An extension of the Petro-Canada Bird School at the Inglewood Bird Sanctuary in Calgary, Bird School Branches Out is a community outreach program that creates special outdoor learning sites at local schools. Students and program partners work together to plant interactive gardens, attracting a wide variety of local bird life that the students can observe, learn about, and enjoy.
Petro-Canada created this program in 2002 with the first outdoor learning site at Willow Park Elementary School. In May 2003, students worked with an urban forester at University Elementary School to plant trees and shrubs, marking the opening of the second interactive outdoor classroom of this kind in Calgary.
Bird School Branches Out, in partnership with the City of Calgary and the Campus Calgary Education Program provides great green spaces for everyone to enjoy, since the gardens are open to the public. They provide the opportunity for children to experience nature first-hand and learn the importance of environmental responsibility and stewardship.