Richard Louv opened his 2008 book Last Child in the Woods with the observation, “A kid today can likely tell you about the Amazon rain forest—but not about the last time he or she explored the woods in solitude or lay in a field listening to the wind and watching the clouds move.” Sixteen years later, this lamentation still resonates, as there has been little progress in addressing the disconnect between children and nature that Louv highlighted. While his work began the little-known Children in Nature movement, nature programming remains undervalued or absent in many educational settings across the United States today.
At The Janus School, we are working to change this narrative. Alongside many other schools and nonprofits committed to fostering connections to nature, we are creating opportunities for meaningful engagement with the natural world in line with our educational philosophy and teaching methods. Through initiatives like raising trout to release in the local creek, tapping trees to make maple syrup, writing observations in the woods, and integrating nature into diverse subjects beyond science classes such as geometry and photography, we aim to make the outdoors an integral part of our neurodiverse students’ education. These activities help students across all grade levels in our K-12 private school build familiarity and confidence in natural surroundings throughout the year.
Our after-school outdoor club exemplifies this approach. Students of all ages come together to gain hands-on knowledge about stream health, fire safety, and local plants and wildlife. With this program and many others, our goal is to integrate outside experiences into as many subjects as possible so that nature is not seen as unique but rather as part of our day-to-day learning and growth.
It’s important to emphasize that building connections to nature doesn’t require specialized activities or access to expansive, wooded properties like our beautiful campus along Little Chiques Creek in Mount Joy, Pennsylvania. Any patch of earth, backyard tree, or sidewalk flower can offer opportunities to inspire curiosity and care for wild spaces. Simple activities like tracing a fallen leaf, keeping a journal of bird calls heard in the neighborhood, or measuring a dandelion’s growth can transform nature from something distant and intimidating to something close, familiar, and nourishing.
We believe that fostering these connections is essential for the well-being of both children and adults, whether or not they identify as neurodiverse. Nature offers profound benefits, providing the space to listen to the wind, watch the clouds, and experience the joy of being part of the natural world. At The Janus School, we are committed to ensuring these opportunities are accessible, meaningful, and woven into the fabric of everyday learning.
We are excited to invite our fellow educators to an insight- and inspiration-filled Outdoor Education Workshop on Mon. February 17, 2025, at The Janus School to further the collaboration around opportunities to advance outdoor education for students across the region. Visit the registration page here on our website to learn more and sign up to join us!
What Educators Will Gain from Attending the February 17 Outdoor Education Workshop
Whether you are a public or private school teacher looking to earn Act 48 credits or otherwise associated with outdoor instructional activities and searching for an enlightening continuing education experience, this educators’ workshop aims to provide creative ways to engage students in the natural world. And that’s not all—attendees will leave with practical strategies, lesson ideas, and a renewed appreciation for the potential of outdoor learning. Educators who attend will:
- Gain strategies to bring your curriculum outdoors—no matter your school’s environment.
- Collaborate with colleagues and leave with actionable lesson ideas that will excite your students.
- Explore our campus’s unique spaces: woods, stream, greenhouse, garden, and more!
- Earn 3.5 Act 48 continuing ed credits.