Guest post by Jeremy Jorgensen, @jeremyajorg

Adventure beckons to us all.

The thrill of the unknown, the beauty of nature, and the lessons learned along the way make it a truly engaging experience. Working as a camp counselor and leading 9-15-year-olds on outdoor adventures led me to become a teacher in the first place. I took kids canoeing in Canada, hiking in the Porcupine Mountains, and mountain biking on the CAMBA trail system.

This was before the advent of cell phones and social media. Now that screens are omnipresent and social media has hijacked young people’s dopamine pathways, these outdoor, unplugged experiences are more necessary than ever. All children can benefit from solitude and reflection.

What is Adventure/Outdoor Education?

Adventure/Outdoor Education is an experiential learning method that takes place in an outdoor setting. It involves activities like hiking, camping, rock climbing, and canoeing to promote personal growth, develop social skills, and enhance physical and mental health. In the purest sense, adventure can be anything that takes you out of your comfort zone.

The Benefits of Adventure/Outdoor Education

• Personal Development: Engaging in outdoor activities fosters self-confidence and resilience. It pushes individuals out of their comfort zones and encourages them to tackle challenges head-on, leading to a sense of personal achievement.
• Social Skills: Adventure/outdoor education is often a group endeavor, promoting teamwork, leadership, and communication skills. It teaches individuals to collaborate effectively and respect others’ perspectives.
• Physical Health: The active nature of outdoor activities provides a great workout, improving cardiovascular health, flexibility, and strength. Physical activity also translates into better academic performance.
• Mental Health: The great outdoors is a natural stress reliever. It calms the mind and boosts mood, helping to combat conditions like anxiety and depression.
• Connection with Nature: Adventure/outdoor education promotes environmental awareness and fosters a deep connection with nature. This connection instills a sense of responsibility toward preserving our natural environment.
• Resilience: Adventure builds resilience, teamwork, problem-solving skills, and self-confidence. Hands-on activities in real-world settings connect classroom concepts to real-life experiences.

How to Incorporate Adventure/Outdoor Education

Incorporating adventure/outdoor education into your school curriculum may seem challenging, but it need not be a daunting task. It’s important to remember that even small, simple activities can have a big impact. Starting with activities like nature walks or camping trips can be an excellent way to introduce students to the outdoors. These activities provide an opportunity for physical activity and allow students to observe and interact with the natural world around them.

Organizing field trips to natural reserves is another effective way to incorporate outdoor education. These trips can be linked to various subjects in the curriculum, making learning more engaging and relevant for students. For example, visiting a forest reserve can enhance biology, geography, and environmental science lessons. You could partner with a camp or university with experience in leading this type of programming.

Outdoor activities can also be integrated into the physical education curriculum. Activities like hiking, rock climbing, biking, rollerblading, or canoeing can be great for developing physical strength and endurance and promoting teamwork and leadership skills.

Remember, the goal is to step out, explore, and learn from the greatest teacher of all – nature.

ResourcesBooks, Articles, and More

• Deepening Students’ Connection to Nature
• Take a Hike: How to Make Being Outdoors In
• School-Based Experiential Outdoor Education: A Neglected Necessity
• Our Better Nature: How The Great Outdoors Can Improve Your Life
• Kikori App – Experiential education app soon to be launched
• Edutopia: Outdoor Adventures with Students
• GooseChase Edu: Incorporate a technology component in your adventure planning. This would be great for older students and staff to use for a scavenger/skivia hunt.

Grant Resources

• Impact Schools Grant
• The Kate Svitek Memorial Foundation
• The North Face Explore Fund
• Target Field Trip Grant
• REI Grants
• Action for Healthy Kids

About the Author

In Jeremy’s 25 years as an 8th-grade teacher, he has been dedicated to fostering a love for learning and creating engaging classroom environments. He specializes in teaching physical science and social studies and serving as a homeroom crew leader. He is passionate about incorporating innovative teaching strategies, such as the learning teams model, to promote student engagement and a sense of belonging. His goal is to empower students and inspire them to reach their full potential in and out of the classroom.

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