Chattanooga's Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy has a new tool to help fulfill its mission.
Local educators joined the elementary students to dedicate a new location for outdoor learning.
It may look like just a small pavilion...but it's much more.
Passion Bynum Jones, 5th Grader, "When they built it, very excited."
With help from TVA and the Tennessee Aquarium, a replica of a Cherokee Council House now sits on the campus of Calvin Donaldson Environmental Science Academy.
Students shared a Cherokee poem for dignitaries visiting to dedicate the new location for outdoor learning.
JaMiliae Macon, 5th Grader, "The Cherokee Indians is what used to be here but they're not here no more but we are still talking about them and learning about them."
Devon Saddler 5th grader, "This is a good place to learn because like the Cherokee house that's like history for us."
Along with History and Social Studies, the Cherokee Council House provides the perfect place to learn about the school's focus...science.
Jel'lyn Yates, 4th Grader, "You can get the advantage to come out here and study some of the things that live in the creek."
Atoria Flowers 5th Grader, "Most schools don't have this and then some people just always inside on the computer or something and it gives them a chance to be outside and learn more."
Becky Coleman, Principal, "Sometimes teachers will bring their kids out here just to be outdoors doing writing activities, math, literacy."
But it's the science that excites everyone the most.
Bob Deacy, TVA Sr. VP, "I look out here and I see the future leaders of TVA, folks who could be engineers, scientists accountants."
Starting with lessons learned right here.
The project has been in the works for around a year.
