Supporting educators in the outdoors

Advice from Administrators:

When an educator approaches you with an idea about outdoor ed, how do you respond?

I always encourage it, and ask how I can help. If we could be outside all day every day, I’d say great, let’s do it-- even if they are just moving their whiteboard outside on an easel and doing the same lesson as they would have inside, but doing it outside- it’s so much better for them to get the fresh air, to have the solid ground beneath them, to have sunlight rather than artificial light. I think about some of the different tools we use in classroom to help students be comfortable and stay tuned in-- like wobbly chairs and fidgets- and these tools are readily available in nature.

-Adrienne Eickman, Schoolcraft Learning Community, Bemidji MN (K-8 public charter) www.schoolcraft.org

Very enthusiastically! I listen to their ideas of the direction they want to take with outdoor learning and then offer them small and simpler steps in order to maintain consistency and ensure the educator feels successful in planning their outdoor experience. I also offer to work alongside them during some of their outdoor times and encourage them to reflect and change things as they go in order to best suit their teaching style and needs.

-Alison Leslie, East Kensington Elementary, Surrey, British Columbia

What are the administrative challenges of outdoor education and how have you met them?

I think the biggest challenge we’ve had is sharing. :) We have a fantastic forest educator, who is also trained in teaching SEL. These topics go hand in hand! As we have expanded to being K-8, we’ve had to find ways to share Caige’s time, and also share the forest.

Sometimes, we have teachers or staff who aren’t very “outdoorsy” and that’s always a bit of a challenge to get them feeling comfortable being outside- but again- it doesn’t take long for folks to come around once they see the benefits- and see that it doesn’t always need to be that big of a deal.

Lastly- sometimes it can feel a little bit like, “Okay, so when are these kids actually just sitting down and learning some algebra?” Just like with all things- you have to keep a balance.

-Adrienne Eickman, Schoolcraft Learning Community, Bemidji MN (K-8 public charter) www.schoolcraft.org

The largest challenge I have faced with being an administrator and advocate for outdoor learning is having to explain and advocate within the district the value and importance of outdoor education for our students. Outdoor education is not a new concept but an educational pedagogy that up until very recently has been viewed as an alternative style of teaching. I have had to keep up with the latest research as well as educate and demonstrate through workshops, social media and a personal blog the benefits both social and academic that result from having students and staff connect and learn from the natural world around them.

-Alison Leslie, East Kensington Elementary, Surrey, British Columbia