Strengthening schools from the ground up.
Green schoolyards bring nature more fully into our kids' learning and play environments, helping them thrive both in and out of the classroom. They combine green stormwater infrastructure engineering principles with research on how nature can foster cognitive development and physical and mental health to create benefit-rich outdoor spaces. Driven by our mission to get the most good out of green infrastructure, Greenprint Partners is proud to support schools across the country in transforming their campuses.
Students
Better spaces to learn and play.
Green schoolyards improve academic performance, reduce stress and behavioral challenges, encourage healthy physical activity, and more.
Outdoor learning is especially beneficial for students facing poverty, racism, and trauma, helping to close education gaps.
Educators
New tools to inspire achievement.
Green schoolyards are appreciated by educators because they help kinesthetic learners, are close to classrooms, and offer diverse experiences for students to connect lessons to the natural world.
Outdoor learning also leads to healthier teachers and reduces burnout.
Community
Greater community cohesion.
Successful green schoolyards are the result of local collaboration. We engage educators, parents, and students about their priorities and desires to create a unified building plan. The project sparks cooperation, interdependence, and a common goal.
Design strategies to maximize desired benefits.
While every green schoolyard is unique to its setting and community, the following strategies guide great design.
Bring learning outdoors.
We integrate in-person educational opportunities that can provide valuable outdoor learning experiences that cater to different learning styles.
Benefits
Public safety: Covid-19
Academic performance
Environmental literacy
Equity in learning
Get in the zone.
We analyze site usage and transform expansive hardscape into thoughtful zones for learning, playing, socializing, and relaxing that better serve students.
Benefits
Community cohesion
Mental health
Beneficial play
Academic performance
Get kids moving.
We create or expand new playspaces and green spaces for physical activity and nature-based exploration.
Benefits
Mental health
Physical activity
Beneficial play
Throw some shade.
We reduce heat island effects of large paved surfaces by depaving, converting land to turf or landscaping, and adding tree canopy.
Benefits
Reduce heat islands
Physical activity
Beneficial play
Maximize views, inside and out.
We introduce attractive trees, shrubs, grasses, and flowers with varying levels, textures, and colors to create year-round visual interest, especially around windows.
Benefits
Mental health
Academic performance
Wildlife habitat
Green Schoolyards Frequently Asked Questions
What is the process?
Our experienced project managers pursue grant funds, lead project design, and manage construction over a 1-2 year period.
How are projects designed?
Our design team transforms each school’s desired benefits, aesthetic preferences, and planned site uses into a showcase-worthy solution.
How will the school community be involved?
Our community activation team facilitates school-wide engagement, education, communications, and celebrations throughout the project.
How will the project be built and maintained?
We design, engineer, and construct green schoolyards that thrive with schools’ existing maintenance staff, equipment, and resources.
How much does it cost?
We coordinate with each school to take advantage of utility green infrastructure grant funds and other funding sources, like:
ESSER funds for public and charter schools,
EANS funds for private schools, and