From Grass Monoculture to Diverse Habitat: Outdoor Classroom and Native Plant Garden

Project Summary

Inspired by a student presentation at TCI’s 2022 educator retreat, AP Biology teachers Kristen and Ashley at Fullerton Union High School spent three years grant writing, fundraising, planning, and building Oak Commons — an 11,000 square-foot outdoor classroom and California native plant garden that transformed a grass monoculture courtyard into a thriving, biodiverse habitat. The space now supports science instruction, cross-disciplinary learning, and student wellbeing, and has already attracted native lizards, pollinators, and birds.

Detailed Story

In 2022, Kristen and her colleague Ashley attended TCI’s educator retreat, where they were inspired by a student presentation on designing outdoor learning spaces. That spark led to a multi-year effort to transform Fullerton Union High School’s large, underutilized grass courtyard into Oak Commons — an 11,000 square-foot outdoor classroom and California native plant garden. What began as an idea for a small project grew significantly after the team secured initial grants and was encouraged to “think bigger.” From 2023 through 2025, the teachers engaged in grant writing, a custom brick fundraising campaign, and vendor planning before breaking ground on construction and planting in Spring 2025. With the assistance of a wildlife biologist and native plant expert, FUHS staff and family gathered on May 24th to run drip irrigation lines and plant close to 200 native shrubs and trees. Plant selection was intentional and science-driven: the team chose drought-tolerant species suited to Southern California’s climate, placed sun-loving and shade-tolerant plants strategically, selected plants with staggered bloom times to support year-round pollinators, and included keystone species like Narrowleaf Milkweed to support Monarch butterfly life cycles. The completed space features multiple outdoor learning settings, a water feature, seating donated by ASB and a local nonprofit, and a paver walkway lined with custom legacy bricks — which raised over $15,000 for the project. Oak Commons is now actively used for Biology, AP Biology, Anatomy and Physiology, ELA, and other classes, with students conducting fieldwork, journaling, and collaborative learning among the native plants. The space has already attracted native lizards, bees, and blooming plants, fulfilling its goal of creating a genuine, living habitat. Kristen and Ashley are now paying it forward, guest speaking at an Anza Borrego Foundation Teacher Symposium to share how other educators can replicate the process.

Impact Statement

By transforming a grass monoculture into a thriving 11,000 square-foot native plant habitat, Kristen Cruz and her colleague created a living laboratory that gives hundreds of Fullerton Union High School students daily access to place-based, hands-on learning about climate adaptation, biodiversity, and ecological systems. The space serves multiple disciplines and fosters student curiosity, connection to the natural world, and a tangible sense that real change is possible through sustained effort, collaboration, and creativity. The teachers’ decision to share their process at a regional symposium amplifies the project’s reach, potentially inspiring similar transformations at schools across Southern California.