Beyond the Walls Extending Learning Beyond the Walls of a Classroom

We can teach from our experience, but we can’t teach experience. - Sasha Azevedo Denver Museum of Natural History Park Hill Elementary, Denver, CO 1999 – Moved to Bend Lava Ridge Elementary, Bend, OR Ponderosa Elementary, Bend, OR

Why take kids outside? Nature as Therapy Obesity Prevention Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence Future Stewards Improved Performance on Standardized Tests The Hook

“Time in nature is not leisure time, it’s an essential investment in our children’s health.” – Richard Louv Depression Rate of prescribed anti-depressants prescribed to children doubled in a 5 yr. period From % decline in proportion of children ages 9-12 who spent time outside hiking, walking, fishing, gardening ADHD/ADD Many studies suggest spending time in nature is a useful therapy for ADHD/ADD 13 years of classroom anecdotal evidence confirms Stress/Anxiety Reduction 2/26 students had diagnosed anxiety disorders Over 100 studies show spending time in nature reduces stress

Why take kids outside? Nature as Therapy Obesity Prevention Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence Future Stewards Improved Performance on Standardized Tests The Hook

The Skinny on Fat Childhood Obesity has TRIPLED in last 30 yrs. Ages – 6.5%2008 – 19.6% Ages – – 18.1 In U.S. – Children ages 6-11 spend ~ 30 hours/week watching TV or on a computer Counterintuitive – also the greatest increase in participation in organized sports Study in Norway/Sweden – preschoolers who played in uneven natural VS flat playgrounds tested higher for motor fitness

Why take kids outside? Nature as Therapy Obesity Prevention Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence Future Stewards Improved Performance on Standardized Tests The Hook

I know if you’re very good in music, I can predict with zero accuracy whether you’re going to be good or bad in other things. - Howard Gardner 1983 – 7 intelligences included linguistic, logical, spatial, kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal 2003 – Added Naturalist Intelligence “Ability to recognize plants, animals, and other parts of the natural environment, like clouds and rocks.” Leslie Owen Williams – University of Wisconsin List of 10 Descriptors

Why take kids outside? Nature as Therapy Obesity Prevention Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence Future Stewards Improved Performance on Standardized Tests The Hook

Why take kids outside? Nature as Therapy Obesity Prevention Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence Future Stewards Improved Performance on Standardized Tests The Hook

Not everything that counts can be counted and not everything that can be counted counts.” - Albert Einstein State Education and Environmental Roundtable 150 schools in 16 states with environmental based Gains in science, language arts, social studies and math Hotchkiss Elementary SchoolDallas, TX Passing rates of 4 th graders in environment based program vs traditional class = 13% higher Sunnyside Environmental K-8Portland, OR Consistently scores higher than state average in reading, math, writing, science My class outperforms district and state averages

Why take kids outside? Nature as Therapy Obesity Prevention Nurturing the Eighth Intelligence Future Stewards Improved Performance on Standardized Tests The Hook

What’s Preventing YOU?

What’s Preventing You? Fear – safety, legal, behavior The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon Cost Investment of Time Proximity to Nature Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy

By failing to prepare, you’re preparing to fail. - Benjamin Franklin Visit the Site First Parent Volunteers /Background checks Permission Slips/Medical Release Forms First Aid Kit/Epi-Pen “Worst” behaved are often the “Best” behaved

What’s Preventing You? Fear The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon Cost Investment of Time Proximity to Nature Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy

In school you’re taught a lesson and then given a test. In life you’re given a test and then taught a lesson. - Tom Bodett What’s tested is taught! Since No Child Left Behind: 46% Increase in Language Arts 37% Increase in Math The Solution? INTEGRATE INTEGRATE

What’s Preventing You? Fear The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon Cost Investment of Time Proximity to Nature – Can you identify Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy

A bank is a place that will lend you money, if you can prove that you don’t need it. - Bob Hope Go Local - Walking Trips Ask for Free/Reduced Entrance Fees Field Trip Grants Don’t Go it Alone

What’s Preventing You? Fear – stranger danger, kids The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon Cost Investment of Time Proximity to Nature Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy

“Come together, right now, over me.” - John Lennon/Paul McCartney

What’s Preventing You? Fear – stranger danger, kids The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon Cost Investment of Time Proximity to Nature Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy

To get out of the box, you have to think outside of the box!

What’s Preventing You? Fear – stranger danger, kids The 3 Rs From the Black Lagoon Cost Investment of Time Proximity to Nature – Can you identify Unsupportive Administrators/District Policy

“There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies, and statistics.” - Mark Twain Arm Yourself With Statistics Bring Them Along Enlist Parent Support Focus on What you Can Do, Not What You Can’t