McCarthey Dressman Education Foundation

Breaking Barriers with “Aire Libre”

Posted on April 2, 2025

At Yerba Buena High School in San Jose, California, a groundbreaking initiative is transforming the educational experience for at-risk students. Introducing “Aire Libre,” a project designed to remove both literal and metaphorical barriers, provides students with the freedom to explore the natural world and unlock their intellectual and creative potential.

“Aire Libre” translates to “free air,” and encapsulates the vision for the project. Many students face challenges that limit their opportunities—being students of color, low-income backgrounds, and often part of immigrant families. The project has created an environment where they can break free from these constraints and thrive.

The TERRA Club: A Foundation for Growth

The journey began with the TERRA club, co-led by Karen Lo and Ivon Rodriguez. This inclusive space teaches students about gardening and animal husbandry, including caring for a flock of chickens. What started as a beautiful garden on campus has evolved into a dynamic learning environment, fostering “unintentional” learning through hands-on experiences.

Connecting Education and Nature

Aire Libre is not just about gardening; it’s about education that is relevant and enriching. The curriculum is linked to student learning outcomes and focuses on:

• Environmental Education: Students engage in activities that promote awareness of environmental issues while hypothesizing and experimenting with solutions.
• Culinary Exploration: By cooking recipes from various cultures using fresh, organic produce, students learn about nutrition and the importance of healthy eating.
• Mental Health Awareness: Gardening has been shown to alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, making it a vital component of our project.
• Personal Development: Lessons centered around perseverance, responsibility, and patience help students grow into well-rounded individuals.

A Collaborative and Community-Centric Approach

Aire Libre was integrated into the AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program and made available to all interested teachers. A collaborative spirit among educators was developed while ensuring that every student had access to these transformative experiences.

Further, families participated in the garden alongside their children. This initiative not only strengthened community ties but also emphasized the importance of holistic health, encouraging families to bring fresh produce home.

Cultivating Learning: The Impact of the Aire Libre Garden Project

The Aire Libre garden project was initiated with clear and impactful goals: to establish a spiraling curriculum that integrates Schoolwide Learner Outcomes, environmental education, and the promotion of physical, mental, and emotional health. Our aim was not just to create a green space, but to turn it into a vibrant educational hub accessible to every teacher on campus. 

In our efforts to integrate the garden into the curriculum, we collaborated with former students now at UC Berkeley to develop five reproducible lesson plans for grades 9-12. These lessons have been embraced by teachers across various subjects, including AP Environmental Science, Photography, Art, and English Language Development. The results have shown an impressive increase in student engagement. In 2023-2024 alone, over 2,300 students interacted with the garden—a remarkable jump from just 678 in 2018-2019. This growth reflects a deepening connection between students and their environment, and a growing interest from teachers to utilize this outdoor classroom for core instruction.

Led by five dedicated teachers, curriculum lessons were implemented in eleven classes. Through student surveys, we tailored lessons to reflect their interests, ensuring that the garden remains a space where learning is both relevant and engaging. Mini-lessons, often centered around student curiosity, have proven effective. For instance, one student with aspirations in entomology worked with peers to explore the role of insects in our ecosystem, leading to the introduction of beneficial insects like Black Soldier Fly Larvae in the garden.

Impact on Students and Teachers

The impact of the Aire Libre garden on student learning has been profound. Self-evaluations indicate that students feel they have improved across all areas of the Schoolwide Learner Outcomes. The garden has become a sanctuary for personal growth, fostering mental health and motivation among students. Teachers are also noticing the benefits; the experiential learning opportunities provided by the garden have sparked interest and engagement in subjects that may have once felt distant from students’ lives.

The Aire Libre garden has blossomed into a vital resource for our school community. With ongoing dedication and adaptability, we look forward to enhancing the curriculum and further enriching the educational experiences of our students. Together, we are cultivating not only plants but also a love for learning and a respect for our environment.

Be sure to visit the Instagram page for an in depth look: https://www.instagram.com/terra.ybhs/