The Benefits of Outdoor Learning

There have been many studies over the years on the positive effects of Outdoor Learning, and the method of teaching known as 'Forest Schools'.

Human beings have an instinctive awareness of Nature, yet in an urban world this is often suppressed and ignored. Outdoor Learning is a practical way of helping restore this balance for children - by putting them back into regular contact with nature and allowing them to experience the natural world close up.

Using the Big World around them…

In Denmark, where the ‘Forest Schools’ programme originated, it was found that children moving to school from Forest Kindergartens possessed stronger social skills, higher self-esteem and confidence, as well as being better able to work in teams. The idea behind Outdoor Learning is not complicated - the simple fact is, children love the outdoors, and ‘al-fresco education’ simply feels more like play!

The results speak for themselves. Childen soak up information without even noticing, and have plenty of opportunities to put raw concepts into practice, whether building a bridge, lighting a fire or following a trail. Outdoor Learning is healthier - and with fresh air all around and things to see, hear, taste, touch and smell, there is plenty to stimulate childrens' minds and imaginations, as well as many concepts that children can grasp quicker, and understand better, outside.

…to prepare children for the Big World ahead of them.

Terms like co-operation, risk management, project planning and goal-setting are often associated with the workplace - yet they can all be taught very effectively to children from pre-school age in the outdoor classroom! We fully expect that children from Longvernal will stand as good, if not better, chance in the workplace, when they have learned these skills at such an early age. This should not be surprising - after all, for thousands of years we have learned such skills through the outdoors - only in the past hundred has learning been confined to the classroom.

At Longvernal we are confident that your child will benefit from Outdoor Learning, and that the lessons they learn here will stay with them for the rest of their lives.