A new outdoor classroom at Gateway Middle School could be useful to biology and other nature-related classes, but its main purpose is to get children outside, said Amy Baer.

“They need to be outside, and there’s so much of it that’s not happening,” the science teacher said.

The setting would be particularly good for art and science classes, but fresh air and the scent of growing plants would help students in any subject, she said.

“Just being in different surroundings in general is stimulating,” Baer said.

She has been working with students and other teachers for the past three years to convert an unused, weed-filled courtyard into an attractive place for learning. The classroom includes benches for the students, with a canopy overhead to provide shade.

About 40 seventh- and eighth-graders are helping Baer prepare several garden beds that will mostly hold fruits and vegetables to be used next year in the family consumer science class. Some of the students are in her science classes; others are members of the Trash to Treasure Club; and some are just volunteers who enjoy working outside, she said.

Caroline Brown, 12, said she joined the project because she likes gardens.

“I just like all the different kinds of plants that can grow in them,” she said.

Michael Guerra, 13, hauled dirt from a pile on another side of the school to the garden beds.

“I think it will be interesting once it gets running,” he said.

Tony Havrilla, a Gateway High School student, coordinated the construction of a wooden border and the placement of about nine cubic yards of mulch to provide the foundation for the canopy area, as well as some landscaping around the walls surrounding the open-air courtyard.

Shaquan Lewis, 12, said he frequently helps on the Trash to Treasure Club projects.

“I just figure if I can help someone, why not?” he said.

Baer said the students left one corner in weeds to study the natural succession of the plants.

“We’re just going to see what happens,” she said.

The project is being funded by $3,000 from the state’s Growing Greener program and $1,000 from the PPG Industries Foundation, she said.

Chris McCune, 13, said helping dump the dirt in the beds beats being inside.

“It’s nice out, and I love the summer and the spring,” he said.

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