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.
Outdoor Learning Spaces: What You Need
- 6 Key Ingredients to Creating an Outdoor Classroom – tips from District Administration
- Tips for Creating an Outdoor Classroom – plus, additional resources from Project Learning Tree
- How to Set up an Outdoor Classroom: A Step By Step Guide – including ideas on how to manage outdoor classrooms, and why they’re impactful from Splash Learn
- Taking Education Outdoors: Learning Landscape – from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction
Outdoor Learning In the News
- “If Outdoor Learning is Safer During COVID, Why Aren’t More Schools Doing It?” – Education Week (Sept, 2021)
- “The Pandemic Moved Classrooms Outside. Let’s Keep it That Way.” – Outside Magazine (Aug, 2021)
- “Make Outdoor Learning Your Plan A” – Harvard Graduate School of Education (Aug, 2021)
- “Outdoor Learning: Why Learning Outside Should be Priority Even After the Pandemic.” – Relocate Global (May, 2021)
- “Are COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Spaces Here to Stay?” – Indiana University (March, 2021)
- “Schools Beat Earlier Plagues with Outdoor Classes, We Should Too” – New York Times (July, 2020)
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
How States Are Promoting Outdoor Learning
| State | Type of Initiative | Developed By | Focus | Method | Intended For |
| IL | Document: Reopening Guidance | Environmental Education Association of Illinois | Reopening schools with outdoor and environmental education | Case studies & resoures | Schools, school districts |
| ME, VT, MA, NH | Documents: Reopening and Winter Guidance | Inside-Outside | Nature-based education for reopening schools and staying outdoors in winter | Position statements | Teachers, schools |
| NM | Grant Program: Connecting Youth with Nature during pandemic | NM Outdoor Recreation Division; Governor; Legislature | Funding community-based projects to support youth-nature connection | Grant funds | Tribes, Pueblos, municipalities, counties, nonprofits |
| NY | Resolution: Outdoor learning | New York City Community Education Council District 3 | Use of outdoor spaces for safe learning | Resolution | State Department of Education |
| WA | Legislation: Licensing outdoor preschools | Department of Children, Youth & Families; Washington Nature Preschool Association | Equtable access to outdoor learning & childcare | Legislation; licensure | Preschols; other states (as model) |
| WI | Document/Website: Outdoor Learning | Department of Public Instruction | Using the outdoors in reopening schools | Toolkit | Teachers, schools, school districts |
| National | Document/Website: covid-19 outdoor learni | Green Schoolyards America | Taking school outside during pandemic and beyond | Toolkit | Teachers, schools, school districts |
| National | Document: ee Guidance for Reopening Schools | North American Association for Environmental Education | Suggestions and guidance for outdoor learning | Ideas & resources | Schools, school districts |