Edge Collective

Open Air Schools

Ideas and history around convening school outdoors

History

NYTimes

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/17/nyregion/coronavirus-nyc-schools-reopening-outdoors.html

History.com

https://www.history.com/news/school-outside-tuberculosis

Wash Post

https://www.washingtonpost.com/history/2020/09/14/open-air-schools-outdoor-coronavirus/

Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Open_air_school

Current initiatives

Green Schoolyards America

https://www.greenschoolyards.org/covid19-media-library

Boston Outdoor Preschool Network

https://www.bopn.org/

Staff: https://www.bopn.org/meet-the-team

FAQ: https://www.bopn.org/faq

Dressing for cold and rain in a few easy steps (video) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPuXh48shII]9https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPuXh48shII)

Twitter feed: https://twitter.com/BostonBopn

Denmark Forest Kindergartens

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jkiij9dJfcw

A Toddler In the Trees: Bathroom FAQ

http://www.atoddlerinthetrees.com/q-a-where-do-they-go-to-the-bathroom/

Christian Science Monitor: "Class in session outside"

https://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/From-the-Editor/2021/0630/Class-in-session-outside-The-power-of-outdoor-education?fbclid=IwAR30UeBMMA2H_pDr_H64orZdMlAdnkVEJl-kZ7sftRIEVpVF7lWDAvxWumA&cmpid=shared-twitter

CS Monitor: The Great Outdoors Has a Diversity Problem

https://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2021/0628/The-great-outdoors-has-a-diversity-problem.-Can-it-be-fixed

(author, Mark Sappenfield -- wife teaches at Boston outdoor preschool) https://www.csmonitor.com/About/People/Mark-Sappenfield

Resources for outdoor school curricula

Fantastic collection of resources:

https://childhoodbynature.com/top-free-nature-based-learning-curriculums-for-schools-and-homeschools/

Forest school ideas

https://naturehomeschool.com/forest-school-ideas-activities/

Forest School Canada Teacher Guide

Nice guide:

https://childnature.ca/wp-content/uploads/2017/10/FSC-Guide-1.pdf

David Sobel

https://www.antioch.edu/faculty/david-sobel/

https://www.davidsobelauthor.com/about-david-sobel

David Sobel has written extensively on the topic of children and hands-on education and play in nature. His numerous books—from Wild Play: Parenting Adventures in the Great Outdoors to Place-Based Education: Connecting Classrooms and Communities and to Childhood and Nature: Design Principles for Educators, plus other works focusing on different age levels—offer parents and teachers insights into the value, appeal, and techniques of outdoor experiences for personal, physical, and social growth.

Starting your own forest school

https://www.wonderschool.com/p/child-care-provider-resources/start-forest-kindergarten-usa/

(nice link to resources at bottom)

UK Forest School Associatoin

Best practices

https://forestschoolassociation.org/full-principles-and-criteria-for-good-practice/

Summary video

https://forestschoolassociation.org/what-is-forest-school/

Forest School Certifications

https://forestschoolassociation.org/forest-school-qualification/

Ideas / projects

Cooling in summer -- gravity fan build?

Heating in winter -- solar / thermal?

Protection from rain / snow -- tarp systems

Sanitation system -- humanure

Food + water provisions -- rainwater capture ... outdoor gardening / harvesting / food preparation

Tech: