The Therapeutic Value of Outside School
Last month, my husband and I visited the area around Calaveras Big Trees, where my family spent a lot of time camping when I was a child, and our friends now have a trailer in a private campground. They love visiting, hanging out and looking at the trees, saying they feel so relaxed there, and completely away from the normal stressors of everyday life. Funny thing, I didn’t feel like that there- I felt like I have all I need at Outside School. Every day we’re surrounded by natural beauty: trees, birds, and the ever-changing sky. What a lucky place to be! This brought me in to refocus on why I’d started Outside School, the things that I considered wrong with the “normal” educational environments I previously taught in, and how I wanted to “be the change.” An abbreviated list of what’s out there in the daily life of traditional classrooms for children and teachers:
-Too many students for the teachers to effectively work with each one, along with chronic underpay and understaffing,
-Environment that’s too small, poorly lit, and excessively loud,
-Not enough access to nature (or even sufficient time for eating and exercising).
There is a lot to all of this, far more than what each line item says. These environments are harmful for humans.
A huge percentage of children whose parents have found their way to Outside School have come with trauma from school and life environments, often with at least one serious issue related to mental health and/or development, such as anxiety, autism, sensory processing disorder, and/or ADHD. 100% of the children who began Outside School at ages nine or above have faced these challenges. Every. Single. One. Through my research (I have a paper currently awaiting peer review), I learned that children as young as five die intentionally by suicide. I beg you to sit with all of that for a moment.
Children need the outdoor, more relaxed and peaceful environment I provide at Outside School. And, healing doesn’t come quickly. It takes the entire team of teachers, parents, and outside professionals, along with ample time and space, for any progress to be seen. Often it seems like one step forward, two steps back. It’s a lot for the child, their adult “support staff,” and fellow students. And they deserve the effort.
Last January I was diagnosed with anxiety. I’ve been doing a lot of work to improve my mental health before and since. But, self-reflection indicated I’d suffered since age six. Think about that, too. Educators also need the benefits of an outdoor environment, and my work with Outside School has been healing for me, too, as evidenced by my recent trip to out-of-town woods.
The smiles on the faces of rangers and passersby tell me we’re doing the right thing. And I know we are. Check out any of the abundance of resources on the internet to find out more about why humans need to be in nature!
Humans of all ages need the outdoors, free play, and nourishment in all possible ways. Get it on the regular for your children at Outside School!
Let there be light! (🎵 Sound, drums, guitars... 🎵)
Enrollment
Now enrolling for the Outside School school year program and an 8 Week Peek!
Did you know you that one option, often called flexischooling, is available where you can make arrangements with your child’s traditional school to have them attend on Mondays and Fridays only, so they can come to Outside School on our schedule, Tuesdays through Thursdays? Or, you can file your own private school affidavit and do your own thing, go with your own flow, if you will.
Let’s get more kids out in nature! I’m accepting applications all the way through 2/14/24 for the remainder of the school year.
For more information, please go to www.outside.school:
If you’re interested, but not quite ready to commit for the entire school year, check out the “8 Week Peek!”
Camp enrollment for the general public begins December 16. Check out the link above for more information!
Nature News
Ah, December! It’s just so gorgeous out, as leaves are still turning colors, and the air has been crisp and clear. We’re hoping to see the newts arrive in Wildcat Creek soon! Next week we’re going to be making some stick bread over the open fire as a Winter celebration, in advance of our winter break.
Fallen leaf on asphalt.
Raindrops in the sky and on the lens... Freakin' magical!
Inspiration and Resources
“Speedy Delivery!”
Story time with Outside School! Here’s some of what’s covered:
1. If you’d like the full experience, you’d want to get the book, “Speedy Delivery!” by Fred Rogers. But, this will do without it, and there’s some fun stuff in there for you. -About the book: http://www.neighborhoodarchive.com/pu...
2. I mention a showing of my husband’s and my film, “San Francisco Cable Cars,” which will be showing in Orinda, California on 12/9/23.
-About the movie showing (also a great time to meet me if you want to get to know me and Outside School, as I’ll be at our company’s merch table in the lobby: https://www.orindamovies.com/movies/3...
-About the movie and showing from The Orinda News: “Documentary Reveals Secrets of San Francisco’s Iconic Cable Cars” by Sally Hogarty: https://theorindanews.com/2023/11/27/...
3. About the Niles Essanay Silent Film Museum: https://nilesfilmmuseum.org/
🤩 🌉 📽 💞
“Cable Cars”
A November Fire Recording, made by my husband and myself!
“Happy Little Kidneys”
You know what’s cool? A sick kid who helps other sick kids. Anna, who has spent christmas in the hospital, creates christmas kits to decorate the hospital rooms of other sick kids. One christmas kit costs $85 (yes, I donated!), but she can use any amount. If you’d like to read more about Anna and her journey, or would like to donate, please click on the link below:
“Why Teachers Choose to Homeschool Their Own Children”
by Happiness Is Here Blog
“What I realized was that although my students were “successful” they were not thriving. I give a survey every year and I ask them about their hobbies outside of school, and without fail every year 90% say “nothing” or “eating and sleeping” and it just breaks my heart. They are overworked, over scheduled, overwhelmed, and at least 30% are on medication for anxiety or depression. And these kids I teach are the ones going to Stanford, UCLA, and Harvard. They are doing exactly what they think they should be doing to be “successful” but we are failing them in so many ways…And what’s worse is that these kids think that it’s “normal” to not enjoy their path to “success” and that it is just part of life. They don’t know joy, they don’t know freedom, they don’t even know what activities or subjects bring them these feelings because they were never allowed to pursue or even discover what they love to do.”
“I wanted better for myself and for my children. I’d love to be somebody who sticks it out and does my best, but at the end of the day we’re talking about my children, their impressionable minds and 13 years, or nearly their whole childhood. I want my children to be more than a product the system spits out only to lead unfulfilling lives as a slave to the elites. I want my children to think for themselves, live the life they want, and find happiness in their life’s work—however that looks.”
And yes, I help homeschooling families by teaching their children with my methods! It’s great to let the parents have some time to themselves.
Photo from the article.
“Space Oddity”
I’m currently reading The Defector by Colonel Chris Hadfield. It’s a thriller with all the mechanical, engineering, and physics that makes my mind and body tick, all while providing historical and cultural contexts you wouldn’t normally find in a fiction work. I find his work utterly fascinating, and addictive! If you’re in need a five-minute inspiration, check out his music video version of David Bowie’s “Space Oddity.”
Take care,
Heather
Heather Taylor, California Master Teacher, NREMT
Founder/Director/Teacher, Outside School (www.outside.school)
Founder, Teach Outside (www.teachoutside.org)
Feel free to forward to anyone you like!