Fredericksburg Parent

24 Fredericksburg Parent and Family • November 2021 Ask the Expert a sk t h e e x p e rt INTERVIEWED BY EMILY FREEHLING Outdoor Learning Benefits Students of All Ages Unstructured outdoor play is becoming a rarity in American childhood, with a series of stud- ies finding in recent years that today's children spend less than an hour (often far less) play- ing outdoors, with hours of recreational time spent indoors on screens. Knowing that time spent outdoors with the freedom to explore, experiment and interact with nature is key to children's physical, emotional and intellectual development, the faculty and administration at Fredericksburg Academy have cultivated a learning environment where the school's many outdoor venues are viewed as classrooms, and where faculty are encouraged to develop lessons that regularly put students from pre- kindergarten through 12th grade in touch with the natural world. As our November Expert, Fredericksburg Academy's Head of Lower School Patricia Estes and First Grade Teacher Brittany Austin talk about one of these projects, and how it fits in to FA's overall commitment to outdoor learning experiences. Q: Why is outdoor learning a priority at Fredericksburg Academy? Patricia Estes, Head of Lower School: We know, through a substantial body of research, that outdoor experiences benefit children in many ways, including improving academic successes, cre- ativity, problem-solving skills, focus and attention. These experiences also help reduce student stress levels, develop resiliency, promote inclusion and improve positive social skills. When we help children understand how living things affect other living things, they can then develop an understanding of how their own actions affect others. Could there be a more valuable understanding? Knowing all of this and working in an independent school environment has allowed the FA faculty to infuse outdoor learning into everyday learning experiences. Brittany Austin, first-grade teacher: This really aligns with our classroom philosophies, and it's part of what brought me to FA as an educator. When I was in graduate school, I chose to pursue a thesis topic on nature-based learning and the influence it has on lan- guage and literacy. The research opened my eyes to the fact that the benefits of learning in nature aren't limited to our youngest learners. Exposing students of all ages to nature on a regular basis has not only academic benefits, but also social, emotional and mental-health benefits. I made it my own personal mis- sion that this was something I was going to do in my classroom. Based on the research and science, I knew it was beneficial and the benefits were essential building blocks for all students. FREDERICKSBURG FREDERICKSBURG ACADEMY ACADEMY

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