Before you begin to read this, take a moment, pause, and reflect: what was one of your most memorable lessons in school? What made it stand out? Why do you remember it to this day?
While there are a range of things you could be thinking about, it is likely that you are remembering something that was active, participatory, and made you feel like you had agency in your learning experience.
This is the driving principle behind hands-on or experiential environmental education. As we move further and further into our climate crisis, it becomes more and more important for youth to gain an intimate appreciation and respect for our planet and its many ecosystems.
Imagine you’re back in middle school again (terrible, I know, but stay with me) and you’re in an earth science class. Say you’re learning about compost. What would you find most impactful – a textbook lesson, no different than the rest of your day, or scooping up a handful of compost, seeing the components up close, as you watch the worms eating and processing the food scraps right before your eyes.
Most people only remember a fraction of their childhood education. Depending on your career path, this is okay. You will specialize and reinforce what you need and want to know. But, in the case of Earth Science and environmental literacy, no one is exempt from living within these systems. Change is caused by the stewardship of many, and it is imperative that we incorporate values of care and love for the earth into mainstream educational curriculum.
Experiential outdoor education is good in theory, but what does it look like in practice?
Hands-on outdoor learning is not a new concept, particularly within Indigenous communities. Until recently, however, there has been a lack of tangible data that public education curriculums have require. This study, “School-Based Experiential Outdoor Education: A Neglected Necessity,” definitively shows that there is great value in bridging the gap between classroom/textbook based and field learning.
The study criticizes the schools that teach to the standardized test, and the negative consequences that have for student engagement, retention, and social/emotional development. In reviewing a large amount of literature, they found that “Experiential involvement in active, in-context, outdoor environmental education is exciting and emotionally engaging for children and consequently leads to deeper and more effective learning”.
Despite these scholars increasingly realizing the value in this model, teachers are still shackled by standardized curriculum and tests. While there are rays of hope in the recent rise of test optional policies for universities, this red tape will take some time to cut through.
What can be done outside of the formal education curriculum?
The other way that environmental education functions is through more independent programs. The true nature of these outdoor learning experiences is to get to know the environment around you. This frustrates the writers of standardized curriculums, but gives you the gift of getting to know your surroundings on a deeper level. Orienting these programs towards local community growth and change is not only incredibly fulfilling, but one of the most powerful forms of activism available.
Wherever you’re reading from, take a second to search and see if there are any outdoor classrooms or volunteer opportunities for you or (if applicable) your children. You may be surprised. I am a student at Wellesley College, and within a short drive (or even walking distance!) there are many opportunities. The Natick Community Organic Farm, the Lilja School Multiage Classroom, and City Sprouts in Cambridge are some great examples.
I’m interested in more of these resources!
Great! See below for some useful links. One thing that the COVID-19 pandemic has done is make a lot more things accessible through an online platform. This may seem counterintuitive to the mission of hands on education, but there are ways that weave in activities – scaffolding back and forth between the computer and the outdoors.
I myself worked on a project in the summer of 2020 that transferred a summer watershed workshop [for what organization] to a series of engaging videos, diagrams, and at home activities. While it can be a little challenging, creativity and taking time to explore these things yourself can be incredibly valuable.
Environmental Education at Home
https://www.neefusa.org/education/environmental-education-home
Lesson Guides for Teachers
https://www.plt.org/curriculum/environmental-education-activity-guide/
https://www.edutopia.org/article/outdoor-and-environmental-education-resources
Interested in Learning More?
Check out the North American Association For Environmental Education – a robust resource for many things environmental education!