Most all of the school and district leaders I’ve spoken with over the years say that they appreciate dedicated areas for outdoor learning and see value in them. However, when...
...things, playgrounds provide an opportunity for children to learn teamwork, build social connections, examine patterns and experiment with cause and effect. The best outdoor learning spaces engage all five senses—seeing,...
...few ways to keep the “outdoor” in outdoor learning. Sticks… When a big storm blows through town and rattles loose branches and twigs from the trees, very often, I find...
...inspired with ideas on how pollinator gardens could be incorporated into outdoor learning spaces. Don’t Forget the Lunch For something called a “lunch and learn” this one should be obvious,...
...new and different ways. That means finding opportunities to make every surface – even the secure boundary, like fences and walls – part of the outdoor learning environment. If the...
Lately, I’ve been digging and exploring in search of solutions for a wonderfully challenging project. It’s for the Delaware County Public Library’s Powell branch. The library system’s leadership and stakeholders...
...inquisitive… which is what learning is all about. A secure freedom to be wholly themselves. Special Outdoor Spaces My dream outdoor learning spaces are those that allow play, learning and...
...into their facilities’ master plans. Take Delaware County Public Library, for instance. That library system’s leadership and stakeholders have placed considerable value in integrating outdoor learning environments for its patrons....
...outdoor learning spaces on its campus. Several acres of outdoor learning space will highlight different ecosystems—such as woods, a grassland, and even a bog with swamp creatures like tadpoles and...
...to connect with nature and one another directly, and facilitate those connections through interactions with materials, both natural and manmade. There are many ways of thinking about the outdoor learning...