Karner Blue Education Center is named for a small blue butterfly that is on both the state and federal endangered species lists. While adult Karner Blues feed on the nectar of a variety of flowering plants, the caterpillars feed solely on the leaves of the wild blue lupine, a beautiful wildflower that has also suffered habitat loss due to land development. The unique beauty and rarity of this butterfly make it a perfect namesake for this very unique school. Karner Blue Education Center was designed to address the specific needs of students with Autism, emotional and behavioral disorders, and cognitive disabilities. The environmental supports provided by the building design create a controlled space for students in which to learn, play, and relax. A focus on nature provides a calming atmosphere, and educational philosophies tied to nature and place build student's connections to their world.
One of the unique ways these special students are served involves the use of labyrinths. Three labyrinths on the playground, portable labyrinths in each of the four classroom communities, finger tracing labyrinths and a large interactive wall painting, are all ways the labyrinth is found and used at Karner Blue Education Center to support calming, focusing, listening, and quieting. The students participated in making many of the labyrinths, two patterns of which were designed specifically for this student population. This poster presentation will highlight both the unique labyrinth patterns as well as how the labyrinth is being adapted for use in this special learning environment.