OWLS

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Students and teachers at FSH have long participated in natural learning inspired by the wildlife and spaces beyond the walls of their classrooms.  In the fall of 2003, with the help of many members of the FSH community, OWLS was born.  OWLS project members now include student, faculty and parent volunteers who work to care for the existing gardens on campus, prepare beds for new gardens, coordinate the school-wide use of the greenhouse, and to advocate for outdoor educational opportunities.

Vision Statement
Our vision for Our Wild Life and Spaces (O.W.L.S.) projects is to provide habitat for indigenous plants and animals and to involve students in caring for the natural spaces around our campus. The gardens and supporting projects are integrated with curriculum in preschool through sixth grade programs at Friends School Haverford. The OWLS Project seeks to develop areas for outdoor learning guided by the Quaker testimony of Stewardship. We strive to help our students develop an appreciation for the beauty and wonder of the natural world. We believe this can be accomplished through hands-on experiences in an outdoor learning environment. FSH OWLS projects are in the care of the Environmental Education Committee of Friends School Haverford and clerked by faculty members, offering opportunities for service and education throughout the school year.

Statement of Purpose (drafted by the Friends Environmental Education Network)

Friends schools have a special obligation to include environmental education in their programs in order to promote a sustainable future for all life. Our students should learn how they can best understand, preserve, and restore the natural processes, resources, and beauty so vital to the earth and to humankind’s physical and spiritual health. These goals grow directly from fundamental Quaker beliefs and testimonies.