News Articles
Outdoor learning making the news! Found 21 Resources.
Opinion: Cellphones have taken over our schools, and it’s been a disaster
Roughly half of Canadian children aged 7 to 11, and nearly 90 per cent of teens, now have a cellphone. These kids are both pioneers and guinea pigs. And as the effects of cellphones on kids’ mental, emotional and physical health become more evident, it’s clear that this technological revolution has gone too far, too fast.
In Canada’s largest city, how do you teach children about the great — but expensive — outdoors?
Educators across the Greater Toronto Area are trying to make the outdoors affordable and accessible for every family — even those that don’t believe in sleepovers.
COVID-19 and schools reopening: Now is time to embrace outdoor education
An article published on Aug. 25, 2020 advocating for outdoor learning opportunities and open air schools for students!
Safer than being inside’: Outdoor classrooms taking shape in Toronto amid COVID-19
An article published on Sept. 12, 2020 discussing the success of outdoor classrooms in Toronto amid COVID-19.
Classrooms in the forest: Yukon School Teaching Largely Outside this Fall
Growing Demand for Wilderness Education May Widen Learning Inequality
An article published on Sept. 15, 2020 looking at the impact of coronavirus on outdoor education and inequality in opportunities for students.
Classrooms Without Walls, and Hopefully COVID
An article published on Oct. 27, 2020 that looks at schools across America that moved students outdoors to combat COVID.
CBC: Outdoor recreation facing its own reckoning with diversity and inclusion, advocate says
An article published on July 18, 2020 that interviews Judith Kasiama founder of Colour the Trails, a group with a mission to inspire Black, Indigenous and people of colour to get out and enjoy the outdoors.
Science World: Why representation in nature matters
An article published on June 11, 2020 outlining the importance of representation in nature especially in Canada and how this can be achieved through birding!
Advancing Early Childhood Education Outdoors Now
Advancing Early Childhood Education Outdoors Now, a roundtable funded by the Peter Wall Institute for Advanced Studies (PWIAS), engaged dialogue between researchers, practitioners and policymakers, to illustrate how outdoor early childhood education (ECE) might occur in BC.
New York Times: Schools beat earlier plagues with outdoor classes. We should too.
An article published on July 17, 2020 outlining the history of outdoor classrooms and their significance in safely educating youth during previous pandemics.
The Atlantic: Why can’t we just have class outside?
An article published on July 28, 2020 outlining the American push for outdoor learning from an equity angle as well as a health and safety angle.
Global News: Coronavirus Family west of Saskatoon creating outdoor classroom
An article published on August 24, 2020 outlining a family’s restoration of their land into an outdoor classroom for use during the pandemic.
CBC: Education experts call for outdoor classes to increase student safety amid COVID-19 pandemic
An article published on July 29, 2020 outlining the educational experts cry for outdoor classrooms as a strategy for education during the pandemic.
CNN Health: Outdoor classes are safer: how can teachers make it happen?
An article published on August 18, 2020 that highlights a US university professor who will be teaching outside as an alterative to offering online classes in the fall, as well as other schools in the US advocating and implementing outdoor learning.
Child & Nature Network: Recommendations for decision makers
A comprehensive document published in 2018 outlining the human connection to nature and how to reflect that in our society through our education system.
The Toronto Star: For back to school in the COVID era let’s get school outside
An article published on August 11, 2020 outlining the health and safety benefits of having school outside this fall and beyond!
NAAEE: Environmental and outdoor education key to equitably re-opening school
An article published in June 2020 outlining how environmental and outdoor education can be the foundation for re-opening schools safely in North America.
Take Me Outside: Reimagining Schools: What if we physically distanced from four walls and a desk?
An article published on June 29, 2020 calling for the reimagining of school through physically distancing from four walls and a desk.
Active for Life: Outdoor play is more important than ever.
An article published on August 19, 2020 that advocates for outdoor play and provides tips & tricks for spending time away from screens.
The Gaurdian: One way to teach students more safely this fall? Move lessons outdoors
An article published on August 14, 2020 outlining the merits of outdoor learning from a health & safety perspective.
