Where learning meets leaves: Outdoor classroom sparks joy at Mull

Ask someone what they remember from school, and they will likely reminisce about zipping across the playground or reading under a shady tree.

At Mull Elementary School the buzz of cicadas replaces the hum of an old HVAC unit and fluorescent light is replaced by gentle rays of sunshine filtering through the tree line as a new outdoor classroom is turning the moments folks remember into everyday learning experiences.

Principal Amber Lackey said the project has revitalized the campus, giving teachers fresh ways to teach and students new ways to learn.

“It’s a great place to come,” Lackey said. “Even if it’s the exact same lesson, when you say, ‘We’re going to the outdoor classroom,’ the kids’ energy just changes. It boosts their excitement for learning and gives teachers a break from the closed-in spaces inside.”

The outdoor classroom began as the Eagle Scout Service Project of Freedom High School graduate Kenton Gupton, who partnered with principal Lackey to create a space where children could learn surrounded by nature.

What started as Gupton’s project quickly grew into a community effort. Families, teachers, and volunteers from around Burke County came together to build benches, set posts, and clear the space. Local contractors shared expertise, and parents and students pitched in on weekend workdays.

“It really was a community project,” Lackey said. “Parents rolled up their sleeves, kids came out, and we all just made it happen.”

Out of 130 submissions across 11 counties, the project at Mull Elementary was selected as the Eagle Scout Service Project of the Year by the Piedmont Council of Scouting America.

Gupton, now in his second year at Appalachian State University, said he hopes this recognition will inspire other Scouts to find ways to invest in schools across their own communities.

Since its completion, the space has been used for parent nights, art projects, and lessons across grade levels. It has also become a favorite spot for Mull’s day treatment class, which blends academics with behavioral health counseling. Students use the space for group therapy, reflection, and outdoor learning.

Mull Elementary School Teacher Leslie Carpenter recently used the space to teach a science lesson on clouds and the water cycle. “It proved to be the perfect setting. My students were fully engaged and truly enjoyed working outside.”

She added that the space offers a refreshing change of scenery that benefits students in many ways. “It’s an ideal environment for addressing diverse sensory needs and accommodating different learning styles.”

The school’s media coordinator Kimberly Gregory said the classroom has quickly become a hub for hands-on, creative lessons.

She cited a recent book scavenger hunt where each pedestal in the space displayed a page from a story and after reading, students searched the outdoor area for objects connected to the text. A fun lesson, she shared, “blended literacy, problem-solving, and nature exploration, sparking both excitement and teamwork”

According to Gregory, other lessons have included nature walks, where students observed plants and insects, then returned to sketch and label their findings.

“The students are so engaged when we take learning outside,” Gregory added. “It gives them a chance to explore, create, and share in ways that the traditional classroom doesn’t always allow.”

Lackey said the classroom has also given students opportunities to work through challenges in a new environment. Teachers and counselors often use the space to address conflicts or give students a calming area to reset.

“There are usually fewer behavior issues outside than in the classroom,” Lackey said. “The space gives students room to move, make noise, and learn in ways that feel natural.”

The area is also safe, fully fenced in, and closely supervised. Teachers coordinate schedules before heading outside, and the school maintains a strong partnership with public safety to ensure plans are in place for any emergency.

The project has also brought a sense of pride to the school. For Lackey, it’s proof that even in an older building, Mull continues to grow and innovate.

“It’s a very unique feature,” she said. “It shows we’re still adding, still improving, and still making this a place where students want to learn.”