Outdoor Classroom
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Nature Explore
Leonardo DaVinci once said, “Although human subtlety makes a variety of inventions by different means to the same end, it will never devise an invention more beautiful, more simple, or more direct than does nature, because in her inventions nothing is lacking, and nothing is superfluous”.
How beautifully DaVinci words parallel the essence of God’s words recorded over and over again in the creation story recorded in Genesis, “and it was good.”
We are excited to have been chosen as one of 20 sites across the State of Nebraska to feature a Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom. Through the Nature Explore Outdoor Classroom, we have the opportunity to witness the goodness of the world God made which is minimally interrupted by human invention and creates natural and uncontrived learning experiences for young children.
Nature Explore™ Project
A growing body of evidence is showing how critically important it is for children to spend time outdoors. Many factors are gradually limiting the amount of time children spend outside, including technology and parental fear. Nebraska hosted the Working Forum on Nature Education in October, 2006. This was identified as an important topic based on the following:
- Studies of outdoor education programs geared toward troubled youth-especially those diagnosed with mental-health problems – show a clear therapeutic value in interacting with nature
- Researchers have discovered that children as young as 5 showed a significant reduction in the symptoms of attention-deficit disorder when they engaged with nature.
- Children with disabilities gain enhanced body image and positive behavior changes through direct interaction with nature
- The prevalence of being overweight for height has more than doubled in the past 30 years for children aged 2-5 years. Concerns about being overweight extend beyond just the immediate issues. Weight problems may inhibit both emotional and social well-being, as well as contribute to long-term health risks. Being overweight can affect infants, toddlers and preschoolers in the following ways: Impaired immune system, impaired cognitive development, sleep apnea, delayed dental development, and inadequate social/emotional development.
- A project has been developed to provide support for outdoor classrooms in Nebraska. 20 sites across the state have been identified. The Nebraska AEYC is a partner in this project, and is providing support for the demonstration sites. Each of the 20 sites will receive the following:
- A visit from a landscape architect-educator team to help develop a concept plan for the outdoor space
- A copy of the book, Learning with Nature, to aid in the collaborative design work
- Training at a Nature Explore™ workshop
- Follow-up support from designated staff at the Early Childhood Training Center or the Nebraska AEYC
- A chance to become one of the first certified Nature Explore™ classrooms in the country
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“Winter’s Blocks”
After a big snow the preschoolers helped the teachers shovel the snow to the middle of the ball-playing area to make a big snow pile. The children assisted by using brooms, toy bulldozers and their strong muscles! Afterward they delighted in running up and down the ‘giant’ hill!
After a few days of trampling down the big pile, it was time to move the pile (so it wouldn’t turn to ice). As it turns out, the square shovel Mrs. Sommerer used made bricks of snow! Time to build an igloo! The preschoolers built the lower level and the school agers made the top! It was an exercise in creativity, following directions, problem solving and imaginative play! Back inside, we found pictures of igloos and practiced building with little blocks in the same way – each block needs to touch two other blocks.
Now that’s block building at it’s finest!
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The Building Area
We’ve wanted to have some sturdy, natural outdoor storage to hold our building materials – sticks, pinecones, small wooden blocks, and ‘tree cookies’. We couldn’t find what we wanted in a catalog or store, so we made our own! The children even helped. 
First, we dug the holes for the posts, then got out the buckets that would hold the materials. We arranged them where they would go and talked about whether this would be a good idea, and if it made sense. The children agreed.
We needed some bolts to stick out of the posts and into the concrete, but bolts are hard for preschoolers. We used some big nails instead. Many of us helped to nail them partway into the post.
Mrs. Sommerer poured the concrete when the children were napping, and then it was time to put up the rails. The children helped to check to see if the boards were level.
It’s still a work in progress, but we’re certainly having fun! Sticks and tree cookies make excellent drums!
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Spring is coming.
The weather is alternating between delightfully warm and shockingly chilly, but we are patiently waiting for our plants to wake up!
Mrs. Sommerer asked some of the children to draw what our sleeping plants look like. It’s early April, and we wonder when they will be taller than half an inch! We have some yellow tape around them to remind us not to step on them.
April 9th – They’re still growing! Now they are one inch tall – and the leaves are unfurling!
April 10th One of my (Mrs. Sommerer) favorite memories from childhood is reading the Laura Ingalls Wilder books and being fascinated with pioneer living. I thought that hanging laundry out to dry was just fascinating! (We seldom used our outside clothesline when I was growing up.) I used to love to wash doll clothes and hang them to dry on a small clothesline. Little did I know how it was building my fine-motor skills! We’ve been practicing with dry socks and clothespins here.
April 27th – The plants are growing by leaps and bounds! Our Hydrangias are 3 inches tall and the trees are budding!
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An Experiment
The preschoolers started some sunflower seeds in a glass jar so we could watch the sprouting process. As the weather warmed up, we tried an experiment – planting them in a concrete block along our fence. The children helped smooth out the dirt where the block would go.
The children filled the holes with dirt and we carefully transplanted our baby plants into the block.
We had a meeting about how we need to take care of these plants – not to step on them or pick them, make sure that we talk to the toddlers about them, and of course, give them water. We’ll see how this experiment goes!
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The glory of gourds!
Did you know that gourds are extremely fast-growing plants? We have a new little planter along the fence by our ball area where we have planted some gourd seeds. Each day the children give them a drink of water and check on their progress. This picture was taken on May 22. I wonder what they will look like in a few weeks?
Well, I can see that we need some pictures of the gourds actually growing here.
Results: We have gourds that are mature! In late September we opened some up outside to dig out the seeds. One of the gourds smelled a little like melon, the other smelled just like pumpkin.
THE GREAT PARK PURSUIT
Will your family be the first to get to all 15 parks?
The Nebraska Game and Parks Commission joined with the Nebraska Recreation and Park Association to develop a fun and free opportunity to promote outdoor adventures. The Great Park Pursuit is adopted from a similar outdoor recreation program started in Connecticut called “No Child Left Inside.” Engaging youth in the natural world outside their door is an important component of the program. The goal is to encourage healthier lifestyles for participants while increasing the awareness of Nebraska’s nature rich outdoor recreation opportunities. The Great Park Pursuit kicks off May 1 and runs through September 8th.
Fifteen parks across Nebraska, including a mix of local, state and federal parklands, offer a variety of natural outdoor recreation opportunities that are close to home. Participants follow clues to collect nature-based impressions from post hidden in each of the selected parks. Prizes and entry into drawings are based on the number of tracings collected. Participants become registered for a free two-night cabin stay at a Nebraska state park of their choice with just one visit, the more sites the participants visits, the more opportunities your family has to win!
2009 Participating Parks
1. Fort Robinson State Park, Crawford
2. Central Park, Alliance
3. Ash Hollow State Historic Park, Lewellen
4. Kelley Park, McCook
5. Bessey Ranger District of the Nebraska National Forest, Halsey
6. Calamus State Recreation Area, Burwell
7. Cowboy Trail, Norfolk
8. Scenic Park, South Sioux City
9. Lewis and Clark Landing, Omaha
10. Walnut Creek Lake and Recreation Area, Papillion
11. Platte River State Park, Louisville
12. Indian Cave State Park, Shubert
13. Pioneers Park, Lincoln
14. Pawnee Park, Columbus
15. Stolley Park, Grand Island
Visit the website to learn more about the program and register your team today!!
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Our marimba is up!
We are grateful to some amazing donors who helped purchase an outdoor marimba for our playground. With the help of one of our talented parents, we installed it and the children are making beautiful music in God’s beautiful environment!
