Outdoor Tips for Environmental Educators

Have you ever tried teaching outside the classroom? Let me tell you a secret: learning experiences immersed in nature not only help participants gain knowledge but also foster sensitivity toward the environment. Stepping out of traditional classroom settings and conducting lessons in the open air offers an innovative and engaging learning process for both educators and participants. After all, there's something called opportunity education. Just imagine the benefits such a wonderful experience could bring to people's lives within the context of environmental education.

This amazing method of outdoor education, especially in subjects like environmental education, allows information to be reinforced through concrete observations. Through outdoor activities, participants get to know nature more closely, actively engage in learning processes, and have the opportunity to relate what they’ve learned to daily life. Teaching in outdoor environments not only benefits the learners but also helps activity leaders gain confidence in teaching outdoors, providing an interactive learning process with nature. This approach allows educators, just like participants, to build a deeper bond with the environment and become more conscious and willing individuals in protecting it. Especially when learning processes are conducted within nature, retention increases, and participants’ attention is captured more effectively. For more details on this topic, you can also check out our article titled Environmental Education and 10 Key Impacts.

Since these types of activities are organized in outdoor spaces, the target group of the leaders generally consists of individuals managing educational activities. The duration of the activity may vary depending on the planned content and the activities conducted. The materials to be used can also differ depending on the event, so it’s important to determine the necessary tools and equipment in advance according to the needs of the activity. Now, let's move on to the tips:

Preparation Phase:

 You can use various outdoor spaces such as your school or organization’s yard, local parks, or small forested areas. Be creative—every outdoor environment is valuable for connecting with nature.

 Obtain permission before using the area and plan a safe transportation route. This way, you can more easily inform the relevant authorities in case of unexpected situations.

 Explore the area beforehand with the participants. Identify potential hazards. Ask someone familiar with nature to identify plants and animals and point out natural dangers. You can also conduct some small preparatory practices and drama activities before the event. Some gamification activities may significantly increase the fun for participants.

 Don’t forget to collect consent forms from the participants.

 Inform parents in advance; let them know their children may get dirty during outdoor activities.

 Check the weather and ensure participants wear appropriate clothing. The most famous motto of environmental education is: "There is no bad weather, only bad clothing."

 Apply indoor classroom rules even in outdoor classes. Especially remind younger age groups that outdoor learning is not the same as recess.

 Make sure you have a first aid kit and a mobile phone with you before going outside.

 Bring necessary items to create a classroom environment outdoors, such as a blanket, large cloth, writing board, magnifying glass, notebook, and pencil.

 Prepare an "outdoor kit" for yourself: essential supplies, first aid kit, mobile phone, water, insect repellent, sunscreen.

 Make the necessary arrangements for participants with disabilities. If needed, plan with a companion.

Implementation Phase:

 Balance structured activities with free exploration. For example, noticing a bird or observing the changing colors of leaves can be excellent learning moments. This is what we call Opportunity Education.

 When going outside for the first time, choose a simple activity. Allow participants to get familiar with the area.

 Plan short activities that will catch their attention while walking to the outdoor area: ask how many items they can find in nature of a specific color, or have them find objects starting with a chosen letter, or observe seasonal signs and make predictions.

 Designate a common meeting point. Teach participants that they should go to this point if they get lost.

 If working with students learning a foreign language, the open field is a great environment to learn new words.

 Give participants a nature journal to observe. Over time, they can document seasonal changes. You can also try the Nature Journal activity yourself.

 Document the process during the outdoor activity. This way, you’ll know what worked well for the future.

 Before leaving the area, make sure everything is clean and in place. Leave no person or item behind.

Ask Yourself:

 How did participants respond to outdoor teaching?

 What went well during the outdoor activity? What can be improved next time?

 Did outdoor teaching help you notice something new about your school or work environment?

Asking yourself these questions after the activity can help you plan future outdoor lessons more effectively. Your answers to such questions will help you better understand the needs, prepare for potential challenges, and make outdoor education more efficient each time.