Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom

Welcome to the home of the Como Woodland Advisory Committee, an all-volunteer, community based group. Como Woodland Advisors originally conceived of and currently guide the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom (CWOC) project. The CWOC project is collaboration between community volunteers, local schools, and City of St. Paul Department of Parks and Recreation.

The Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom project site is a 17.75-acre woodland located in the Southwest area of Como Regional Park (between Como and Horton Avenues just east of Hamline Avenue) in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Restoration of the woodland site and the historic features found within its boundaries will allow the creation of the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom (CWOC). This classroom will provide environmental education and historical interpretation for school children and adults, habitat for native wildlife, and an urban woodland oasis for the inner-city community where local place-based, hands-on environmental learning opportunities are rare. And the CWOC site will provide recreational and educational opportunities to local residents and the many annual visitors to greater Como Regional Park.

Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom Reservations

To ensure a positive experience for all teachers and students using the Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom, Saint Paul Parks and Recreation will be issuing free usage permits. These FREE permits will help to track numbers and activities for grant reporting and maintain an appropriate level of use for the environmental health and sustainability of the outdoor classroom.

The Outdoor Classroom will be permitted in two blocks 8am - 12pm and 12pm - 4pm.
Permits will be given out for up to 4 classes or 120 students during each block.
If you wish to use the classroom for an entire day please reserve both blocks of time.

Reservation Process:
Call Parks Permits Office: 651-632-5111
Check for open dates and times
Make Reservation
*Saint Paul Parks and Recreation reserves the right to restrict access for restoration or other park maintenance.

Events

More information available on the Event Calendar page

Advisory Committee Monthly Meeting
Meeting on last Mondays of the month at Java Train community meeting room at 6:45PM unless otherwise noted in Calendar.

Animal Tracks in Winter – Late Febuary Interpretive tours with Lisa Held
Thursday, February 23 @ 4:00 pm
Saturday February 25 @ 10:30 am
More details

Late Summer/Early Fall Events at the Como Woodland
Planting Events and Interpretive Tours took place at the Como Woodland throughout the summer and early fall. Learn more about how it went!

News

November 2011
Local teens are committed to community service and the Como Woodland
Teens from Great River School and Murray Junior High help out at the woodland. See the full story on the Events > Past Events page

May 19, 2011
Joyce Kilmer Fireplace Rededication, Spring Field Day, Arbor Month Tree Planting
Thanks to all the students, teachers, volunteers, City staff, and guests who took part in and helped prepare for the CWOC May 19 activities: the Kilmer Memorial Fireplace Rededication, the Spring Field Day, and the Arbor Month Tree Planting. The weather was good, the kids were great, and all three events were well-attended. Articles about the May 19 Rededication appeared in our area's two major newspapers. St. Paul Pioneer Press: 5-20-2011, p. 8B. and Star Tribune: 5-20-2011, p. 2B.
See full story on the Events > Past Events page

Feb. 11, 2011
Saint Paul's Como Park Receives $218,000 Grant
Restoration work will clean-up and bring environmental education to urban outdoor classroom.
View KSTP feature
See full story on the Project Plan > Stories page

Project Supporters

Financial Supporters

Elmer L. and Eleanor J. Andersen Foundation
Audubon Minnesota
City of St. Paul
Minnesota Native Plant Society
St. Paul Audubon Society

In-kind Supporters

City of St. Paul Park and Recreation Department - EcoPartners
District 10 Community Council - Environment Committee
Ramsey Conservation District
Como Woodland Advisory Committee
Como Park Senior High School
Minnesota Ornithological Union
University of Minnesota - Metropolitan Design Center, Ecology Club, B2REU