In November 2023, City Neighbors High School (CNHS) was awarded a Heart of the School Fund grant to support the creation of an outdoor classroom on their campus, a project that has already begun to transform the school’s learning environment. The vision for the outdoor classroom has been years in the making. Back in 2019, CNHS, in partnership with Ashley Traut, started planning for green spaces on the City Neighbors High School/City Neighbors Hamilton campus. Over the past few years, they’ve received grants, including one from the Chesapeake Bay Trust, to reduce stormwater runoff and increase green spaces throughout the campus. This environmental initiative has included removing impervious surfaces, creating a rain garden, and planting native species—all with the goal of creating a more sustainable, hands-on learning environment for students.

The outdoor classroom is a result of the collaborative efforts of the CNHS Green Team, a student-led, afterschool club that has spearheaded much of the campus’s environmental work. With support from local organizations like Live Green Landscape and EnviroCollab, the team helped design the space and plant shrubs and trees that will surround it, transforming a previously unused area into an inviting, functional outdoor classroom serving 650 students from both Cit Neighbors High School and the nearby City Neighbors Hamilton (CNH).

Since the project’s completion, the response from students, staff, and parents has been overwhelmingly positive. The outdoor classroom is already being used for advisory periods, reading blocks, and student gatherings. It’s a space where students can take a break from the classroom, enjoy lunch, and even participate in environmental education activities like planting native species.

Cheyanne Zahrt, Principal of CNHS, reflected on the impact of the project:

"Working on the grant and implementation of the outdoor classroom with the GREEN Team at CNHS was one of the best moments as a principal. It was awesome to watch the students create their vision of the space and see it come to life. It has been a great space for our community."

Senior student Paige Curry shared her excitement about the space, particularly its value during the warmer months:

"I like the outdoor classroom especially during the summer. Last year, in AP seminar and pod especially I got to use it to get a fresh breath of air instead of being cooped up in the class for an hour. It's also a nice space to have lunch."

To celebrate the completion of the outdoor classroom, CNHS held an unveiling ceremony during the Earth Day celebration on April 25, 2024. For the Class of 2024, this was especially meaningful as they not only were able to showcase their hard work coming to fruition but also able to do the ribbon cutting before graduating.

We look forward to seeing how this new resource will continue to enrich the lives of students and families for years to come.

Six times a year, the Heart of the School Fund provides grants to Baltimore City Public School principals to support projects that enhance their school buildings, their students’ learning, and their staff’s growth. To read about additional Heart of the School Fund grants, click here.

Check out photos of the space and ribbon cutting ceremony below: