Outdoor Learning

Exposure to nature has been shown to benefit people of all ages and backgrounds, improving not only physical well-being but mental health as well. As time in green spaces (such as forested areas) and blue spaces (like creeks and rivers) increases, so do the wellness benefits. Additionally, numerous studies have found important gains that occur in children — particularly in the neurodivergent population — related to attention, learning and behavior — when they spend time in outdoor settings. Unfortunately, it is often these very students, challenged with differences in ability, who encounter barriers to participation in these special school experiences.

 

For these reasons, we are committed to integrating immersive, outdoor learning opportunities into the overall educational experience at Radcliffe Creek School. Through our No Child Left Indoors (NCLI) initiative, every student experiences a trip to an outdoor site every trimester — whether it's a local park, working farm, or campsite — where they learn deep in the outdoors at no additional cost to their families. Additionally, on any given day on campus, our faculty can be found teaching lessons in our outdoor classroom or leading students down our nature trail as it winds through forests, creeks and wetland habitats. The environment is a frequent topic woven throughout the subjects we teach at RCS, and students are given numerous opportunities to learn about and act as good stewards of our planet.

 

Our method of teaching, what we call "The Radcliffe Way," was created in 1996 with the understanding that students who learn differently thrive in educational settings which are dynamic, hands-on and multisensory. There is no classroom more equipped with these elements than the great outdoors, where students are invited to explore the textured landscapes, smell the pines and flowering trees, and feel the soft sand beneath their feet as they are engaged in the learning process. We invite you to learn more by reading through our online collection of research and articles about the importance of outdoor learning for neurodivergent populations below.