Sited between 5 wetlands, 250-year-old white oaks, and a fish-bearing creek, the new Lacamas Heights Elementary School connects students to existing site features by creating unique outdoor learning environments.
Outdoor learning environments include an amphitheater nestled within an existing grove of trees, outdoor classrooms, a courtyard framing the view of Mt Hood, and a variety of nature play spaces that use materials collected from the site. In response to the ecological sensitivity of the existing white oaks, non-irrigation demanding meadow grasses replace turf in many playground areas, and low-impact play structures are used to reduce the impact on their root systems. The extensive path systems promote activity and exploration for children of all ages.
