Alabama Outdoor Classroom

At GPCA, one of our Core Value’s is Love People.

We want our love for God to be evident in everything we do. We believe a passionate and intimate relationship with God is essential (Matthew 22:37). One way we pursue this value is through the Alabama Outdoor Classroom (AOC).

Our AOC seeks to develop world-changers through early introduction (starting with our K3 students), dedicated daily/weekly outdoor time, and experiential learning. Students can spot native birds on the Songbird Trail, observe earthworms and other fun crawlies in the Decomposer Station, or simply watch the fruits of their labor grow in the Seasonal Vegetable Garden!

With over nine interactive outdoor stations, spanning an impressive acre and a half of land at The Gathering Place Christian Academy’s Preschool and Elementary campus, the AOC provide hands-on learning opportunities and allows students of all ages to utilize multi-disciplinary skills including math, science, social studies, and language arts in a fun and exciting environment.

The AOC is provided by the Alabama Wildlife Federation. They provide our school with free technical and organizational assistance as we work to create a sustainable outdoor classroom. Current research on student learning shows that outdoor programs such as GPCA’s AOC promote increased student engagement and retention of knowledge.

It is our hope to welcome and involve the community around GPCA to help cultivate and develop our AOC because we believe this program can and should be life-changing not just for GPCA students, but for our neighbors’ as well! If you are interested in volunteering your time, participating in workdays, making a financial contribution, or just visiting GPCA’s AOC please contact Reagan Graham, rdobbs@gpca.tv.