18 Mar Sneaky Outdoor Learning:  Get Outside and Add Some Fun to Your School Day!

Spring is showing off this week!  Bright yellow dandelions are luring the honeybees out for fresh food.  The purple deadnettle flowers make lovely flower crowns for young pretenders.  And the sunshine… Thank you, Lord, for the added sunshine that comes as a gracious reward after these dreary winter days! 

Nature is calling us, and we are happy to answer.  But that doesn’t mean learning has to stop. When the days are nice and the weather is good, learning outdoors somehow makes the same old tasks more fun.  Read-alouds are more enjoyable in a backyard hammock. Math facts are a little less monotonous under the shade of a tree on a picnic blanket. And since homeschooling provides the added flexibility on how and where we learn, we can take full advantage of these sunny spring days.  

Outdoor Learning – Homeschooling Resources Near Me 

Do homeschoolers get a better education? It’s possible.  I think it would be safe to say they definitely get a very “hands on” education.  Learning by doing seems to be a common theme among homeschoolers.  I have a precious mentor friend who often says younger students don’t even need a formal curriculum; all they need is their backyard and a library card. She has a good point.  

Need some ideas on where to start with outdoor learning opportunities?  Not to worry; here are some local and online resources:

• Many local parks host classes and workshops just for homeschoolers.  Here is a link to the Wilderness Station at Barfield Park calendar.  They offer classes, hikes, and workshops just for homeschoolers in our community. Sign up and let your local parks and rec staff do the teaching for a day.
• If you aren’t following 1000 Hours Outside, it’s a whole program designed to get kids outside and bring a more healthy balance to screen time and time in nature.  Click here to see curriculum samples, outdoor activities and ideas, and even free printable nature devotionals and outdoor trackers.  

As the days get a little longer and the kids just want to go outside and play, answer them with a, “YES! We can go outside!” and sneak a little learning in while you are at it.