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Loftis Middle students work to transform marshland into an outdoor learning space

Staff photo by Abby White / Students listen March 12, 2025, as Ashton Conibear opens their presentation on the Marshland Discovery Zone. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts. Staff photo by Abby White / Students listen March 12, 2025, as Ashton Conibear opens their presentation on the Marshland Discovery Zone. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

By Shannon Coan March 19, 2025 4 min read

At Loftis Middle School, eighth grade students are taking on real-world roles as they work to transform an unused marshland area on campus into an outdoor learning space that protects the environment and teaches others about conservation.

For the past several weeks, each eighth grade class has turned into a company with teams divided into key departments – design and planning, operations and finance, and marketing and outreach. The departments have each taken on different roles to create a plan for an accessible and interactive outdoor classroom, and earlier this month, they weaved their work together to present a pitch to a panel of school staff.

In their presentations, the students explained the budget considerations they took into account, presented a scale-model of the outdoor classroom and detailed how they planned to engage the community.

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Loftis Middle students work to transform marshland into an outdoor learning space

Staff photo by Abby White / Students listen March 12, 2025, as Makenleigh Young, left, and Skylar Rollins give their presentation on the Marshland Discovery Zone. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

Staff photo by Abby White / Cortney Fugate watches March 12, 2025, as her students give their presentation on the Marshland Discovery Zone. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

Staff photo by Abby White / The model of the proposed Marshland Discovery Zone made by students is seen March 12, 2025. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

Staff photo by Abby White / The current pavilion that will be renovated as part of the Marshland Discovery Zone is seen March 12, 2025. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

Staff photo by Abby White / On March 12, 2025, students listen to their presentation on the Marshland Discovery Zone. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

Staff photo by Abby White / Easton McCullum gives a tour of the proposed Marshland Discovery Zone on March 12, 2025. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

Staff photo by Abby White / The marshland area that is to be used as a study tool at the Marshland Discovery Zone is seen March 12, 2025. Eighth grade students at Loftis Middle School are working to create an outdoor learning area with wildlife habitats, observation spaces and hands-on learning environments as part of their project-based learning efforts.

The project is part of the students’ career exploration class, a program in Hamilton County middle schools that exposes students to a variety of careers and helps them build skills needed in the workplace.