AfroFuturistic Outdoor Classroom
AfroFuturistic Outdoor Classroom
We are thrilled to unveil the United State’s very very first Afro-Futuristic Outdoor Classroom at the West Atlanta Watershed Alliance's Outdoor Activity Center (OAC) — a visionary space that fuses science, culture, nature, and technology to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
The Revolutionary AfroFuturistic Outdoor Classroom
Envisioned by Darryl Haddock, Special Projects Director, WAWA, this revolutionary space is brought to fruition through a partnership with the student led GA Tech Vertically Integrated Project team.
We believe outdoor education is a tool of justice. This classroom brings hands-on STEAM, environmental justice, and joy to the forest, to the children, to the future.
AfroFuturistic
Elements
Christian Cole, Architect and Professor at Georgia Tech and designer of the Afrofuturistic Outdoor Classroom logo.
As an architect, Christian works to empower marginalized communities through acts of design to showcase their heritage.
The logo boasts various elements rooted in culture, technology and environmentalism.
AfroFuturistic Outdoor Classroom Benefits
Children's Health Outcomes due to Access to Greenspaces
Children with low access to greenspace are more likely to experience obesity, ADHD, and lower academic achievement—issues disproportionately affecting Black and low-income youth. (American Academy of Pediatrics, 2020)
Outdoor Education Impact on Classroom Education
A 2022 pilot study in Atlanta found that students who spent regular time in outdoor education settings experienced up to a 27% increase in science and reading scores, especially among Black and brown youth. (Atlanta Nature-Based Education Alliance, 2022)
Tree Canopy Disparities in Marginalized Atlanta Communities
In Atlanta, neighborhoods that are over 75% Black have, on average, 30% less tree canopy than predominantly white neighborhoods, increasing urban heat and reducing air quality. (Atlanta Tree Equity Scorecard, American Forests)
AfroFuturism and Diverse Frameworks Increase Critical Thinking
Statistically, research reveals that when students engage with diverse cultural frameworks like Afro-Futurism, they score 10-15% higher on critical thinking assessments and show increased collaboration in group projects (An Afrofuturistic Vehicle for Literacy Instruction 2020).