What do you think about when it comes to education? A traditional classroom setting with desks? What if we are telling you that there is a new education method called “outdoor education and experiential learning” that allows kids to learn while having fun and enjoying exploring? Today we invite you to get to know more about this modern method of learning and its holistic approach, which integrates nature and experiential learning into the educational process. Get a sneak peek of outdoor education benefits. And explore how these innovative education methods are transforming how students engage with knowledge.

• Outdoor Learning for Kids: promotes a deeper connection with nature, fostering creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. This approach encourages children to engage with their environment and learn outside the classroom setting.
• Innovative Education Methods: Experiential learning for children and outdoor education are transforming traditional education, focusing on real-world applications. It helps students better understand concepts through practical experience.
• Experiential Learning for Children: Understand how experiential learning for children promotes hands-on education, improving their understanding of real-world concepts and encouraging curiosity.
• Benefits of Outdoor Activities for Kids: Outdoor education supports physical health, boosts mental well-being, and enhances social skills through collaborative activities like hiking, teamwork challenges, and environmental exploration.

Modern Innovative Education Methods

Education is evolving beyond traditional classrooms. As education evolves, outdoor education and experiential learning have emerged as powerful alternatives to traditional methods. It plays a significant role in this transformation that focuses on hands-on learning, problem-solving, real-world applications, and nature-based learning strategies. This ensures students develop both cognitive and social skills through immersive experiences.

Experiential Learning for Children

Experiential learning for children emphasises practical experience through various activities. In this method of learning, students are encouraged to explore, ask questions, and solve real-world situations. This experimental approach helps students to absorb the knowledge better than the traditional way of learning, as they get to experience things by themselves. Additionally, it contributes to the love of learning and fosters curiosity in children. Experiential learning includes various activities, from imaginative play, such as roleplay, to action play, such as service learning, volunteering, and fieldwork, to experiments.  

Outdoor Learning for kids

Outdoor education is a modern learning approach that combines outdoor activities with educational objectives. These programmes offer various adventurous challenges and hands-on experiences, such as hiking, climbing, canoeing, and team-building activities as a part of education. Outdoor education also includes experiential learning in which the setting is a natural environment rather than a classroom setting. 

6 Benefits of Outdoor Activities for kids

Outdoor education goes beyond play; it is edutaining (educational and entertaining). The study from the University of Wisconsin, along with various other studies, has shown numerous outdoor education benefits that can be strengthened on top of classroom learning, including:

• Better Academic Performance: Studies have shown that outdoor education can lead to increased standardised test scores. It also improved attitudes toward school, better in-school behaviour, and higher attendance rates.
• Health Benefits: Engaging in outdoor learning promotes overall physical activity leading to improved physical, mental, and social health. Access to nature has been associated with reduced symptoms of ADHD and, moreover, lower stress levels in both students and teachers.
• Support for All-round Child Development: Besides physical development, outdoor education also benefits the development of self-esteem, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making, problem-solving skills, empathy, motor skills, self-discipline, and initiative.
• Enhanced Mental Well-being: Students often find nature-based learning to be a refreshing change from traditional classroom settings, leading to heightened enthusiasm and engagement.
• Stronger Social Skills: Group activities foster teamwork, communication, and leadership among students. Outdoor education and field trips also help strengthen connections between families and the broader community with schools, encouraging greater involvement and support. 
• Fostering a Sense of Place and Civic Responsibility: Outdoor education helps students connect with their natural and human communities, fostering environmental stewardship and civic-minded behaviours.

Outdoor Education at St. Andrews Green Valley

At St. Andrew Green Valley, we are not only excellent in academics but also in holistic approaches. We see how outdoor education benefits students. And we ensure every individual gets the opportunity to explore, enjoy, and develop through our outdoor education programmes. We offer various engaging lessons, including:

• Outdoor Experimental: We offer programmes like outdoor drama rehearsals, growing seeds sustainably in trade fairs, building a wind turbine, walking into the nearby forest, horse riding, paddle boarding, to empathising with different terminology and phrases to enrich writing in English lessons through experiential learning for children.
• Forrest School: We provide an opportunity for students to develop their outdoor skills and knowledge through a range of hands-on activities and tasks in natural environments. With nature-based learning strategies, students are able to explore their interests and talents.
• School Trip: We proudly present school tips as a part of our outdoor education as students get a transformational chance to explore the world and be adventurous in nature under our staff’s great care. School trips include trips to the beach, campouts, Khao Chamao National park tours, watersports adventures, geography visits to Koh Chang, marine conservation trips to Samesan, to hiking and camping in Khao Yai National Park

While the traditional way of learning is effective, it also can be improved. And that’s how experiential and outdoor learning for kids come to play significant roles in enhancing student engagement, creativity, social skills, mental and physical health, to academic and personal growth. By stepping outside the classroom, students not only connect with the natural world but also develop practical skills that prepare them for real-life challenges. As education continues to evolve, integrating outdoor learning into the curriculum ensures a more dynamic, well-rounded educational experience that supports both academic success and the overall development of students.

At St. Andrews Green Valley International School, we understand outdoor education benefits and see the importance of providing students with a well-rounded education that extends beyond the confines of traditional classroom settings. By integrating outdoor learning for kids and experiential learning into our curriculum, we ensure that our students not only excel academically but also develop essential life skills. Students are able to enjoy learning through adventure challenges tailored to their interests and talents.