With forests, farmland and sea within arm’s reach, the classroom extends well beyond the confines of the South Whidbey Elementary School campus.

Hunched over the soil on a bright October day, a class of first graders put their measuring skills to the test at the School Farm by evenly spacing out the garlic cloves and giving them plenty of soil to grow in.

In eight or nine months, that garlic will be used to add flavor to other foods grown at the school’s garden and food forest, where most of the work is done by the young farmers, according to School Farm Manager Brian Kenney.

This — dirty — hands-on approach, which involves children of all abilities, is one of many outdoor learning experiences that have prompted the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction to confer the STEM Lighthouse School award to South Whidbey Elementary.

During the current school year, South Whidbey Elementary will be a poster child for STEM programs along with six other schools honored with the same recognition.

On top of winning a $20,000 grant, South Whidbey Elementary will promote STEM education and mentor other schools in creating their own programs by offering professional development workshops and technical support, according to Principal Susie Richards.

For South Whidbey, this is a first. When she considers the thousands of schools that exist around the state, Richards feels even prouder of this accomplishment.

The school’s “Farm, Forest and Sea” programs, which have existed for about six years, offer education in science, technology, engineering and mathematics through outdoor learning opportunities.

Jay Freundlich, who works as a farm educator at the school’s garden and food forest, said the programs teach children problem-solving skills.

“They get to use the things that they learn in school to do something very practical,” he said.

The farm program, he said, is very fortunate to have the farm space and the support of the administration.

Kenney said children from kindergarten to fifth grade come every week to learn how food is grown and cooked. Depending on the season, kids can grow and pick a variety of foods, including lettuce, cucumbers, cherry tomatoes, kale, mustard, squash, potatoes, radishes, salad turnips, beans, peas and grains.

Some of the harvest is brought to the cafeteria, the nonprofit Whidbey Island Nourishes and the school’s culinary program, where fourth and fifth graders prepare breads, tortillas, pumpkin pies, mashed potatoes and more. Other foods can be picked and eaten right away, Kenney said.

Thursday, the children lined up for some garden tacos, made with carrots and cabbage on a lettuce leaf, drizzled with some dressing.

Not only do kids eat healthy, Freundlich said, but they also know where their food came from.

Richards said teachers play a significant role in delivering these programs, as they must be willing to teach outside of the box and do extra work for the programs to be successful. Parents and adults can also volunteer to chaperone the kids.

Community partners are also key to the success of the Farm, Forest and Sea curriculum, as they bring different subject matter experts that children can learn and take inspiration from.

Some of these partners include local names such as the Whidbey Watershed Stewards, the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, the Organic Farm School and more.

At Camp Casey, students are learning about beach debris in collaboration with Washington State Parks, Sound Water Stewards and other organizations, Richards said.

Judy Feldman, the executive director of the Organic Farm School, said students in the Alternative Learning Experience program come to the farm school once a week, no matter the weather, to learn about water, pollinators, soil, basic construction, how to apply math to farm tasks and more.

Over time, she noticed that students have developed a work ethic and “highly functional communication habits” — skills and behaviors she attributes to learning how to solve practical problems in a natural environment.

“We’re leaving this world to a generation of young people who will need to address extremely interconnected, entrenched problems,” Feldman said. “Outdoor education, provided through public school systems, may be one of our most impactful ways to prepare them for that work.”

With the Whidbey Camano Land Trust, students are learning about old-growth forests, rare native prairies, tidelands and farms.

Ann Linnea, a community partner with the Land Trust, said the Forest program offers a much different experience than simply learning about tree habitats from a book.

“Going out into the forest to actually see and feel different kinds of trees and their relationship to each other is a whole other level of integration,” she said, encouraging community members to volunteer and support school bond measures to ensure this teaching approach will continue for the generations to come.

Jennifer Hajny, who works as the community engagement director for the Land Trust, finds the students’ reactions to be heartwarming.

“When you bring kids into a 721-acre forest and tell them that if we cut down all the trees, the open space would be big enough for 546 NFL football fields or 50 Costco buildings, the impact is visible,” she said. “Jaws drop open as they ponder the size of the important forest before them and the benefits it has on the ecosystem and community they live in.”

Some experiences will be cherished forever, Richards said. Earlier this month, the fifth graders spent three days at Camp Kirby, where they shot targets with arrows, performed skits in front of the class, cooked, rowed, participated in team-building activities, practiced outdoor living skills and more.

One night, the teachers woke up the kids so they wouldn’t miss a rare sight: the northern lights.

As many children deal with anxiety and trauma, Richards believes nature can help alleviate these struggles. By learning on the field from subject matter experts, children develop the confidence that they too have the power to make a positive impact.

As a result, today’s kids could grow into the environmentally conscious adults of tomorrow. Fostering environmental stewardship, Hajny said, will benefit both Whidbey and the people who call the island home.

“Love of our island grows through these hands-on experiences on the land,” she said.

(Photo by Luisa Loi) School Farm Manager Brian Kenney helps out South Whidbey’s budding farmers, including at left Jackson Poolman , Finn Schierholtz, Conor Iblings, Neve Hoelting and Ellis Wolfe.

At left, Michael Burrier, Aria Sarver, Olivia Imbery, Neve Hoelting and Finn Schierholtz wash their hands before eating some garden tacos, made with the fruits of their labor. (Photo by Luisa Loi)