It never hurts to ask companies in your area to assist in the building and maintenance of your outdoor classroom. Lumber yards and nurseries may be willing to provide materials, local landscape designers or gardeners may be willing to offer their services to help out your project. Skilled labor is a particularly valuable commodity -- carpenters, construction companies, and utilities companies may be able to help with construction, grading, paving, and other specialized projects.

Colleges, technical institutes and universities in your area may also be able to help. Departments to contact include: horticulture, landscape architecture, engineering, architecture, and vocational and technical studies.

Local civic, service, and social organizations may be able to provide you with grants, volunteers, materials, or expertise.

Don't forget to look within your own or neighboring schools for help. Middle and high school service organizations, scout troups (particularly Eagle scouts), and clubs can offer assistance to your project while enjoying educational benefits from the endeavor.

Finally, be sure to ask older adults in your community to volunteer their time and experience to your project -- it can be a mutually beneficial and rewarding relationship for all concerned.

The following commercial vendors have materials or services that they will provide free to schools:

Alpharetta Environmental Services
(770) 442-9057
Contact: Dee West
Reference materials.

Bartlett Tree Expert Company
2880 Franklin Street
Avondale Estates, GA 30002
tel. (404) 299-1157
fax. (404) 299-1158
Contact: Dennis Tourangeau

Field demonstrations -- pruning, climbing, planting, etc.; tree identification and structural evaluation; speakers; Arbor Day participation; wood chips.

Pike Family Nurseries
Greenback Program
4020 Steve Reynolds Boulevard
Norcross, GA 30093
(770) 255-7526

Save Pike receipts and earn Greenback credits (7% of cash value of receipts) good for any items they sell. Call for full program details.