How to Bring Outdoor Learning to Your District
Welcome! If you are a school district just getting started with outdoor learning, know that you are joining schools and school systems in every region of the US that are working to move learning outdoors.
The National Outdoor Learning Library has more than 150 tools and resources that will help you plan, as well as inspiring reports from the field describing how districts across the country in all climate zones and in cities, suburbs, and rural settings have made this transition.
This District Pathway is designed to help you navigate the many resources of the National Outdoor Learning Library and find those most immediately helpful when launching a district-wide program. It was written with input from district-level outdoor learning experts from across the country.
School systems that have successful outdoor learning programs agree that there are some key steps for all districts to consider when getting started. Read this series from start to finish to understand all the steps, or click on the shortcuts below to navigate directly to the sections you would like to focus on.
The links throughout these documents lead to more in-depth articles in the National Outdoor Learning Library and to helpful templates developed by districts experienced in running outdoor learning programs. They are shared here for you to use as you establish your own program. There are many examples to guide you.
Because the pandemic continues to impact students and schools across the country, this first edition of the District Pathway focuses mainly on pandemic mitigation strategies, with some tips on adopting outdoor learning for the long term. We intend for this document to evolve over time as district needs change, so watch this space for updates.
Graphic by Ida Li © Green Schoolyards america
The District Pathway guides you through the key steps to consider when establishing a district-wide outdoor learning program. This series explains each step and includes links to in-depth information and inspiring examples in the National Outdoor Learning Library.
Shortcuts Through the District Pathway
Consider Your Focus: Why Learn Outdoors — children’s health, equity, the environment, long-term change
Include All Voices — gather a team, know your community, clarify your goals
Understand What You Have — inventory each campus, assess teacher interest
Decide What You Need — prioritize comfort, create demonstration sites and pilots, streamline with pre-approved furnishings, consider all needs
Implement Your Program — support administrators, facilities, and maintenance, support teachers, integrate outdoors into curriculum, establish systems, plan for care, consider funding sources, assess and learn
CREDITS
This article is based on the vast experience, wise advice, and generous contributions of:
Ghita Carroll — Sustainability Coordinator, Boulder Valley School District, Colorado
Yalda Modabber — Executive Director, Golestan Education, California
Dan Schnitzer — Project Manager, Sustainability and Capital Improvements, Durham Public Schools, North Carolina
Brooke Teller — STEM Coordinator, Portland Public Schools, Maine
Sam Ullery — School Gardens Specialist, Office of the State Superintendent of Education, District of Columbia
Katie West — Outdoor Learning Coordinator, Portland Public Schools, Maine
Andra Yeghoian — Director of Environmental Literacy and Sustainability, San Mateo County Office of Education, California
and written by Nancy Striniste of Green Schoolyards America with support from Ida Li and Lauren McKenna.
National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to increase physical distancing capacity onsite and provide access to abundant fresh air. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.
