Take a moment, and think back to your childhood. Focus on memories where you were outdoors. How did you feel? Were you carefree, and curious? Does the memory bring a smile to your face?

Now think back to memories of your schooling. What were your science classes like? Did they center around the textbook or a laboratory? I’m sure you remember that the mitochondria is the powerhouse of the cell, but what does that mean for your life? Without hands-on and application based learning, it is difficult to internalize these ideas and carry them with you as you walk through the world.

These childhood experiences are central to who you are today. The way you understand the world around you can make you feel just as powerful as any data measure out there. Unfortunately, they are not always given the weight they deserve. 

A study titled “School-Based Experiential Outdoor Education: a Neglected Necessity” aims to demonstrate the value of this learning style. The paper has two main takeaways: first, that hands-on environmental education is key to success and, second, that the value our society places on standardized test scores is driving students and teachers farther and farther away from this type of learning.  

Most teachers center their classrooms around test prep rather than for the broader goal of encouraging curiosity and fostering a passion for education.  Not surprisingly, that mode of teaching is not exciting for students.    

A survey cited shows that 45% of students are disengaged and apathetic towards their school based learning. 

The good news is that this study makes clear that outdoor activities are an excellent way to increase student engagement and passion.  That  engagement (i.e. caring about what you’re doing/having internal motivation) is directly correlated to academic achievement.  This approach also  helps level the playing field. Students who did not participate in conventional class activities demonstrated excellent critical thinking skills and even took on leadership roles in the outdoor activities. 

This is not to say that we should abandon standard classroom practices. Rather we need to recognize that this type of experiential learning is integral to the growth and development of the student as a whole. The research showed that “scaffolding” material between the classroom and the outdoors was extremely valuable for engagement, confidence, independence, and overall general satisfaction. 

Now that we know for sure that this type of learning is essential, how can we encourage it? While there might not be a definitive answer, the pandemic has shown us in schools nationwide that it is possible to rethink the basic structure of our classrooms and how we measure success.