LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin presents an award to Principal Raquel Sheppard during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
LAUSD Superintendent Andrés Chait helps cut the ribbon during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom, built for exploration and creativity from 15,000 square feet of asphalt, at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Students perform a lion dance during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Flowers and vegetables thrive in the planters at the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington, opened as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space, on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Flowers and vegetables thrive in the planters at the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington, opened as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space, on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Parents attend the official opening of the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom, built for exploration and creativity from 15,000 square feet of asphalt, at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Students dancers perform during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Students perform a lion dance during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin speaks during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Students perform a lion dance during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Students perform a lion dance during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Students dancers perform during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
LAUSD Superintendent Andrés Chait speaks during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
LAUSD Superintendent Andrés Chait and Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin attend the opening ceremony for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
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LAUSD Board Member Tanya Ortiz Franklin presents an award to Principal Raquel Sheppard during opening ceremonies for the new Nature Explore outdoor classroom at Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center in Wilmington as part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space on Thursday October 8, 2026. (Photo by Axel Koester, Contributing Photographer)
Wilmington celebrated a new natural outdoor space at the Hawaiian Avenue Early Education Center on Thursday, Oct. 8.
The 15,000 square-foot space replaced asphalt and will provide early education students with an outdoor classroom.
Until September, the young children played on more than 15,000 square feet of asphalt.
Now, they are able to dig in a garden, and build, climb, make art and learn in nature, according to a description provided by Los Angeles Unified School District officials.
The new Nature Explore outdoor classrooms hold nearly 10 hands-on learning areas, each built for exploration and creativity.
The roughly $6 million project — which also delivered major campus upgrades — received about $1 million from CAL FIRE’s Green Schoolyards Program, part of a state effort to trade hot pavement for green space.
Without the asphalt, officials said in a written statement, the school day “looks very different, giving students the freedom to explore their surroundings and build a lifelong connection to the natural world.”
Attending the celebration on Thursday were LAUSD officials, board member Tanya Ortiz Franklin and school principal Raquel Sheppard.