WEST OTTAWA
Outdoor Learning
At West Ottawa, we believe that some of the most meaningful learning happens beyond the classroom walls. Through a strong partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center, Lakeshore Elementary, Sheldon Woods Elementary, and Riley Farms Elementary provide students with unique opportunities to explore, question, and connect with the natural world. From hands-on science lessons and outdoor classrooms to trails, gardens, and habitat studies, our students learn to appreciate and care for their environment while developing critical thinking skills, creativity, and a love of discovery. These outdoor learning experiences are designed to complement classroom instruction, inspire curiosity, and help students grow as responsible global citizens.
More Green Time, Less Screen Time
West Ottawa Public Schools is bringing learning closer to nature through outdoor spaces that inspire curiosity, exploration, and hands-on discovery. As of fall 2026, outdoor learning spaces are complete at all nine elementary schools. Macatawa Bay and Harbor Lights middle schools will each add two outdoor learning spaces by fall 2027, complementing students’ and teachers’ access to expansive outdoor grounds, a pond with a dock, and a wetlands area.
At West Ottawa High School, a partnership with the Outdoor Discovery Center began in fall 2026 to restore a two-acre parcel to a native Michigan wildflower prairie. Benches, tables, and walking paths will be added in summer 2027, creating a welcoming setting for outdoor lessons and exploration. The high school campus also features a restored tree nursery and greenhouse, a newly added native Michigan wetlands area, and a floating dock on a campus pond for studying aquatic species.
By fall 2027, all 13 West Ottawa school buildings will have outdoor learning spaces, giving students across the district opportunities to connect classroom learning with the natural world.