Nature as a teacher: the rise of outdoor and forest schools

Written by: Devon Karchut, Pediatric Physiotherapist

Getting kids off their devices and sending them outdoors is something we hear a lot about these days. Experts have been telling us for years that outdoor play is essential for healthy child development. In 2015, the Council of Chief Medical Officers of Health in Canada released this statement: "Access to active play in nature and outdoors – with its risks – is essential for healthy child development. We recommend increasing children's opportunities for self-directed play outdoors in all settings – at home, at school, in child care, the community and nature." In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic really brought to the forefront the physical and psychological benefits of being outdoors. 

At this time, we saw a big spike in the number of forest schools and outdoor learning programs for kids, with Outdoor Play Canada reporting 34 just in Alberta, which doesn’t even include nature-focused dayhomes. In addition to this number, several elementary schools are also developing a niche in offering outdoor learning, such as Percy Pegler in Okotoks. An increasing number of teachers are also taking the initiative to get their students outdoors and connecting to nature. Take Me Outside, a non-profit focused on promoting outdoor learning, has numerous outdoor learning challenges for schools, professional development opportunities, and resources for teachers, as well as a mentorship program for teachers. They even have an outdoor learning certification program for teachers! 

People often ask, what is forest school and how is it different from outdoor learning? While both of these approaches all focus on getting kids outside and connection to nature, there are differences in their philosophies. According to the Child and Nature Alliance of Canada, “Forest schools are an educational ethos and practice that centres the Land and the child-at-play. Children and educators build a relationship with the Land through regular and repeated access to the same outdoor space over an extended period of time. Educators support learning through a pedagogical framework that is rooted in place and play, directed and inspired by the child (emergent curriculum), and driven by a process of inquiry.” Outdoor learning has multiple interpretations, but generally means a pedagogical approach to meeting curricular outcomes through outdoor activities and inquiries that connect kids to the natural world.

Regardless of the name or approach, these outdoor and nature-focused programs have infinite benefits for our children, and can be a perfect complement to traditional learning settings. Here are some of the highlights of how outdoor learning opportunities support kids to thrive:

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• Rich sensory experiences. When we play and learn outdoors, we feel the wind and sun on our face, smell the spruce trees and the grass, feel the texture of rough bark, hear the sounds of birds, and adapt to the unpredictable terrain we move across. These sensory experiences stimulate the sensory cortexes of the brain, leading to new connections between cells! When our learning is tied to our senses, we retain the information better – just like how scents are often linked to our most cherished memories! The sensory input of nature is also often more calming than what we get indoors – the colors are softer, the light is less harsh, the sounds less intense, the smells more pleasant, and the space less confined and cluttered. This input calms and regulates our nervous system, putting us in the optimal state for learning new things! 
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• Connects kids to their local ecosystems. What better way to learn about your local flora and fauna than to get right up close and personal with it?! When we connect to local landscapes, it creates a sense of belonging and builds stewardship within our children – they will be more likely to want to look after the natural spaces they have had meaningful connection to.
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• More movement. There are more opportunities for movement when we learn and play outdoors. This can be very regulating for kids who require lots of movement. Movement increases blood flow and oxygen to our brain and, similarly to the sensory experiences, movement activates many areas of our brain! 
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• Builds resilience. Nature is unpredictable and always changing. Sometimes we are too cold or too hot, there are bugs, or we fall on an unexpectedly muddy spot. When kids learn to work through these moments and build skills to tolerate challenges, they grow their resilience (which often translates to lower levels of anxiety).
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• Increased imagination, creativity, and innovation. These skills are essential for keeping up with a quickly changing world. As kids personify natural features, create their own worlds and societies in the forest, build forts, and examine the natural world through deep, meaningful exploration, they are building the thinking and communication skills that will help them to be successful in both their future lives and careers.
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It’s exciting to see new outdoor programs emerging, and traditional school settings starting to embrace all the wonderful ways outdoor learning can complement indoor learning. Educators and parents alike are seeing the benefits firsthand of how nature’s classroom can support our children to grow, learn, and thrive! 

Devon is a pediatric physiotherapist with 15 years experience in a variety of settings. She is a relentless advocate for a child’s right to play, and runs a business called Nature Play, which provides nature-based play and therapeutic groups for children of all ages. 

See our related articles:

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• Exploring Nature in the City
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• Embrace Outdoor Play
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• The Need for Nature
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