“If we want our children to move mountains, we first have to let them get out of their chairs.”  This powerful quote by nature educator Nicollete Sowder embodies the motivation behind Opportunity School’s newest learning partnership. 

 

In an effort to enhance the overall mental health and well-being of our students, teachers, and staff, Opportunity School has partnered with Nature Explore to create three one-of-a-kind outdoor classrooms at the Edwards Campus.

 

“When we built the Edwards Campus, our outdoor spaces were left blank slates because we had a dream of creating a more engaging outdoor space in the future,” explains Opportunity School Executive Director Jill Goodrich. “We are excited to now be embarking on this unique project with Nature Explore, a nationally recognized authority in outdoor learning environments.”

 

Opportunity School has created three unique spaces that seamlessly integrate with students’ daily learning and play. The partnership with Nature Explore ensures the new playground spaces are expertly designed to maximize the educational benefits for students.

 

“The new outdoor learning areas positively influence children, families, and communities by bringing back a love of the outdoors, an appreciation for the benefits of connecting with nature, and promoting positive, family-friendly practices that encourage families as they learn and spend time together,” Says Goodrich.

 

The second largest school district in the United States, the Los Angeles Unified School District, has found great success after implementing outdoor classrooms in all its early childhood programs. In fact, the District has seen such positive outcomes with its 15 outdoor classrooms that 101 more have already been approved.

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“Time in nature is beneficial to our mental, emotional, and physical health because it helps to relieve stress and anxiety while boosting our mood and our immune system,” explains Goodrich. “These learning environments have also proven to foster cognitive development, self-regulation, and STEM learning, improving overall wellbeing.”

 

Aside from finding that 10 to 50 minutes outdoors supports the overall wellbeing of children and adults, the LA School District also learned that teachers look forward to coming to work more and are less stressed.

 

“If we can provide our students another tool to help them become successful people while providing our educators a tool to help reduce burnout and turnover, that’s a big win,” says Goodrich.

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