List of 11 frequently asked questions.

• Who maintains the garden and animals throughout the summer?

  The lower school science department is primarily responsible for the lab during the summer months. There are also summer camps devoted to learning and caring for the learning lab and The Oak Roost.

• Who is responsible for taking care of the Outdoor Lab?

  The lower school students take ownership of the Norfolk Collegiate Outdoor Learning Lab, including plant and animal maintenance, feeding and more, under the supervision and guidance of the lower school science department and their teachers.

• Will I be able to purchase fresh eggs or produce from the lab?

  No. Norfolk Collegiate does not sell the eggs or vegetables for profit; however, parents are welcome to join their students in the dining hall to enjoy the harvest from the outdoor gardens and greenhouse. Additional harvest are also shared with the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. 

• Does this affect our daycare licensure?

  We have contacted the Virginia State Licensure and local licensure agencies and received their approval. They have asked and Norfolk Collegiate will ensure that no student in child care will have entrance to the area without an adult daycare provider. Any student given entrance during day care times must follow all safety precautions already in place, including thorough hand washing after contact.

• Is there a health risk to students through manure contact, pesticide contamination or bird flu?

  Every effort is made to minimize the risk to student health. All birds are examined and cleared of any risk of disease, such as bird flu, before arriving at our school. They are examined by a vet twice a year. No hand-to-bird contact without the direct one-on-one supervision of a staff member is expected with our students. The majority of manure is collected in the hutch in a removable tray, which is emptied weekly or as often as needed to maintain healthy conditions for the animals and to minimize odor. The chicken yard is also be raked often.

• Will this be a huge distraction to classrooms?

  The outdoor lab is not intended to provide a distraction to classroom instruction. The goal is to further instruction by providing hands-on, real-life opportunity for learning.
  
  The noise is minimal (we do not have a rooster) and the hens are usually fairly quiet during daytime hours.

• How is the Outdoor Learning Lab incorporated into the curriculum? 

  The following topics are currently being taught in the classroom: plants; water cycle; insects; flowers; animal habitats and classifications; weather; measurements; weathering and erosion; rocks and minerals; food chains; photosynthesis, plant parts and classifications.
  
  With the addition of the outdoor lab, the school is also able to utilize the space to further bring the subject matter to life for each student through hands-on labs, planting and tending to crops, caring for the hens and more!

• What role can or will students have in this lab?

  It is the intention for all Norfolk Collegiate students to feel a sense of ownership in this outdoor learning area. All teachers, classrooms and students are welcome to use and learn from the lab at all times of the year. Students will be directly planting, caring for and harvesting all plants year-round. Fourth and fifth grade students who have signed, parental permission will be allowed to care for The Oak Roost at set times with adult supervision.

• How do we prevent kids from being unsupervised in the outdoor lab?

  Both entrances to the outdoor lab are locked at all times, and only staff members have access to the keys.

• How will the school handle any incident of predators that does occur?

  The administration has protocol in place for handling such an incident, and it includes first making sure all students are secured and removed from the area. Administration will then contact appropriate agencies such as Animal Control, Maintenance and Guidance departments to insure an appropriate plan of action.

• What about possible predators?

  The administration is aware that bringing a food source and live animals into the courtyard comes with the possibility of predators. Several precautions are taken to lower the risk of this occurring, such as securing the hens inside their coop after school and until the morning. The hens are fenced within one area at all times. The gardens are on raised beds that have the ability to be completely protected with screen covers. The greenhouse has the ability to be completely closed and locked each evening. Should predators become a nuisance, inexpensive and non-harmful deterrents may be installed on the roof, as well as netting across the courtyard roof.