Georgia Outdoor Learning Study Committee Highlights Columbus' MLK Learning Trail
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The Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Learning Trail in Columbus was recently highlight by a state committee and may serve as a guide to other like minded educational opportunities across the State of Georgia.
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The five member Committee chaired by Sen Senator Sheikh Rahman from District 5 included Columbus’ Senator Ed Harbison. The legislators heard testimony from 18 varied outdoor learning experts, organizations, advocates and teachers.
The 2021 final report recorded remarks from Senator Harbison, who discussed the MLK Outdoor Learning Trail, located in Columbus, Georgia, and described its location and learning stations. He believes the Trail is a tremendous learning opportunity for children.
The outdoor classroom opportunities of the eleven site Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outdoor Learning Trail have expanded to include the George Washington Carver Victory Gardens & Farm. The Gardens & Farm are a children and youth focused partnership that offers Muscogee County School District youth an outdoor multifaceted learning environment and entrepreneurship training.
The Committee’s recommendation’s preamble stated “the Committee determined that engagement with the outdoors has an extremely positive effect when implemented both in a school and an extra- curricular setting. After substantial discussion and review, the Committee finds a need to emphasize outdoor learning opportunities and generally increase access to the outdoors for both children and young adults.”
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The MLK Learning Trail in Columbus. |
The committee’s seven recommendations included , “The Committee encourages the inclusion of an ongoing program similar to “The Martin Luther King Jr. Outdoor Learning Trail,” in Columbus, in student’s curriculum statewide. The trail provides students to have the opportunity to engage in nature, civics, and gardening as a result.”
During the meeting other recommendations were covered to include; Advocating for a state level “Office of the Outdoors to optimize outdoor learning, engagement, and recreation efforts across state government departments and with non-state partners, Encouraging funding or other support to ensure that each Georgia child participates in regular, meaningful outdoor learning experience and promoting the creation of a grant program available to both schools and non-profit providers of outdoor learning and environmental education.
The Martin Luther King Jr. Learning Trail is part of Columbus' DragonFly Trails network. The trails consist of plans for more than 60 miles of off road trails and paths across the city of Columbus that include areas such as the Columbus Riverwalk. The MLK trail spans 2.2 miles along Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd between 10th Avenue and Macon Road The trail opened in early 2021.
The Georgia State Senate adopted a resolution to create the Outdoor Learning Study Committee in 2021. The committee holds the responsibility to look at issues and needs associated with outdoor learning and issues recommendations. The committee also works with state experts such as those from the state universities and state departments. The committee is made up of Senator Sheikh Rahman, Senator Jennifer Jordan, Senator Burt Jones, Senator Ed Harbison, and Senator Sally Harrell.
Story Courtesy of TurnAroundColumbus