In my experience, outdoor learning benefits both students and teachers. That’s one of the many things I love about it. Why shouldn’t teachers do things that reap rewards for themselves as well?  So, for your students and yourself, take some learning outdoors!

First let’s start with the students. Here are five ways outdoor learning benefits your students. Researchers have studied these benefits and I have experienced them first-hand with my students.

  1. Fresh air helps students’ brains function better.
  2. Exposure to dirt and being in natural environments can help children develop orderly immune systems.
  3. Learning outdoors can help students remember content better.
  4. They are often calmer and better able to focus on learning tasks even when they return inside. 
  5. They are happier learners. Happy learners learn better.

And in case those reasons aren’t enough, here are eleven more benefits of learning outdoors.

Now let’s look at teacher benefits. Unfortunately, ways teachers benefit from outdoor learning has not been a focus for educational research. That’s too bad. I know becoming an outdoor learning educator has made me a better and happier teacher. Here are some of the ways I have benefitted from outdoor learning. 

First and foremost, every way outdoor learning has benefitted the children, it has benefitted me. When the children are healthier, happier, calmer, more focused and better able to remember what they are learning – believe me – I am benefitting from THAT!

But additional benefits for me include:

  1. My sympathetic nervous system becomes over-stimulated when I spend large amounts of time inside a classroom with children. They need to move around and outside they can do it.
  2. When they use loud voices, the sound isn’t amplified by walls. It dissipates into the heavens above. Another valuable benefit for my sympathetic nervous system. 
  3. I can teach students about subject matter I care for deeply: the environment, plants, animals, gardening, cooking with fire and using tools.
  4. Teaching and learning isn’t boring. The children aren’t just listening to me talk. They are active, interested and engaged in their learning. This makes teaching easier and very rewarding for me. Also, I am always learning something new. In Spring 2018, I saw for the first time in my life (and I am no Spring chicken), the life cycle of frogs starting from eggs! It was amazing.
  5. I feel happy when I’m outside. Not just because I enjoy being in nature, but also because my nervous system and brain can rejuvenate. And very importantly for me, I know I am supporting my students’ mental health, physical health and their learning. It’s a win-win-win-win-win for them and me.

If you are interested in taking some of your teaching outdoors, I hope you find reasons here to counter any resistance you might face – from the voice in your own head to anxious parents to uncertain school administrators. Feel reassured and give it a try. I hope you reap even more benefits than I have with my students.

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