Written by Discovery Program Project Coordinator Jessica Stillman.
Teachers, you can help your students be more engaged and enthusiastic in all areas of their learning by taking them outside.
Studies show that students who experience nature as part of the educational process score higher on tests in reading, writing, and math and have demonstrated better listening skills.
Not that you need any more reasons to get outside, but here are 4 more reasons to take your students learning outside for Take Me Outside Day!
- Spending time in nature is good for you
- Nature is a wonderful teacher – look, listen, and observe
- Nature is a classroom that knows no boundaries – you can teach any subject outside
- Weather is part of the adventure – don’t let it rain on your parade!
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What is Take Me Outside Day (TMO)?
Back for its 15th year, Take Me Outside Day aids in raising awareness and advocating for outdoor learning by helping educators and learners feel inspired to head outside and learn beyond the four walls of a classroom.
Students from Stittsville to Terrace Bay, Temagami to Whitney, Parry Sound to Brighton, and everywhere in between will be taking their learning outside with Discovery staff.
On Wednesday, October 22, Ontario Parks Discovery staff will be encouraging outdoor exploration, discovery, and learning in parks, schoolyards, and local greenspaces.
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Enhance your visit with a Discovery program
Discovery staff know exactly how to connect students with one of the most knowledgeable, inclusive, and engaging teachers around – nature!
From digging in the soil to exploring habitats, from understanding seasonal changes to a field trip to a provincial park is not just about learning about these things but experiencing them firsthand.
Discovery school programs provide opportunities for students to connect the Ontario curriculum with local, real-life experiences that make learning come alive.
Visit a provincial park near you to take your learning outside or book a Discovery program this fall – inquire about booking a program with us now.
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Explore nature’s classroom on your own
Want to encourage nature exploration on your own? Here are a few simple activities that you can facilitate with your class in your schoolyard, local greenspace or in a provincial park:
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Start a Nature Journal
Kick off a nature journaling practice with your students this fall and continue it through to spring.
Watch how nature (and your students’ observation and inquiry skills) evolve over the seasons. All it takes to get started is paper and a pencil.
Nature journaling helps students collect and organize their observations, questions, connections, and explanations. It’s a powerful way to build skills that support learning both inside and outside the classroom.
Beyond academics, nature journaling is a calming and grounding activity. It encourages students to slow down, be present, engage their senses, and notice the small details that often go unseen.
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Go for a Nature Walk or Hike
Spending time in nature has proven benefits for both physical and mental health.
A walk or hike is a simple, meaningful way to bring more nature into your students’ lives! You don’t need to plan structured activities for your outing. Let nature lead the way!
Encourage students to engage all their senses, notice what’s around them, wonder about what they see, and share what their experiences remind them of.
Want to add a little extra fun to your walk? Bring along one of our Discovery Activity Books!
Looking for trails nearby? Use our Park Locator tool to find a green space near you.
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Contribute to Community Science with iNaturalist
While we usually encourage unplugging from technology, here’s a chance to use it for a great purpose; learning about the living things around you and contributing to scientific research!
Head outside to your schoolyard or a nearby greenspace and observe the variety of life you find there.
Take photos of your discoveries and upload them to iNaturalist to add your class’s observations to a global database used by scientists and nature enthusiasts.
No access to tech during your outing? No problem!
You can still explore and record what you see, then use iNaturalist later a computer to learn more about those species (like where else they’ve been spotted and how their presence changes with the seasons).
It’s a powerful tool for connecting your students’ observations to a broader understanding of biodiversity.
Get outside all year long!
Take Me Outside Day might only be one day a year, but every day in nature is a learning adventure!
Get your students outside or bring nature into your classroom with one of our many school programs. Visit our Discovery school program webpage to connect with Discovery staff near you and book a program.
Discovery programs bring learning alive!
Whether it is online with a virtual program or in person on the Giant Floor Map, your students are sure to get excited about the outdoors, develop a deeper connection with nature, and explore their place in the world.
So, are you IN to get OUTside this October 22 and the rest of the school year?
Take Me Outside is a non-profit, charitable organization committed to raising awareness and facilitating action on nature connection and outdoor learning in schools across Turtle Island / North America.
