Willis Lane Outdoor Learning Facility Restoration

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The Willis Lane Outdoor Learning Facility (W.O.L.F.) is an educational green space created for students to learn about plants, nature, and Texas geography. It is unique in that is was designed in the shape of Texas, and is divided into the four geographic regions found in Texas: basin and range, great plains, central lowland, and coastal plains. In its glory nearly a decade ago, it featured plants naïve to the various geographic regions, denoted major cities and rivers throughout Texas (either painted on the walkway or on paver stones located in the gardens), boasted a beautiful butterfly garden, and was a favorite spot for students to explore while on the playground. Unfortunately, over the past few years, it has fallen into disrepair and has become severely overgrown and unusable as a learning space.

It became the PTA’s goal to coordinate the restoration of the WOLF by working with local boy
and girl scouts. However, before the project began, an Eagle Scout candidate, and former Willis Lane student, came forward and asked to adopt the W.O.L.F. restoration as his eagle scout project. Because of his tie to our Elementary school and the fact that he remembed the W.O.L.F. when it was at its best, he became the perfect leader for the restoration project.

Our Eagle Scout candidate gathered volunteers and set up a plan to restore the gardens. He planned every detail from making a first aid kit available, providing lots of water for workers, and bringing adequate supplies. While the PTA provide $100 for materials, our local Home Depot also donated approximately 30 bags of compost and $80 in plants for the project. The remainder of the restoration cost was paid for by the Eagle Scout candidate's family.

The project took place on May 26th and included the following steps:

• Mowing down all tall weeds, while protecting existing trees and bushes.
• Removing remining weed and debris from beds.
• Tilling the soil.
• Adding compost.
• Planting new plants/seeds such as rosemary, bluebonnets, Texas sage, Mexican heather and
  Aztec grass.
• Trimming existing bushes and plants.
• Mulching beds.
• Watering plants.
• Cleaning up.

It took approximately 20 people working 7 hours to complete the project.

The final outcome of the Willis Lane Outdoor Learning Facility restoration is astounding. The new plants, while still young, should grow to fill in the garden area nicely. Plans are already being made to maintain and continue to improve the garden’s appearance in the following year.