A couple weeks ago the president of the PTO (Parent Teacher Organization) at my daughter’s former elementary school messaged me and asked if I could come to the next meeting and talk about outdoor classrooms.
Sweet! My favorite conversation!
They had a successful fundraiser and wanted to invest in an outdoor classroom but they weren’t sure where to start. I asked what would be most helpful for me to share and after a quick round of messaging she shared, “I think parents need a better understanding of what the outdoor classroom is and how it can benefit our children.”

Here’s what I shared with them and I hope it helps others have conversations about getting kids outside during the school day. We already have a great area with an existing trail system and LOTS to explore!! So my goal was to share simple steps to support teachers (and parents) in using the existing trail now and starting to envision future uses.
What is an “outdoor classroom”? An outdoor space where learners’ curiosity can be sparked by the natural world.