Outdoor Education

Childhood and Nature: Design Principles for Educators by David Sobel offers practical, engaging ideas for bringing outdoor education into the classroom. Through seven design principles, Sobel shows how nature-based learning supports children's development and curiosity. It's an excellent resource for teachers seeking meaningful, hands-on ways to connect students with the natural world.

Learning Outside the Classroom: Theory and Guidelines for Practice by Simon Beames, Peter Higgins & Robbie Nicol - This book is a go-to guide for teachers curious about taking learning beyond four walls. It breaks down the theory behind outdoor education and offers real, usable strategies to make it work—whether you're teaching in a schoolyard, park, or forest.

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer - A beautiful mix of Indigenous wisdom, science, and storytelling, this book invites readers to see the natural world as a teacher. It’s not a teaching manual, but it’s full of powerful lessons about reciprocity, respect, and relationship—perfect inspiration for educators exploring land-based learning and Indigenous perspectives.

Literacy Moves Outdoors by Valerie Bang-Jensen - This book shows how literacy learning doesn’t have to stay inside. It’s packed with creative ideas to take reading and writing into outdoor spaces, using nature as both setting and subject. Ideal for elementary teachers wanting to make language learning more active, engaging, and rooted in the real world.

Outdoor Learning Across the Curriculum: Theory and Guidelines for Practice by Simon Beames, Peter Higgins, Robbie Nicol & Heidi Smith - A practical book that helps teachers weave outdoor learning into all subjects—from math to art to science. It blends theory with hands-on examples, making it easy to understand how taking learning outside supports student engagement, wellbeing, and deeper connections across the curriculum.

Outdoor EDcast with Joël Charrière - Hosted by passionate outdoor educator Joël Charrière, this podcast explores how and why teaching outside matters. With stories, practical tips, and honest chats, it’s a great listen for teachers who want to build confidence in outdoor education and rethink how learning can look beyond the classroom walls.

Teaching Comes Alive Outside with Elizabeth Rayl - Elizabeth Rayl brings tons of energy and real-life teaching experience to this podcast. She shares how outdoor learning can spark student engagement, build independence, and make teaching more joyful. It’s full of relatable stories and actionable tips—great for teachers looking to get started with outdoor learning right away.

Teach Outdoors with Lauren Maclean - Lauren Maclean’s podcast is like a pep talk for teachers wanting to take the leap into outdoor education. She shares quick, practical ideas and talks honestly about what works (and what doesn’t) when teaching outside. Super approachable, especially for educators who are new to land-based or outdoor learning.

Earthy Chats Podcast with Ian Shanahan and Jade Berrill - Hosted by two passionate nature educators, Earthy Chats blends big ideas with real-world inspiration. The conversations are thoughtful and rooted in nature, connection, equity, and community. It’s perfect for educators looking to deepen their thinking around outdoor and environmental learning—and hear from leaders in the field.

The Environmental Education, Part 1 AQ course equips educators with the knowledge and skills to integrate ecological literacy into their teaching. Through a critical lens, the course explores the earth’s systems, environmental issues, and ways to promote sustainability in the classroom. Topics include Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge, global citizenship, and strategies for fostering environmental stewardship among students. This course is ideal for educators seeking to inspire students to become active, responsible global citizen

The Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) offers practical workshops and courses designed to help teachers bring environmental education and outdoor learning into their classrooms. These programs cover topics like sustainability, naturalist skills, and leadership, giving you fresh ideas and hands-on experience. It’s a great way to connect with experts and other educators while learning how to make your lessons more engaging and nature-focused.

The Ontario Science Centre offers a bunch of free online webinars and training. The topics include play-based learning, inquiry-based learning and many more useful topics for the classroom. It is a great way to learn more about science and outdoor education.

20 Educational Outdoor Activities for Preschoolers - This handy list is packed with simple, fun, and developmentally appropriate outdoor activities for little learners. From nature scavenger hunts to messy play, it’s full of easy ideas that spark curiosity and support early learning goals—perfect for kindergarten and early years educators looking to take learning outside.

Learning Through Landscapes Outdoor Learning Ideas - A treasure trove of outdoor activity ideas, lesson plans, and teaching tips! This UK-based site offers free, curriculum-linked resources that work across ages and subjects. Whether you're teaching literacy, math, or science, you’ll find creative ways to make learning come alive outside the classroom.

Tinkergarten is all about learning through nature play. Designed for young children, it offers seasonal activity guides and ideas that build skills like problem-solving, empathy, and creativity. Great for educators or parents looking for play-based, child-led learning outdoors, with a strong focus on social-emotional development.

