More and more district leaders and educators are highlighting the importance of outdoor learning. Getting outside to move and spending time outdoors has profound impacts on students’ health and well-being, and also provides safer learning spaces during the pandemic.

Promoting Outdoor Learning

• Environmental Education Guidance – General environmental education guidance for making better, more equitable use of outdoor spaces as we return to in-person learning from the North American Association for Environmental Education
• Taking Education Outdoors Toolkit – Toolkit for schools in Wisconsin to incorporate safe outdoor learning from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
• Environmental Education Guidance Illinois – Environmental education guidance on using outdoor spaces with Illinois case studies from the Environmental Education Association of Illinois
• Outdoor Learning Opportunities and Solutions – Resources and ideas for outdoor learning solutions with example schedules from the Inside-Outside Advisory Group
• Outdoor Learning in Cold Weather – Resources and ideas for outdoor learning in cold weather with examples from the Inside-Outside Advisory Group
• Outdoor Learning Resolution – Resolution with ideas for what should be standard and available for outdoor learning at schools from the NYC Education Council District 3
• Schools Beat Earlier Plagues with Outdoor Classes, We Should Too – Open-air learning during the winter was used in the last major pandemic, with much success: see how they did it from the New York Times

How States Are Promoting Outdoor Learning

 

For a full synopsis of each of the programs from the above table, please see Connecting People & Nature in the Time of Pandemic.