At the Foothills Learning Center, I collaborated with environmental educators to provide educational outdoor experiences in a summer camp format. I personally believe deeply in this work. Elementary school teachers are widely reporting that our students need skill development in self-regulation, resiliency, and collaboration. This summer I participated in helping young children to develop exactly those essential skills through unstructured outdoor play.

• Hiking in the foothills, children learn their own strength. They learn to manage their own discomfort by taking care of their bodies: drinking water, eating snacks, and taking appropriate rest breaks.
• Playing at the creek, children learn collaboration and spatial awareness. They work together to move sticks and rocks, learning to watch for the other end of someone else’s stick. They design and test their creations and redesign them when they fail.
• Visiting the enclosure of a pet Russian tortoise, young children practice making their bodies still and quiet. They do so not to please a teacher, but because they want to be able to touch the tortoise.
• Playing yard games, children learn to win and lose with grace. They learn to say yes to someone else’s idea and also courageously share their own. They learn to negotiate rules that feel fair and accept the consequences.

Many adults today have fond memories of unstructured outdoor play. Beyond the details of when and where, we may have intangible memories of light and sound: the texture of the grass, the sound of water falling over rocks, the dizzy feeling from dozens of cartwheels, the sheer pleasure of running with a friend. For better or for worse, today’s children have fewer of these experiences. Although a classroom environment does provide important opportunities to develop social-emotional learning, teachers must prioritize curriculum and classroom management. We have little time to devote to unstructured play, and it can be difficult or impossible to work outside.

As an extern with the Idaho STEM Action Center, I am an advocate for learning experiences that prepare our students to thrive in the 21st century. I believe that having elementary teachers incorporate experiences of outdoor play into our school year will do exactly that. We can model scientific concepts outdoors. We can celebrate successes and take mental breaks with games that develop collaboration and self-awareness. We can at least occasionally take trips that give our students a chance to learn through play.

My summer at Foothills has given me inspiration and resources with which to continue this work.

Grade Level and Subject Taught: 2nd Grade Teacher