Earth Island Institute

Green Schoolyards America joins Earth Island Sponsorship

Have you ever considered the environmental impact of thousands of acres of hot barren asphalt on children’s urban schoolyards across the country, or what their everyday learning experience is like with a traditional, paved schoolyard?

It’s drastically different than the impact of a Living School Grounds, that landscape architect Sharon Danks of Green Schoolyards America and her colleagues around the world are building to bring nature back to cities and suburbs by transforming barren asphalt and ordinary grass into vibrant environments for learning and play.

"Living school grounds are richly layered outdoor environments that strengthen local ecological systems while providing place-based, hands-on learning resources for children and youth of all ages. They are child-centered places that foster empathy, exploration, adventure and a wide range of play and social opportunities, while enhancing health and well-being and engaging the community.”

Experience the rich before and after transformations they’ve created by partnerships with school districts, public agencies, architects and engineers to develop city- and state-wide initiatives here.