Carbondale New School

Serving Southern Illinois since 1974



Mud Kitchen

Outdoor Classroom

Building Materials Carbondale New School has long recognized the importance of connecting children with the outdoors by providing open, unstructured spaces for creative play. CNS is committed to nature. Students interact daily with the outdoor space before school, lunch hour, recess and after school. Additionally, students receive instruction outdoors in core content areas at least once a week CNS is a Certified Nature Explore® Classroom.

Mud Kitchen
PreK Forts

Our playground has many swings, lots of trees, a large field, a slide, a tree-house which accommodates children of all ages, a climbing wall, monkey bars, parallel bars and fort-building areas. We have an outdoor music area, a mud kitchen, a giant sandbox, a racetrack for toy cars and a nature art area. The Early Childhood building has its own outdoor area sized appropriately for younger students. Grades 4-8 have a designated space in front of the school where the older students may read, work and socialize if they choose. Mixed age groups play together and we encourage this. Children are invited to get dirty, so students should wear rain boots and bring a change of clothes when it is muddy and wet.


Grassy Plain Wilderness and nature-based experiences result in a range of benefits shown to improve a person's physical and mental health. Studies have shown that time spent outdoors can reduce body fat, reduce anxiety, stress, improve self-esteem, promote positive changes in behavior, create an enhanced connection to nature and improve knowledge and skills acquisition.

Mud Kitchen


Creative Collaboration Creative Collaboration Creative Collaboration Creative Collaboration Creative Collaboration
Creative Collaboration


Supplemental Resources

Outdoor Preschools

Outdoor Classroom on YouTube