (Between the Preschool building and Barn Theater) The fig tree is very old and has provided yummy figs to many passersby when they ripen in August. Be sure they are soft, turning purplish/brown, and the skin is beginning to crack before you pick them. Those are the signs of a ripe, sweet fig.
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  Gaga Pit

  The Gaga Pit is a fixture in the low meadow area and is a favorite game for our older children. High Meadows alumna Rachael Strobeck '22 constructed this new Gaga Pit for her Eagle Scout Project, which required her to create a project plan, gain all necessary approvals, develop cost and material lists, present to her Scout Troup, and assemble volunteers to dismantle the old gaga pit and build the new one. What a tremendous upgrade for our students!
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  Grandfather Tree

  Our largest tree on campus, and a spectacular sight, the Grandfather Tree is at the intersection of two trails on our 42-acre campus. It takes at least 30 minutes to walk there and back. We believe this white oak tree may be 250-300 years old and is an important food source for animals that live in the forest. It is fascinating for children to contemplate that this tree was here when the Native Americans lived and worked on this land.
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  Jones Gym

  First built for and named after one of High Meadows’ original staff, Bob Jones, who wanted a gym for camp. Jones Gym is not actually a gym but an open-air structure that is a favorite place for PE and outdoor classes to gather. It is located adjacent to the soccer fields. The current structure was built as an Eagle Scout project in the spring of 2009.
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  Lower Meadow

  High Meadows students across grade levels gather to run and play on the Lower Meadow for their afternoon recess, aptly named "Meadow Time." Play spaces include two playgrounds, a soccer field, a basketball court, a four-square court, and more. This beautiful green space sets the scene for many school events and gatherings and is home to our family of school animals, an important element of High Meadows life.

  
  Our soccer field is named “Crawford Field” in honor of founder Bill Crawford, who introduced soccer to High Meadows and encouraged a friendly sports rivalry with Camp Chattahoochee (now Camp Kingfisher).
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  Shadow Fox Trail

  Shadow Fox Trail begins at Stonehenge on the High Meadow and follows the trail around to just below the pool. The forest trail, named for Mark Warren, is an integral part of the Kindergarten outdoor program. Children discover the rare Toadshade Trillium, Solomon’s Seal, the May Apple patch on the upper trail to Grandfather Oak, the specimen Persimmon tree, the old twisted Sourwood tree, Beech trees along the stream, and after a good rain, the myriad sizes, shapes and colors of wild mushrooms. You may even see or smell the illusive stinkhorn mushrooms, notorious for popping up suddenly and unexpectedly. So many treasures await those with a keen eye, nose, and ear.
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  Stables

  The Stables are a highlight of the High Meadows experience where our students work with our animal care specialists at the Barnyard to feed, brush and care for our horse, Bella Luna, and two ponies–Little Moon and Sir Bentley–and a donkey, Roger. Our Pre-K through Third Grade students enjoy pony rides as part of their animal care education.
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  Swimming Pool

  Our swimming pool is located below the Franklin House next to the Maintenance Building. Originally built for the Franklin family, the pool area was renovated in 2004, and the shower house was added. The brick staircase leading to the pool was built by the founders.
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  Tire Dragon

  The Tire Dragon is the result of a 2013 Emphasis project on the study of Trash. Built by Fourth and Fifth Grade students as a gift to our youngest students in the preschool, the experience highlighted integrated learning with a special emphasis on mathematics and taking action to better our community.
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  Water Garden

  A plethora of critters, such as fish, dragonflies, caddisflies, water striders, turtles, toads, and frogs, begin their lives in the fish pond across from the Preschool Building. The bog allows children to learn about carnivorous plants and how cranberries grow. Our Kindergarten and First Graders take care of feeding our fish and are our most frequent visitors. Several classrooms adopt tadpoles to observe their development. Art classes often enjoy this setting as inspiration, both for creative and botanical drawing. When lightning struck the nearby tree in 2017, James Cox and Nico Seely from our maintenance team built the pergola that now offers shade and protection. You will notice a marker and an Emily Dickinson quote in the garden, placed in memory of Shannon Burke Ford, the daughter of long-time teacher Faith Burke.