Date: November 15, 2021
The director of The Butterfly House, Ms. Juanita Sanchez, sent Dr. Judy Fentress-Williams (who is currently overseeing The Butterfly House while Vice President Ballou is on sabbatical) and me the good news: “The Butterfly House is now the only center in the Northern VA area with a certified Nature Outdoor Classroom!”
The award comes from Dimensions Educational Research Foundation‘s Nature Explore team, which “provides research-based outdoor classroom design services, educator workshops and natural products.” The goal, put very simply, is to connect children with nature. The outside should be a classroom. Heather Fox from the Nature Explore program said, “The Butterfly House’s commitment to providing research-based and nature-rich learning offers a wonderful example to programs and educators throughout the country.”
It was Dr. Amy Dyer, a specialist in the formation and education of children, who originally had the vision of a “nature playground” back when The Butterfly House was expanded. It is the current director, Ms. Juanita Sanchez, who has created the curriculum and programming that makes fabulous use of this “playground” – our outdoor classroom. It has been a good journey, which today is honored with a prestigious award. Congratulations to The Butterfly House.
The Very Rev. Ian S. Markham, Ph.D.
Dean and PresidentÂ