Falcon High gets outdoor education space

On April 21, students from Falcon High School in Falcon School District 49, along with about 30 landscape professionals, worked together to build an outdoor learning laboratory at FHS. The space will be used for the new landscape curriculum the school will offer in the fall of 2017.Tammy DiFalco, member relations manager for the Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado, said local ALCC chapter members donated all the materials and labor. FHS has partnered with the ALCC to create a landscape career pathways program, which will include the new fall course.Dave Kranz, career and technical education teacher at FHS, will teach the landscape curriculum course in the fall. He said the most in-demand areas of the landscaping industry are hardscape and irrigation. His course will focus on design, installation and irrigation. The outdoor learning laboratory will provide a hands-on opportunity for students to get the training, Kranz said.The learning laboratory, which includes areas along the front and back of the school, features the following:

• Four irrigation system stations where students will learn about installation, repair and water management technologies
• A large garden for students to learn about plant identification, planting and plant maintenance
• A 400-square-foot area dedicated to hardscape instruction, like installation of pavers, stones and other non-plant materials
• A section dedicated to sod installation instruction and calculating slopes and grades

The locally owned Heidrichís Colorado Tree Farm Nursery donated a memorial tree that is incorporated into the design at the front of the building. Kim Boyd, lead school psychologist for D 49, said Heidrich’s donated the tree because of the losses Falcon has experienced in the last few months. The tree memorializes the persons who have died, and adds some positive energy to this project.The estimated value of the project is $47,000, about three times the amount FHS originally anticipated, he said. But the value extends to what the future holds for the students in the landscape career pathways program, Kranz said.ìThese companies will need employees, and who better to hire than the kids who are already trained in doing the work,î he said.The project began at about 8 a.m. and was completed as scheduled by about 4:30 p.m., Kranz said.