All students have weekly classes with the environmental education specialist. Various topics of study might include garden creatures such as birds, insects, reptiles, amphibians, bats; weather; environmental issues such as recycling, conservation, water purity, and erosion, or simply working in the garden.
The Discovery Garden includes a Texas native plant area, a graduate garden, seating areas for observation and learning, an arbor (often used as an outdoor classroom) a composting area, separate raised beds for each classroom, and various other beds and student outdoor art projects. The purpose of the garden is to develop a sense of environmental awareness through direct contact with nature, to foster the spirit of the interconnectedness of all creatures, to provide insight into the ongoing cycles of life, and to encourage the satisfaction that is derived from patience and hard work.
Students in each classroom decide what they wish to plant in their classroom beds, anything from fruits and vegetables to flowers and herbs. Middle school students maintain two herb gardens. Their harvest is used to produce organic herbal soaps that they in turn sell in their for-profit business, MS Garden Gifts.
The preschool gardens are located on their playground so that the young children can observe their work on a daily basis and garden during their playtime if they wish.