Students and teachers wanted an area that was easily accessible, with water and plantings that would support wildlife and offer a location for students to study the natural world. The student FFA chapter solicited support from the Parkers Prairie Sportsmen's Club. Students did much of the planning, and high school FFA members contributed most of the labor, including digging a pond, building a stone waterfall, hauling mulch, building a deck, and constructing concrete walkways. Students installed native shrub and tree plantings designed to attract birds, as well as a prairie garden, rock piles, bird houses, bat houses, feeding stations, and a weather station. Now that the courtyard is in use, it is a busy place.
Students use the area for study in many curricular areas, and also perform much of the maintenance.
There are even reports that fourth-graders compete for the privilege of shoveling the deck and sidewalks in winter.