The Arlington Outdoor Education Association is a non profit organization whose mission is to provide Arlington Virginia Public School children contact

with nature in a structured educa-tional setting. The Association works in a public-private partnership with the Arlington County Public Schools.

To provide that educfational opportunity, the organization operates a two hundred acre "camp" located in Fauquier County consisting of three small buildings, a pond and undisturbed land, all of which has been dedicated as a conservancy easement. The preserve is generally known as the outdoor lab which is actually one of the structures.

The existing structure, a one story building with a dirt basement floor, had deteriorated beyond repair and was replaced by a two story wood frame structure with a walk out basement. The facility was designed to achieve a LEED® Silver rating. In order to limit site disruption, it sits on the footprint of the original building and is surrounded by decks, stairs and walkways which connect to the existing bath house and to the outdoor sleeping area located on the lower rear portion of the site.

The first floor contains a classroom/exhibit space. The exhibits are frequently live local animals and an animal care area which includes a tank cleaning system fed by recycled rain water collected in a cistern in the basement. The second floor houses two classrooms separated by a moveable partition.

This facility has a LEED® Silver Certification

Completed: September 2008

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