For years, outdoor learning has been treated as a reward. Finish your work, then we’ll go outside. Friday afternoon? Let’s squeeze in a nature walk.
But what if we flipped that thinking? What if being outside wasn’t a break from learning—but where the best learning happens?
Because here’s the truth: outdoor learning isn’t an add-on. It’s not an enrichment activity or a one-off treat. It’s a powerful, flexible approach that supports the curriculum and helps children thrive.
It Builds Real World Understanding
It’s one thing to read about habitats or angles or seasons in a classroom. It’s another to see shadows shift across the playground, watch bugs shelter under logs, or use sticks to measure a triangle.
Outdoors, abstract ideas become tangible. Children can touch them, test them, and see how they work in the real world. That’s when learning sticks.
It Encourages Curiosity
Outdoors, children naturally start asking questions. Why are those leaves different shapes? What bird is making that sound? How far do you think that tree’s roots go?
We all know how powerful learning becomes when it’s driven by curiosity. And the outdoors is full of prompts—it sparks wonder without even trying.
It Support Mental Health
Fresh air, movement, and open space make a real difference. Time outside has been linked to better focus, lower stress, and improved wellbeing—not just for children, but for adults too.
When outdoor learning becomes part of the routine, not the exception, you’re building in space to breathe.
It Caters To Different Learning Styles
Some children sit at a desk and thrive. Others need to move, see, hear, or build in order to learn. Outdoor learning creates space for all of that.
You don’t need to change what you’re teaching—just how you teach it. A maths lesson can happen with sticks and chalk. A writing task can start with a sensory walk. The curriculum doesn’t change. The setting does.
Outdoor Learning Can Happen Everywhere!
You don’t need a forest. A patch of grass, a school field, or a nearby park is enough. And you don’t need to plan big, elaborate lessons. Some string, a few sticks, and a clear idea can take you a long way.
At Educate Outside, we’re all about keeping it simple. Print-and-go resources, quick ideas, and flexible activities that work in your space—with your class or family.
The outdoors isn’t a bonus. It’s a classroom. A playground. A lab. A story starter. A calming space. And when we treat it that way—consistently, not occasionally—we unlock so much more than just curriculum boxes.
We see confidence grow. We see teamwork build. We see children come alive. So no, outdoor learning isn’t just a ‘nice extra’. It’s essential. And it’s time we treated it that way.
Adam
Newsletter June 2025
Back-to-School Outdoor Team-Building Challenges
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For years, outdoor learning has been treated as a reward.
Finish your work, then we’ll go outside.
Friday afternoon? Let’s squeeze in a nature walk.
But what if we flipped that thinking? What if being outside wasn’t a break from learning—but where the best learning happens?
Because here’s the truth: outdoor learning isn’t an add-on. It’s not an enrichment activity or a one-off treat. It’s a powerful, flexible approach that supports the curriculum and helps children thrive.
It Builds Real World Understanding
It’s one thing to read about habitats or angles or seasons in a classroom. It’s another to see shadows shift across the playground, watch bugs shelter under logs, or use sticks to measure a triangle.
Outdoors, abstract ideas become tangible. Children can touch them, test them, and see how they work in the real world. That’s when learning sticks.
It Encourages Curiosity
Outdoors, children naturally start asking questions.
Why are those leaves different shapes? What bird is making that sound? How far do you think that tree’s roots go?
We all know how powerful learning becomes when it’s driven by curiosity. And the outdoors is full of prompts—it sparks wonder without even trying.
It Support Mental Health
Fresh air, movement, and open space make a real difference. Time outside has been linked to better focus, lower stress, and improved wellbeing—not just for children, but for adults too.
When outdoor learning becomes part of the routine, not the exception, you’re building in space to breathe.
It Caters To Different Learning Styles
Some children sit at a desk and thrive. Others need to move, see, hear, or build in order to learn. Outdoor learning creates space for all of that.
You don’t need to change what you’re teaching—just how you teach it. A maths lesson can happen with sticks and chalk. A writing task can start with a sensory walk. The curriculum doesn’t change. The setting does.
Outdoor Learning Can Happen Everywhere!
You don’t need a forest. A patch of grass, a school field, or a nearby park is enough. And you don’t need to plan big, elaborate lessons. Some string, a few sticks, and a clear idea can take you a long way.
At Educate Outside, we’re all about keeping it simple. Print-and-go resources, quick ideas, and flexible activities that work in your space—with your class or family.
The outdoors isn’t a bonus. It’s a classroom. A playground. A lab. A story starter. A calming space. And when we treat it that way—consistently, not occasionally—we unlock so much more than just curriculum boxes.
We see confidence grow. We see teamwork build. We see children come alive. So no, outdoor learning isn’t just a ‘nice extra’. It’s essential. And it’s time we treated it that way.
Adam