Saratoga News

Education

Building project to expand scope of Walden West science education

By Michele Tjin

Banana slugs and dirt have long been celebrated in songs at Walden West School, and soon students will be able to sing about their favorite mollusks in a revamped campsite. Walden West, the outdoor science school in Saratoga, is getting a much needed facelift, replacing 25-year-old facilities that were meant to be used for only a fraction of that time.

The school broke ground Sept. 29 for a science learning center that will provide more environmental and life sciences experiences for elementary to high school-age students.

"It means so much," said Anita Parsons, director of Walden West. "It's been a long time coming. For years, we wanted to expand our program, and this means we're moving toward that goal."

Currently, Walden West provides a weeklong science residential program for fifth- and sixth-grade students. About 200 students each week from Palo Alto to Morgan Hill attend the science camp at Sanborn Park. The new additions at Walden West will include a multi-purpose lodge that will have an indoor amphitheater for group activities and skits. The lodge can be partitioned into classrooms or used as a shelter during inclement weather.

"We have outgrown what we have," Parsons said. "This will bring new life to the outdoor school."

There will also be a new kitchen and dining room for the campers, replacing an old dining hall that has been used for 25 years, though it was meant to be a temporary two-year fix. Walden West staffers will also get new offices, which will be an upgrade from the converted airplane hangar they are working in.

This phase of the construction is slated to be done in July, and the campsite will remain operational through the work. The next stage will bring a discovery center, which will house science labs, and cabins equipped with showers and bathrooms.

Parsons said the revamped facilities will allow Walden West to reach more students, including those in elementary schools and high schools that don't have science facilities.

"We know that repeated experiences are really important," Parsons said. "Some students get a smattering of science. We want to give them multiple learning opportunities that will reinforce any learning that they have."

More than $6 million has been secured for the construction project, and another $1.7 million remains to be raised. Abby Sobrato, president of the Walden West School Foundation, said while many organizations are willing to support educational programs, it has been hard to find those inclined to fund capital projects. However, she is grateful for the aid the school has received and said the upgrade of the campus is significant.

"It's difficult to find science experiences," Sobrato said. "There's the Tech Museum, the marshlands and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. [But] this is a residential, five-day program. Children go to experience Sanborn Park and all it has to offer."

Staffers at Walden West have recently begun two outreach programs, in which they go into classrooms to talk about watershed protection and gardening. However, they eager look forward to being able to offer even more opportunities for students when all construction work is finished.

"We appreciate how much we've been given already," Parsons said. "We're excited to grow, and the opportunities will be endless."