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 beginning in January 2011. 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.
September 2010 – December 2010: Reservations will be taken to track usage but no actual permits will be given out while Parks is upgrading to a new reservation system.
January 2011 – Ongoing: Reservations will be taken and you will be sent a permit for the Outdoor Classroom.

Upcoming Events

More information available on the Event Calendar page

Advisory Committee Monthly Meeting
Last Monday of every month, 7-8:30 pm at the Como Streetcar Station at Lexington Parkway and Horton Ave in St. Paul (check calendar for deviations from this schedule).

Connecting Youth to Nature through Digital Photography Teacher Workshop
October 23, 2010, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, Historic Streetcar Station in Como Park.
St. Paul Parks and Recreation and Minnesota DNR are hosting this FREE event for teachers of all subjects and grades 3-9. For more information see the Como Woodland Curriculum page.

Joyce Kilmer Fireplace Rededication & Poet-Tree Workshops
Workshops throughout 2010, re-dedication event 3rd week in May, 2011
Find out more on the Event Calendar > Dutch Oven Rededication page and Make a Donation to help support it!

News

Funding Secured!
LCCMR Bill passed and signed into law on May 15, 2010; Como Woodland Outdoor Classroom's "Get Outside - Urban Woodland for Kids" proposal will be funded. Read more about what happens now on the Master Plan 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