A Parent’s Guide to Outdoor Teaching Moments

Picasso once said that all children are born artists. The challenge is staying an artist growing up and trusting our abilities. We think of learning as a system: a teacher, a student, and a guided lesson plan. There are learning opportunities that take place outside of the classroom that spark creativity and foster curiosity. School is just the beginning of learning and creativity.

So what can you, as a parent, do about it? If you want your kids to stay motivated and engaged, it is important to make learning fun. The old-fashioned, old-school way of learning isn’t the only route to being a well-rounded student. Kids can learn valuable lessons from getting outside of the classroom and into the great outdoors.

Here are five simple lessons that will turn your next outdoor adventure into a learning experience for your kids.

1. We don’t need a lot of “stuff”

At the end of the day, all we need to survive is clothing, shelter, water, and food. Getting outdoors and camping reminds us that the possessions we have back home aren’t nearly as important as we think. Anyone who has been backpacking can attest, when you have to carry everything you need to survive on your back, the desire to own a lot of “stuff” dissipates rather quickly.

2. The importance of hard work

For a young child, camping can be grueling. You have to set up the tent, build a fire, find a clean water source, clean the campsite, and many other small tasks. Without that work, a campground becomes unorganized and dirty. Learning how to setup a campground provides basic human creature comforts and prevents the chances of a having dangerous environment with uninvited nighttime animal visitors. Including your child in the basic set-up and teardown of your campsite builds character and helps them appreciate their small luxuries back at the house.

3. Get comfortable with being uncomfortable

Having your kids step outside their routine helps them break away from the repetitiveness of everyday life and places them in an environment that will be outside of their comfort zone. This shouldn’t be a deterrent for you as a parent; you should encourage them to try something new, learn new skills, and maybe take some risks. The goal should be to have fun, spend time together, embrace challenges, and make memories that will last a lifetime.

4. Unplug from technology

In today’s world, it’s expected that everyone owns a smartphone. It is even more common that our kids own smartphones at younger ages. This means they are always connected, and sometimes are exposed to things that we don’t want them to see yet. When you go camping, there are no cellphones, no texting, no billboards, just wide open spaces and plenty of free time. You can take books with you on your trip to help identify different types of animals and plants and most state parks and campgrounds have environmental educators and rangers who offer educational walks.

5. Trust yourself

The wilderness is one of the few places in today’s world where you may not have access to the internet. This means no “YouTubing” how-to videos and DIY problem solving when you encounter an obstacle in nature. Learning to identify dangerous plants, starting a fire before the sun goes down, and reading topographical maps are all important skills to learn. Being in an unfamiliar environment and learning to trust your gut and go with your instincts without the assistance of technology will teach your kids to better trust themselves and will ultimately build their confidence in real-world situations.

On your next family adventure try implementing these five simple lessons and turn your trip into a learning experience your kids won’t ever forget.