The adult in me would like to tell you that recess is no longer my favorite subject. That wouldn’t be true. If you ask any kid in my class they will give you the same answer: their chance to go outside is their favorite part of every school day. Recognizing this in my students and myself played a big part in my commitment to providing consistent outdoor education opportunities for my students and eventually, my entire school. I realized that this love of the outdoors was a platform that I, as an educator, should leverage in my students and not resist. As a result, I decided to focus on getting the students outside of the school building and into an outdoor classroom as often as possible. I began by using my five-acre property as a starting point for students to explore, learn and awaken their senses through nature.
My project is a handbook that teachers can use as a resource to help in their outdoor endeavors. The original focus was a site specific handbook for the staff at my school to use that focused on our largely Indigenous population. However, I realized that this project would benefit all teachers who are interested in pursuing outdoor education in any school. Many educators see value in outdoor education and yet often lack the confidence to bring their class outdoors and instruct them. I was able to research the benefits of doing this and now through this handbook, I intend to equip teachers with tools to lead their classes in outdoor learning with confidence. In so doing I hope to encourage my colleagues that time spent in nature is time very well spent for children.
Research shows that many children are living a sedentary lifestyle that is accompanied with poor eating and sleeping patterns. Numerous screen options, gaming consoles and social media platforms are stimulating young minds instead of the smells and sounds of nature that soothe and energize. Providing outdoor education to students of all ages can bring balance into their educational experience, removing them from traditional sedentary learning spaces and placing them into an active space. There are numerous benefits to outdoor education including growth and development, improved self-esteem, as well as mental and physical well-being. With this in mind the question simply becomes, “Why not Outdoor Education?” Start simple, explore nature with your class and help create a healthy lifestyle for the students we teach.