West Side Montessori Earns Ohio’s "WILD School" Designation

Members of the school's Outdoor Education Committee proudly accepted the award from Sarah Schott, a wildlife communications specialist with the Ohio Division of Wildlife. While this official state recognition is new, nature-based learning is deeply rooted in the school's history; West Side Montessori has provided robust outdoor education and actively used outdoor classroom spaces for decades.

In fact, nature-based education has always been a foundational component of the overarching Montessori philosophy. Maria Montessori strongly believed that the natural world is the ultimate classroom, essential for a child's physical, intellectual, and spiritual development. By immersing students in outdoor environments, Montessori education fosters a deep sense of wonder, independence, and an organic understanding of interconnected life systems.

The WILD School program, administered by the Ohio Division of Wildlife, perfectly aligns with these long-standing values by recognizing schools that intentionally use and improve their grounds as vibrant, outdoor learning spaces. The initiative functions on the premise that every school—regardless of size or location—can provide vital outdoor educational opportunities. These projects serve a dual purpose: they systematically improve the school grounds’ habitats for local wildlife while giving students hands-on opportunities to bridge the gap between traditional indoor learning and real-world conservation.

With interest in environmental education at an all-time high, West Side Montessori’s new designation highlights its enduring commitment to fostering the next generation of conservationists. By continuing to step outside the traditional classroom doors, the school honors its decades-long heritage of outdoor learning, providing students with a rich, experiential foundation for exploration, resilience, and lifelong environmental stewardship.