Nature is a tool to get children to experience not just the wider world, but themselves.
– Stephen Moss

An American Psychological Association online article, “Nurtured by Nature,” by Kirsten Weir includes this key point: “Spending time in nature is linked to both cognitive benefits and improvements in mood, mental health and emotional well-being.”

Focus groups interviews with staff and administrators in Los Angeles Unified School District documented similar results when children had the opportunity to learn in intentionally designed nature-rich outdoor classrooms.

Here are some excerpts from the final report by Samuel Dennis, Emma Castiblanco and Christine Kiewra:

“The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) began working with Nature Explore in 2009 to create natural outdoor classrooms for young children throughout their urban district. The LAUSD Division of Early Childhood Education serves over 21,000 income-eligible families in 88 early education centers for two-to five-year-old children.

“This qualitative study reports on focus group interviews conducted with LAUSD parents, teachers, school principals, and design team members…It builds upon two previous studies, including Natural Outdoor Classrooms: A National Survey in 2019 and A Post-Occupancy Study of Nature-Based Outdoor Classrooms in Early Childhood Settings in 2014…

ACADEMIC LEARNING THROUGH CREATIVITY AND PLAY

“…teachers explained that the Nature classroom provides many learning opportunities, allowing children to explore and investigate. These experiences support the ‘whole child and all the domains of their cognitive abilities.’ Having the NE classroom allows teachers to accommodate different learning styles (kinesthetic, auditory, etc.)…Teachers noted how excited their children are to go to school due to the NE program. The teachers credited the Nature Explore outdoor classroom for helping children to develop their language, gross and fine motor, science, and math skills…According to teachers, the Nature Explore classroom has supported their children’s creativity and imagination…

“Teachers also reported that many of their children with special needs enjoy interacting with their natural environment and have been able to play and learn with the entire school community. The teachers also credited the Nature Explore classroom with teaching their children ‘to be inclusive and be more compassionate towards others.'”

The Nature Explore Program is offering a live online workshop May 15, 2025:

Using Your Outdoor Classroom
A multi-faceted exploration of research-based principles for creating effective, inspiring natural outdoor classrooms.
6:00-8:00 pm Central Time US