Five Benefits of Outdoor Learning

“My best pitch for getting outside is that it ignites a curiosity in students that we don’t necessarily see when they’re confined between four walls.”

— Brooke Teller, Outdoor Learning Coordinator, Portland Public Schools

Registration for our Forest Preschool is open for the 2022-23 school year and we still have a few spaces left! We loved learning with our students last year, and we look forward to exploring nature with them again this September. While we wait, let’s take a look at the benefits of learning outside: 

Development

Research shows that children’s academic and emotional-behavioral development benefit from outdoor learning. The hands-on quality of outdoor learning leads to improvements in test scores, class behavior, motivation, independence, empathy, and problem solving.  

Health

Human beings are built to coexist with nature, and children are no exception. Alienation from nature (referred to as nature-deficit disorder) takes a physical and mental toll, so it should be no surprise that outdoor learning has been proven to increase students’ emotional wellbeing. Children’s physical health is bolstered by vitamin D and fresh air, not to mention the exercise students get while exploring nature.

Practical Learning

Children sometimes complain that what they learn in school isn’t helpful in “the real world.” At FRNC, the classroom is the real world! Students engage with concepts hands-on and learn to connect material to the world around them.

Identity- and Community-Building

Learning in a diverse natural ecosystem encourages children to seek a sense of place and identity in their own lives. This helps children form connections to their communities and their natural surroundings.

Fun, FUN, FUN!

Outdoor learning is fun! Students and teachers alike enjoy being outside, exploring new environments, and learning by participating. When learning is fun, children are engaged and will want to learn more. 

We are so excited to welcome our students back in just a few weeks! The FRNC Forest Preschool offers Monday/Wednesday/Friday afternoon programs and five-day programs in the morning or afternoon. Our only remaining openings are in the five-day afternoon program (and ONE SPACE in the morning program), but you can add yourself to the waitlist for other programs here. Children must be born prior to March 15, 2019 to attend Forest Preschool. If you’re not ready to commit to five days, check out our Preschool Ecology program which will let your child start with one or two days a week.

You can learn more about our programs here, or email Education Director Alli Rogers with any questions. 

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