PDSB Learning Naturally - A fantastic local example from the Peel District School Board! This initiative shows how schools can embrace nature-based learning in real, practical ways. The site shares program highlights, videos, and inspiration for Ontario educators wanting to connect land, learning, and curriculum in their communities.

Toronto Outdoor Education "Get Outside" Lesson Archive - This resource from the Toronto District School Board is an archive of excellent lesson plans directly connected to the Ontario curriculum. Each year, they release a new set of lessons with a different theme. In the attached Google Drive, lesson plans on Math, STEAM, Science, Social Studies, and much more are ready for you to use with your class.

Outdoor Education Toolkit - OPHEA is a not-for-profit organization that promotes healthy and active living for children by creating resources, programs, and initiatives. This toolkit is an excellent resource for teachers, offering 11 lesson plans that help you take your class outside while teaching them how to stay safe outdoors. It also includes a handy checklist to guide you before, during, and after each activity

Beyond the Walls - Activity Cards - These activity cards from OPHEA are perfect for getting junior students moving and learning outside the classroom. Packed with easy-to-follow, fun activities, they help teachers bring physical education and healthy habits outdoors, making it simple to promote active, engaged learning beyond the walls of the school. The cards also encourage creativity and teamwork, supporting students’ physical, social, and emotional development while enjoying fresh air and nature.

Get Outdoors: An educator's guide to outdoor classrooms in Parks, School Grounds and Other Special Places - If you want to take teaching outdoors, this guide is a fantastic resource. It offers practical tips, lesson planning tools, safety checklists, and ways to link outdoor activities to curriculum goals. With examples and strategies for all seasons, it helps teachers confidently engage students with nature and hands-on learning.

Learning Through Landscapes Outdoor Learning Ideas - This UK-based site is packed with creative, easy-to-use outdoor learning ideas for all age groups. It offers free activity sheets, lesson plans, and seasonal ideas that cover everything from math and literacy to nature connection and art. The resources are well-organized and super practical—perfect for busy teachers who want to get their students outside while still meeting curriculum goals. Whether you’re new to outdoor learning or looking to expand your toolkit, this site has tons of inspiration to help you bring your lessons to life outdoors.

PDSB Learning Naturally - This incredible initiative from the Peel District School Board highlights how outdoor and nature-based learning can thrive in public education. The site shares real examples from classrooms, videos, and resources that show how teachers are using outdoor spaces to support inquiry, play-based learning, and connections to the Ontario curriculum. It’s especially helpful for educators looking to integrate Indigenous perspectives, environmental stewardship, and student-led exploration into their teaching. A great source of inspiration for making outdoor learning meaningful, accessible, and grounded in the local community and land.

Gould Lake – Outdoor Education at Home: Lesson Plans - This awesome resource from the Limestone District School Board brings outdoor learning to life with fun, easy-to-follow lesson plans you can use right in your schoolyard or even at home. The activities cover everything from navigation and survival skills to nature exploration and outdoor mindfulness. Each lesson is tied to curriculum expectations and designed to help students connect with the land in hands-on, meaningful ways. Perfect for teachers looking to add more outdoor learning to their week—no special gear required!

Lessons in Grass offers a fantastic collection of free outdoor activities designed to get students moving, exploring, and learning in nature. These resources cover a variety of subjects, especially math and numbers, using playful, hands-on approaches that help deepen understanding through active engagement. Perfect for teachers looking to bring more outdoor learning into their classrooms with easy-to-follow lessons that connect curriculum concepts to the natural world. Great for all elementary grades and adaptable to different outdoor spaces!

Green Schoolyards America offers a great selection of free, hands-on outdoor lessons designed for elementary students. These activities cover science, math, language arts, and social studies, helping students learn about trees, ecosystems, and the environment in an engaging way. Lessons are easy to use and perfect for teachers wanting to bring more outdoor learning into their classrooms.

The Connecting With Nature Guides - The David Suzuki Foundation, in Collaboration with the Toronto District School Board and Nipissing University's education program, has created cross-curricular lesson plans that teach about nature while also hitting many expectations for social science, math and language. Enter your name and email on the site for download access.

Environmental Education Virtual Field Trips for Nature Lovers - Avas Flower Shop believes that it is vital for every student to be able to learn about the environment. They have put together a collection of free virtual tours, live cams and virtual classrooms that will allow you to explore nature from your classrooms.

Earth Rangers Homeroom - The Earth Rangers teacher resources offer a wide range of nature- and environment-focused learning materials. You’ll find lesson plans, podcasts to share with your students, a guide for starting an Earth Rangers club, and even options for live online assemblies. They’re an excellent resource for teaching social action and environmental responsibility.