At Maple Elementary, Where Learning Lives Outdoors is more than a tagline. It is the foundation of our schoolwide learning model and a reflection of who we are as a community. We believe students thrive when they are connected to one another, engaged with the world around them, and given opportunities to learn through meaningful, hands-on experiences.

Our campus is more than a collection of classrooms. It is a connected learning environment where students explore, create, and grow through outdoor experiences, community partnerships, and a thoughtful, low-technology approach to learning.

The Outdoor Classroom

Our ocean themed outdoor classroom is a fully functional learning space designed for daily instruction and exploration. Equipped with working garden beds, outdoor desks, tree stump seating, whiteboards, and access to water and sinks, this space supports hands on learning across grade levels.

Teachers use the outdoor classroom for science investigations, writing workshops, collaborative discussions, art projects, and small group instruction. Students plant and harvest in the garden beds, conduct observations, sketch and journal at outdoor desks, and engage in sensory exploration through water and natural materials.

The ocean theme reinforces our connection to our local coastal environment while creating a calm and inviting setting for learning. This space embodies our belief that learning truly lives outdoors and that students thrive when they can move, build, observe, and create in authentic environments.

The Native Pollinator Garden

Our native pollinator garden is a living ecosystem designed to support local plants and wildlife. Featuring native species, milkweed to support monarch butterflies, a natural creek bed feature, and seating woven throughout the space, the garden provides an inviting and purposeful outdoor learning environment.

Students use the garden to study habitats, observe pollinators, explore life cycles, and examine how ecosystems function. The creek bed offers opportunities to discuss water systems, erosion, and environmental design, while built in seating allows for journaling, small group discussions, and quiet reflection.

Students actively participate in caring for the garden, learning responsibility, stewardship, and respect for the natural world. This space helps students understand their role in protecting and sustaining the environment around them.

Open Green Spaces

Maple’s green spaces offer room to move, collaborate, and build community. These areas are used for wellness activities, cross grade projects, outdoor lessons, and shared gatherings. Students learn to work together in open spaces, strengthening both academic skills and social connections.

These spaces are an important part of Maple's low-technology approach, providing students with active, experiential learning opportunities that encourage curiosity, confidence, and meaningful engagement with the world around them.

Community Connection

Our outdoor spaces serve as gathering places for families, students, and community partners. Through collaboration with local organizations, including Conejo Recreation and Park District, we continue to expand opportunities for students to engage with nature, wellness, and community resources.

At Maple, we are rooted in our neighborhood and inspired by the world around us.

Through outdoor exploration, strong relationships, and meaningful experiences, we are creating a place where students grow with confidence, care for their community, and discover that learning truly lives outdoors.