Outdoor Classrooms are learning spaces designed to take advantage of the outdoors that include the amenities of a traditional classroom. They allow students to explore, observe, and learn in an outdoor setting while educators have everything they need to bring their lessons outside in a comfortable and focused way. Outdoor classrooms offer unique benefits for students such as fresh air and natural light, hands-on learning opportunities, access to nature, physical activity, and experiential learning.
The possibilities for outdoor classrooms are truly endless! They can include gardens, natural play spaces, meadows and grassy knolls, outdoor science labs, ponds or water features, and more.
Each outdoor classroom offers unique opportunities for students to explore and learn in a natural setting and takes advantage of the resources that already exist on campus. In this blog post, we will discuss the benefits of outdoor classrooms and explore some creative ideas to consider in your outdoor classroom project.
What do Outdoor Classrooms have to offer
Outdoor classrooms are becoming increasingly popular as a way to incorporate nature into every day education. These outdoor classrooms can be incorporated into schools and parks and offer a myriad of benefits to students, educators, and staff.
It is well known that exposure to the outdoors can lead to improved physical health and cognitive function. Additionally, outdoor classrooms provide a unique opportunity for hands-on learning and creative exploration. Learning outside is one of the best ways to increase student engagement and well being.
Supporting the use of renewable energy sources, such as solar energy, is becoming an important part of the conversation surrounding outdoor classrooms. When we designed our first outdoor classroom we ran into some major obstacles to incorporating solar. But we knew it would be important to ensure that our design was accessible and in line with our relentless pursuit of a sustainable future. This challenge was directly in line with our mission to be the best sustainable solar company in California along with all the other integrative services we provide.
We did the work to overcome the design challenge and love making it easy for schools and parks to incorporate sustainable energy into their outdoor classrooms. By including solar into your outdoor classroom project you can not only benefit from outdoor learning but also create a return on investment and contribute to a healthier planet.
Different Outdoor Classroom Designs
California’s vast and diverse landscape provides endless opportunities for outdoor learning. Understanding what natural resources exist on your campus, what types of lessons your educators value most, and the needs of your students will help guide what to include in an outdoor classroom design. Different outdoor classroom designs cater to diverse learning styles. Whether it’s a secluded clearing in the forest or an urban rooftop garden, outdoor classroom solutions in California offer endless opportunities for exploration and inquiry-based learning.
a. Outdoor Classrooms can be part of the Natural Environment
If you have school gardens, oak groves, meadows, a large bioswale, a school farm, or the space to create any of these natural environments then you can plan to integrate an outdoor classroom directly into them. Nature-based playgrounds and learning spaces provide a unique and engaging way for children to experience the joys of outdoor play and connect deeply with environmental education curriculum.
In this case we must consider the ways the outdoor classroom will contribute to the ecosystem. Should we use an AgroEnergy roof to promote plant growth? How will water flow through the site? Are there any animals to plan for? How will it store and use energy? With a focus on natural materials and features, these types of classrooms allow kids to interact with their environment in a meaningful way. One example is considering outdoor classroom seating solutions. For nature based learning environments we can choose natural materials like logs and boulders and make use of free resources when possible.
These types of designs bring the classroom outdoors into nature and allow children to learn in an immersive way. So, not only are nature-based outdoor classrooms fun and stimulating, but they also provide a valuable educational experience.
b. Outdoor Classrooms as an Indoor Classroom Alternative
You do not need to have a lot of space or natural resources to create an outdoor classroom. With the increasing focus on early childhood education, traditional outdoor classrooms are becoming more popular in preschool, elementary, and urban settings.
Equipping these outdoor spaces with age-appropriate preschool outdoor classroom equipment allows children to experience learning in a whole new way. Adding simple container gardens or small water features is possible in the smallest of spaces and creates wonderful sensory play opportunities. Simply enjoying the sunshine without fear of sunburn can elevate any traditional lesson plan if you have an outdoor classroom facility that makes taking it outside easy and safe. Traditional outdoor classrooms also increase school resiliency by having an open air space that is protected from the elements and suitable for instruction during seasons of increased viral risk.
By incorporating outdoor learning opportunities, children develop a deeper appreciation and understanding of the natural world, while also enhancing their overall development and well-being.
C. Outdoor Classrooms can promote STEAM and Career Learning
As the world becomes more reliant on technology, it’s no surprise that outdoor classrooms are being used for STEAM and Career Learning. Having an outdoor space that is well equipped with digital tools and connected have become an innovative solution for schools in the USA.
With the help of these tools, students can learn in outdoor settings while still utilizing and learning about new technology. These classrooms allow for creative and engaging lessons that can appeal to even the most tech-savvy of learners. Farms are now using smart irrigation, agrivoltaics, and hydroponics as a way to continue producing the food we need despite climate change challenges. If we are going to teach out students how to grow food we should be providing for the use of these technologies, especially at higher levels of education like high school FFA programs and community college and trade school outdoor classrooms.
Designing an outdoor classroom to include STEAM and Career learning can be as simple as providing internet connection and power for digital teaching tools or it can be as involved as creating an outdoor specialty lab that powers digital tools far away from other infrastructure.
Digital outdoor classrooms are proving to be an effective way to integrate necessary technology into outdoor education and never have to choose between high-tech and nature-based education.
How to Create an Effective Outdoor Classroom Environment
The outdoors provides a natural environment for children to learn, explore and discover, and an outdoor classroom can be an excellent tool for this purpose. Creating an effective outdoor classroom can be easy with the right outdoor classroom solutions in the USA. While the possibilities are truly endless for the design of an outdoor classroom, your space, your educators, and your students will determine which style of outdoor classroom is best.
At CSI, we set out to create a simple and cost effective solution that allows any school or park to envision and achieve the outdoor classroom that best fits their needs. We believe that outdoor education is critical for the well-being of our students, essential to the sustainability of our future, and should be accessible to everyone.
Maintaining Your Outdoor Classroom
Creating an outdoor classroom is an exciting opportunity to move learning outside the traditional four walls and inspire students in new ways. However, designing and maintaining this learning space requires careful consideration and planning.
If not thought through, outdoor education facilities like gardens can quickly become rundown and no longer useful. That said, campuses can incorporate more into their outdoor classroom design.
When considering additional features to add, consider what maintenance they will require and who will be responsible for maintenance tasks. Some Districts can hire a staff member who is in charge of outdoor education, their school garden, or STEAM program. Some Districts have been able to collaborate with Americorps or other programs for assistance in extra-curricular staffing.
We didn’t want maintenance to be a hindrance to outdoor classroom projects so we designed the NET+ Outdoor Classroom to be as simple to maintain as possible. With a minimalist design, durable and vandal resistant materials, and smart features like the “All Off” program that resents the classroom into a tidy and secure state automatically and all by itself, it can’t get easier. We think that having to add resources like staff or extra energy bills can become an obstacle to outdoor classroom projects which is why our outdoor classroom kit is designed to be operated and maintained without impacting your staff or budget.
About Constructive Systems Inc.
Constructive Systems Inc. is a sustainable solutions company that specializes in designing and installing outdoor learning structures for schools and parks. Our products are designed with safety, longevity, and sustainability in mind. Partner with the best solar sustainability company in California that provides renewable energy options as well as a range of other eco-friendly solutions. Our team is passionate about outdoor learning and providing high-quality products to support it! Contact us today to learn more about our outdoor classroom solutions.
