Outdoor Learning Environment

Our Outdoor Learning Environment:

Connecting Children to Nature

How do you think about playgrounds for children?

Do you see them as places to blow-off steam, giving children a break? The out-of-doors offers a larger world for children. It can provide places for freedom, exploring, and solace. Being in a natural outdoor environment helps children thrive not only physically, but socially, emotionally, intellectually and spiritually. 

In his important book, Last Child in the Woods, author Richard Louv reminds us that unlike television and computers, nature does not steal time. It amplifies it. It offers new possibilities. 

When Renaissance opened eight years ago we embarked on a transformation of traditional playground thinking. We want to create an outdoor learning environment as thoughtfully constructed as our indoor learning environment. We are not targeting industrialized play contraptions. We are talking about creating simple, natural areas with trees, and paths. We want places for our kids to climb, dig, run and explore. 

Our progress has been slow, as it hasn't been easy to convince risk management to embrace our philosophy and move away from conventional play structures and spaces. Through the hard work of our Outdoor Learning Environment (OLE) committee and parent volunteers, each year we move forward toward our vision. Funds from our recent fundraiser will allow the OLE committee to continue enhancing our outdoor space. 

Spaces for solitude and reflection -

We want outdoor time to be seen as more than "recess," and  instead be viewed as an invaluable part of each day's learning.

Our philosophy has been to create an outdoor space where children can:

* Connect with nature

* Care for plants and creatures

* Landscaping that promotes adventure and drama

* Places for children to feel powerful and competent

* Design cozy spaces and gathering places

* Enhance play with activities

* Defines spaces for people and things

Big and small areas

An open area for large-motor activities

Rich learning takes place in natural outdoor spaces and significantly aids children's health and development.

A building area

Finding the joys of water, dirt and sand.

A music and movement area

Can children do the work of a scientist, an ecologist or archeologist?

 Places that engage a sense of wonder, provoke curiosity and a desire to investigate.

The Ga-Ga Ball Pit

Can they conquer fears, take risks, and develop courage?

A gathering area

Encouraging children to master new challenges, develop increasingly complex skills, and closely observe and appreciate the natural world will give children gifts that will last for a lifetime.

The outdoors is not just for big energy, but also for relaxing, letting nature by your nest.

Well designed outdoor learning environments reduce stress, sharpen concentration and promote creative problem solving. We can nurture children's enthusiasm for the outdoors and their commitment to protecting nature for generations to come.

Warmly,

Ms. Deborah