Partnership with “Nature In The Classroom” Aims to Reduce Stressors, Improve Learning
Fort Wayne, Ind. – An innovative on-site school at the Allen County Juvenile Center (ACJC) is bringing the outdoors inside in an effort to create a better learning environment for at-risk students.
ACJC’s Allen County Learning Academy program recently installed ceiling murals in two of its classrooms depicting tree canopies and bright blue skies, replacing the standard drab white ceiling tiles.
The new murals, created by Nature In The Classroom, are part of an initiative to incorporate natural elements into learning spaces, creating a peaceful and stimulating setting for students to thrive academically and emotionally.
One of ACJC’s tree canopy murals
“We host a remarkable alternative learning program, the Allen County Learning Academy (ACLA), that is changing the future of at-risk students every day,” said James Steensma, the Director of Education at ACLA. “But it is housed inside a secure facility, so students’ days can be stark. There are no windows, so students don’t see trees, blue sky or green grass all day. That is not an ideal setting for learning.”
Funded by a donation from the Kakatu Foundation, ACJC teamed with not-for-profit Nature In The Classroom to install ceiling murals in two classrooms with the scenery of blue skies and green tree canopies. Purchase of the murals cost $2,700 plus the freight charges to ship to Indiana. The murals were installed by ACJC maintenance and probation staff over the recent holiday break.
Encompassing approximately 100 tiles, the murals cover more than 1,100 square feet of ceiling area, filling students’ views with a different tree variety in each of the rooms. Unique imagery of east and west coast trees are photographed for the tree canopy murals by Nature In The Classroom designers.
Nature In The Classroom was founded by Ernesto Rodriguez, a retired educator and school psychologist, to boost academic achievement and social emotional learning by “greening up” classrooms. According to the organization, science shows that when children view nature out windows or are shown images of nature, it calms them, reduces anxiety and helps them focus and engage. Students perform better when they have access to green schoolyards and views, yet spend most of their day indoors without green views.
Calming effects of the ceiling tiles are expected to promote a healthier classroom atmosphere, ultimately enhancing student learning outcomes. Studies have shown that time spent outdoors helps reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression and improves focus.
“We had heard a lot about the positive impact these murals have had on classrooms,” said ACLA teacher Tarah Donoghue, who first brought the project to Judge Trevino’s and Director Steensma’s attention in early 2024. “It didn’t take long to see it for ourselves. The first time our students and staff walked into the classrooms after holiday break, we heard audible gasps of surprise and appreciation. Our murals made an immediate, beneficial impact on the learning environment.”
Nature In The Classroom’s approach to bringing nature indoors has been spotlighted on the national scene, most recently by CBS News, which cited the program as one of the 10 most uplifting stories of 2024 (https://www.cbsnews.com/news/good-things-that-happened-in-2024/).
ACLA is an ideal place to try new ways to inspire student performance. The academy currently serves students in the Fort Wayne Community, Northwest Allen County, and East Allen County School systems facing the choice of expulsion or participation in the ACLA. Each of the school corporations contributes teachers and other resources to the ACLA.
ACLA classes take place on the lower level of the Allen County Juvenile Center, 2929 N. Wells Street. Students in grades 6 through 12 attend classes there with the goal of remaining at grade level and graduating on time, even while they serve out a disciplinary action from their home school.
“ACLA aims to positively impact and change the life trajectory of students who have made some poor choices, but still deserve a shot at the future they want,” said Judge Andrea Trevino, supervising Judge at the Allen County Juvenile Center. “Integrating unconventional resources like the nature ceilings which are intended to promote greater calm and focus into the classrooms of the ACLA may provide that spark or additional inspiration that helps our at-risk students change their mindset and stay on track for graduation.”
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