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Outdoor Education Commons

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Full-Text Articles in Outdoor Education

Connecting Children And Young People With Trees, Gill Forrester, Jo Maker, Will Price, Hollie Davison, Heather Gilbert Nov 2023

Connecting Children And Young People With Trees, Gill Forrester, Jo Maker, Will Price, Hollie Davison, Heather Gilbert

Occasional Paper Series

Engaging children and young people with the natural world has never been more important. The benefits of outdoor learning span from increased nature connection to improved self-esteem and physical wellbeing. But with so many potential risks and barriers, how can we help practitioners feel confident and capable in an outdoor setting and therefore improve access to green space for children and young people? The education team at the National Forest Company set out to tackle this challenge. The National Forest was established in the early 1990s in a post-industrial area of the English Midlands. It covers 200 square miles and …


Parent Perceptions Of Outdoor Learning In The Kids In The Woods Program, Mary Mazyck, Michael Andreu, L. Annie Hermansen-Báez, M. David Miller Oct 2021

Parent Perceptions Of Outdoor Learning In The Kids In The Woods Program, Mary Mazyck, Michael Andreu, L. Annie Hermansen-Báez, M. David Miller

The Journal of Extension

Research shows that exposure to the outdoors is beneficial to children and can improve the learning experience for students. The Kids in the Woods program in Gainesville, Florida provides 6th grade students with opportunities to learn science through a series of outdoor activities during their regular science classes. The article reports on an evaluation of the Kids in the Woods program. We surveyed parents/guardians of students participating in the program to examine the impacts of the program and to better understand parent/guardian perceptions of the program and of outdoor learning in general. Results indicate that parents/guardians observed positive changes in …


Using Outdoor Learning As An Instructional Strategy, Mary Schoeb Jun 2021

Using Outdoor Learning As An Instructional Strategy, Mary Schoeb

Innovations and Critical Issues in Teaching and Learning

Spending time in nature or an outdoor environment is a healthy practice that can provide many mental and physical benefits. Thus, outdoor learning is an instructional strategy that can capitalize on these benefits and that is engaging for students. Outdoor learning can encourage student engagement in the content, while offering authentic learning opportunities. Outdoor learning can positively impact students’ learning and intrinsic motivation, their social and behavioral needs, as well as improve their problem-solving and critical thinking skills. Teachers may face a variety of potential barriers when attempting to facilitate outdoor learning. These obstacles are described and addressed by providing …