This story is sponsored by Knox County Head Start.
With the opening of an outdoor classroom on April 28, Knox County Head Start started a transition toward a more holistic school experience for local youngsters.
Located at the New Hope Early Education Center site, the outdoor classroom is a large outdoor space designed for nature-based instruction and play.
“It’s environmental education and based on the child’s interest and what is happening in nature, but it’s also the extension of our Creative Curriculum indoors,” Holly Trask, education consultant with Head Start, explained. “Whatever their curriculum is indoors, we can support it outside.”
For example, the indoor curriculum has units on trees, insects and gardening. The outdoor classroom includes a dirt-digging area and a planting area where children can garden. The children also recently watched a bird build a nest, saw the eggs, and knew the eggs hatched.
“They were able to explore if they were the mom bird, how would they build a nest,” Trask said.
Research shows that outdoor classrooms promote inquisitive thinking, improve mental health, and reduce stress. They also combat what experts call nature deficit disorder: a lack of direct interaction with nature on a regular basis.
“It’s been proven that it helps children focus and grow socially, emotionally, and physically,” Trask said. “A lot of children don’t play outdoors. Many are indoors with technology, whether it’s TV, an iPad, or phone. When they get out of doors and connect with nature, play in the dirt, they have growth in all areas.
“It’s also helped with children who have a tendency toward ADHD,” she added.
Trask said there are schools in Washington, Oregon, and Canada that are outside the majority of the time.
“Kids are so curious; they ask questions. They’re questions they should be asking because they have to do with life,” she said.
Head Start hired an outdoor classroom specialist to develop curriculum and resources. The hope is to develop relationships with area colleges so that future teachers view the outdoor classroom as another teaching opportunity.
Emily Feasel, whose son, Grayson, attends New Hope, likes the idea of an outdoor classroom.
“I think it’s a great idea for the kids to experience different ways to learn,” she said. “It’s definitely a different type of experience and teaches kids how to explore the outdoors in a different way.”
Feasel said that as a parent, she thinks it is important for her child to have different learning experiences.
“I try to get the most experiences for my child, and this is one thing I can provide for him,” she said. “I think it’s great they are able to provide that for him.”
As for 5-year-old Grayson, he said his favorite thing about outdoor classes is “all the things because I’ve never tried them before.”
“I like digging in the dirt; I like digging for worms,” he said.
In the process, he has learned about worms.
“They come outside in the rain, and also they have to keep their water,” he explained.
“It’s a great opportunity for the kids,” Feasel said. “I am all about different ways to teach the kids and getting them outdoors.”
The vision for the outdoor classroom stemmed from a committee of Head Start staff. Nature Explore used that vision to design the space.
Students in the building trades and landscaping programs at the Knox County Career Center began working on the space in October 2021 and finished in December.
“Our hope is to start developing an outdoor classroom at our Fredericktown or Northgate location,” Trask said, adding that students from Head Start’s other locations will make field trips to the outdoor classroom at New Hope. “We also plan to offer Saturday family events open to the community once we get going.”
Trask said there will be a transition period to get teachers, children and parents ready for the outdoor approach. The hope is that adults, as well as children, will benefit from experiences with nature.
Knox County Head Start receives federal funding for Head Start and Early Head Start services from the Department of Health & Human Services, Administration for Children and Families.
Locally, the program benefits from generous funding support from the Knox County Foundation, and the United Way of Knox County. The CANOE classroom received specific support from the Ariel Foundation and the Mount Vernon Shade Tree and Beautification Committee.
