School District and City-Scale Case Studies
Examples written and Recorded by our Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative has been documenting school districts’ experiences with moving their classes and programs outdoors during the pandemic using two different approaches: 1) We are creating a series of written case study articles that include photographs, videos, and links to resources the school districts used to get their programs up and running, and 2) We are inviting many school districts and their partners to share their work, their planning processes, and their insights about their outdoor learning programs in their own words during our Community of Practice meetings. We record many of those presentations and then post them on our YouTube channel and link them below.
Many of the districts profiled below are using their outdoor spaces year-round, in a wide variety of weather conditions and temperatures, with PK-12 students of all ages. They are creating engaging outdoor learning environments, eating school meals outdoors, and improving well-being for students and teachers through the positive experiences outside. Many of the school districts who tried outdoor programming for the first time during the pandemic are reporting that their school communities have found being outside so enjoyable and effective at improving learning and health, that they plan to continue using outdoor spaces for some aspects of their permanent programming in the years to come.
We hope you enjoy reading the case studies, watching the videos, using the resources the districts have shared—and looking through all of the photos of happy, healthy children engaged in outdoor programming at school!
© Sim Barrow, Fayetteville Public SChools
Arkansas —
Fayetteville Public Schools
This recorded presentation was given by Fayetteville Public Schools’ Environmental Science Coordinator.
California —
Berkeley Unified School District
This recorded presentation was given by Berkeley Unified School District’s Facilities Maintenance Manager, Sustainability Coordinator, and the Supervisor of the Districtwide Gardening and Cooking Program.
California —
Los Angeles Unified School District
This recorded presentation was given by Los Angeles Unified School District’s Office of Outdoor and Environmental Education.
California —
Oak Park Unified School District
This recorded presentation was given by Oak Park Unified School District’s Superintendent about their district-wide, comprehensive, sustainability initiative.
© Boulder valley school district
Colorado —
Boulder Valley School District
The district used outdoor spaces at their 56 schools during the pandemic, and integrated their pandemic-response efforts with long-term planning for sustainability.
© Lake County School District
Colorado —
Lake County School District
Lake County School District’s motto is “Learning Beyond Walls.” Their students regularly engage in nature-based learning onsite and in nearby public lands.
© Community Consolidated School District 46
Illinois —
Community Consolidated School District 46
Students learn experientially in outdoor spaces that support food security and community well-being during the pandemic.
© Cathlyn Langston, Falmouth Public Schools
Maine —
Falmouth Public Schools
The district serves about 2,200 students. With the help of about $100,000 of its CARES Federal Relief funding, about a dozen staff members created 30 outdoor learning spaces, and they hope to create even more.
© Laura Newman
Maine —
Portland Public Schools
This district moved classes and programs outside in September 2020 and served 5,000 students in 156 outdoor classroom spaces across 17 school campuses.
© Falmouth Public Schools
Massachusetts —
Falmouth Public Schools
With the support from across the community, this school district was able to remain open through the 2020-21 school year.
© Durham Public Schools
North Carolina —
Durham Public Schools
Serving over 32,000 students, Durham Public Schools used a “start small and go from there” mindset to implement outdoor learning.
© Austin Independent School District
Texas —
Austin Independent School District
Austin Independent School District is using an innovative map to connect schools with local parks for outdoor learning.
© Nancy Striniste
Virginia —
Arlington Public Schools
In the 2020-21 school year, schools across the district used outdoor spaces on campus at mealtimes to reduce virus transmission.
National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative
The National COVID-19 Outdoor Learning Initiative supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to safely and equitably remain open during the pandemic by using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective solutions to provide access to abundant fresh air. We are helping educational institutions respond to the COVID-crisis while also making long-term investments in outdoor learning and schoolyard greening that can be used improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults for years to come.
