Fox Creek Elementary Teacher Earned Grant for New Shed
A second-grade teacher at the Bloomington school secured funding to replace a potting shed destroyed by a storm.
Updated on Oct. 1, 2026 in Landscaping
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Shannon Hedman, a second-grade teacher at Fox Creek Elementary in Bloomington, has been awarded a One Class at a Time grant. The funds will cover the purchase of a new potting shed for the campus outdoor classroom.
Why it matters
The new facility will provide essential storage for gardening equipment, allowing students to continue their hands-on science curriculum. The outdoor learning space remains a key component of the school's educational programming.
The campus currently features 30 planted trees alongside a functional pollinator garden and outdoor classroom. The new structure replaces a previous shed that had been built through a combination of volunteer labor and prior grant funding.
The players
Shannon Hedman
She is a second-grade educator at Fox Creek Elementary who spearheaded the effort to secure funding for the new facility.
Fox Creek Elementary
This Bloomington school maintains an outdoor classroom environment that facilitates hands-on science learning for its students.
The details
After a storm destroyed the previous potting shed, the school required new infrastructure to maintain its outdoor science lessons. The grant allows the school to restore the facility used by students for planting and biology education.
Timeline
October 1, 2026: The grant award was officially announced.
Roadmap
The development at Fox Creek Elementary aligns with the National School Boards Association outdoor learning initiative, which promotes the integration of nature-based education in public schools. This trend marks a shift toward prioritizing hands-on environmental literacy within standard primary school infrastructure.
The project ensures that local students retain access to a functional outdoor classroom for their science lessons throughout the academic year. By restoring the storage facility, the school maintains the long-term viability of its student-led planting and pollinator garden projects.
The takeaway
Maintaining school garden infrastructure requires consistent community and financial support to overcome unexpected weather damage. Schools can utilize diverse grant programs to ensure their outdoor educational spaces remain safe and functional for student use.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest developments in local garden design and infrastructure on our Landscaping page.
Source note: This article includes information reported by 25newsnow.
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