Check out AISD's Outdoor Learning Tool Kit!
Print posters, view field trip guides, and access other resources to grow outdoor learning at your campus.
Austin ISD's schoolyards create opportunities to inspire learning, foster connections to nature, support physical activity, promote healthy environments, and strengthen community. From new construction and campus improvements to ongoing care of outdoor spaces, the district works to enrich learning and to ensure schoolyards remain safe, sustainable, and welcoming for students and the broader community.
Designing Schoolyards for Learning
Outdoor learning is embedded in Austin ISD's Educational Specifications/ Outdoor Learning to ensure new schools and major renovations include spaces that support teaching and learning beyond the classroom. The district's design standards recognize that outdoor environments are an essential part of a well-rounded educational experience.
“Outdoor Learning environments are an essential part of AISD’s vision for learning environments."
Elements of Outdoor Learning Design for AISD schools include:
- Outdoor Studios
- Active Playgrounds
- Gardens
- Domestic Animal Habitats
- Nature Trails
- Green Stormwater Infrastructure
- Grass PE Play Fields with Exercise Trails
- SEL Quiet Spaces
Improving Your Schoolyard
Schools interested in adding or improving outdoor features should engage their campus community and submit a Campus New Project Request. Projects are reviewed to ensure they align with site planning and district standards for safety, accessibility, and maintenance. Refer to Central Texas School Garden Network for ideas and guidance.
Caring for Your Schoolyard Features
Check out these signs that show how to maintain your schoolyard feature, including rain gardens, meadows, pollinator and produce gardens, learning ponds, cisterns, and animal habitats. Feel free to download and post.
Schoolyards for Community
Austin ISD schoolyards serve both students and the broader community. Outside of school hours, many campuses are open for recreation and neighborhood use through district policies and joint use partnerships with the City of Austin. Please submit any questions about community use to AISD Help - Facilities, Grounds, & Transportation.