Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 17 Join us for the live conversation on Sponsored Material Q: What motivates you as a teacher to seek ways to get kids outdoors during the school day? Brittany Austin: There is so much science and data behind the benefits time outdoors has on children, but to actually experience it is such a rewarding experience. The children are engaged, motivated to learn, excited to apply their knowledge, explore, and take risks. They are proud of the land and hold a sense of ownership and responsibility over it, all while learning empathy, support- ing their natural curiosity and being encouraged to be accountable and responsible for their environment. Q: How does time outdoors contribute to academic success? Brittany Austin: Children better retain knowledge when they have enjoyed the process of acquiring it. When we can provide a meaningful, hands-on learning experience, indoors or outdoors, and present children with the oppor- tunity to exercise or apply that knowledge, we are making essential learning connections. Language and literacy skills can be found outdoors in storytelling, songs, poems, and our StoryWalk on the trails. Children are holding science classes outside and actually collecting and testing water samples to be further investigated. We can find math and engi- neering in building forts, measuring and comparing tree trunks, and creating boats to test in the creek. These are learning experiences that the children cannot get inside the classroom, and the experience itself contributes to each child's desire to learn and explore. I firmly believe we are supporting their journey to become life-long learners. Q: In the past few years, what are some of the most important advances the school has made in expanding the opportunity for outdoor learning? Brittany Austin: We have held training for our own facul- ty members and given them access to more professional development opportunities to become certified nature- based teachers like myself, and explore and discover other ways to incorporate the outdoors into their learn- ing and teaching. We have seen an expansion of classes using grant opportunities and incorporating the outdoors into their science units. Fourth- and fifth-grade have also incorporated paddle boarding and kayaking into their social studies, writing, history and science units. We also have quite a few garden projects, and even a sensory garden on the Natural Playscape. Q: Fredericksburg Academy recent- ly became certified with the Eastern Region Association of Forest and Nature Schools. What does this mean? Brittany Austin: ERAFANS offers professional development and certi- fications to become a nature-based teacher/classroom/school. This train- ing includes everything from learning how to make forts, fires, foraging, identification of hazardous and medicinal plants in the wild, risky-play, and safety outdoors. The certification enables us to utilize these trainings and truly become masters at our craft. Q: What have you observed about how children respond to increased time outdoors? Does it impact behavior? Brittany Austin: In short- yes! The children have begun to invest in their own learning. Each time we are outside learning, the children are all on-task and exemplify improved behavior when compared to time spent sitting at their desks. They are attentive, focused, curious, and engaged. They are happy because they know they are safe, moving, honing their problem-solving skills and they are supported in their learning. Q: Don't kids get dirty outside? Isn't it hot/cold, and it rains sometimes? How does FA keep these fears from being barriers to getting out? Brittany Austin: To quote writer Linda Akeson McGurk, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes". We communicate with our fami- lies our intention of going outdoors no matter the weather. We encourage rainboots and jackets, snowsuits and gloves, and lots of layers. We have no problem investing in the time to zip up and gear up to get outside. We also have some extra pieces in the classroom to help with those forgetful days. Of course, there have been times of inclement weather, and we will stay indoors if it is unsafe to be outside. In those inside instances, we will reflect on previ- ous outdoor experiences and create learning opportunities that allow us to closely examine, construct, or write about those past experiences. Q: Is there a favorite story from your time teaching outside that shows the benefits of outdoor learning? Brittany Austin: My first year implementing 'Forest Friday' in first grade, I had a few students who were unsure of the forest and our hikes. They par- ticipated, they were curious, but they definitely preferred to be inside where there were no spiderwebs and clean hands. Once we built and installed the StoryWalk, which allows children to experience a storybook over the course of a hiking trail, those children saw the forest in a whole new way. They had something they felt belonged to them, something to look forward to, to predict what the next page would say. This opened their minds and they felt empowered to explore, play, and get dirty. I saw just how important it is to appeal to each student in order to give them the opportunity to create mean- ingful learning outside the classroom walls and encourage independence, growth, and excitement in learning. To learn more, visit fredericksburgacademy.org.

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