Chautauqua Lake Campus Fosters Outdoor Learning

The campus of the Chautauqua Lake Central School district is not only the home of the Thunderbirds but other numerous flora and fauna that also call the grounds home. Students can look outside their classroom windows to catch a glimpse of turkey, deer, Canadian geese, butterflies, and bluebirds that roam and fly over the large fields and woodlands. Large areas of the grounds are “no-mow” zones allowing local wildlife to flourish and adding to the dynamic outdoor learning environments around the school buildings and athletic fields.

One significant habitat is the butterfly garden planted in front of the Elementary School. This garden was planted by Jack and Diane Voelker after a trip to Mexico to see the annual migration of Monarch butterflies. The garden has thrived and Monarchs have become a part of the curriculum. Butterflies have inspired a class that looks at the concept of change and the bigger issues of the world. Students can also take field science classes to learn about the local wildlife, habitats, and other biology topics.  

Over the summer Jeff Tome taught classes at Chautauqua Lake Central School and wrote a news feature for the Audubon Community Nature Center’s website about the district’s grounds. The article goes into more detail about the unique outdoor learning environments. Jeff Tome works as a Senior Nature Educator and in Marketing at Audubon Community Nature Center in Jamestown, NY. Read Jeff’s article on the Audubon Community Nature Center’s website here.