The Great Outdoors and School?

Last year in the fall, my teachers took our students outside to do water tests for ph levels. The school I worked at was located near a nature reserve, something uncommon for most schools in the area because it was near a major city. I was excited to be outdoors and interested in the activity. My students felt differently. They yelled and complained about how they were "city kids" and didn't want to go outside.

Is this a common trend now a days? Or really is it a continuation of what school is? When I was an elementary school student, I never got to go outside, unless for recess. However, sometimes my teachers would let us sit in the sun and read or maybe draw outside. I think that those moments outside made me love to read more, and it is probably the reason why I will always find a patch of grass in the sun to sit on and read. It is in those moments where I think education can be different.

There are many advocates and alternative summer camps that focus on outdoor education. It is thought that bringing students outside gets them closer to the actual science of the world and experience education and life in a different way. Also, some summer camps offer programs where kids build character development through outdoor activities, something you can not always get in a classroom. Along with this, having students spend time outside lets them appreciate the natural beauty around them and would create stronger advocates for preserving out natural resources.

I'm not saying we have to send all our kids to expensive outdoor camps or even have class outside at all times. What I am saying is it should be encouraged, rather than discouraged to have class time outside. It creates a bond with nature and a new appreciation for education.