What: Time or awareness campaigns to encourage spending time outside.
How: Use campaigns can be an effective way to encourage people to take some action.
- Awareness campaign– put posters or flyers around the school to remind educators and students about the benefits of spending time outside, and encourage teachers to take classes outside. You can create your own posters, or use existing ones. For example, the Children and Nature Network has several infographics about the benefits of time in nature that are free to download and use!
- Time outside campaign– set up a competition to see which class in a school can spend the most time outside during a set time period. Have students record and report on the number of minutes their class spends outside during that time period, and at the end of the campaign announce the winning class(es). Consider having a kick-off or ending event with outdoor activities to raise awareness of the campaign and benefits of time in nature. Consider setting up a visual tracking system (big poster, bar graph, etc.) in a central location (near the main entrance?) to act as a reminder and encourage some friendly competition between classes. Consider offering a prize to the class that spends the most time outside (Extra outdoor play for a week? Walking field trip to a local park?). This sort of campaign can help encourage educators to take students outside and try or find new opportunities for time outside. It can encourage students to focus and participate during outdoor lessons, so they are able to earn additional outdoor time through good behavior. It can also help turn spending time outside into a habit that becomes part of the class routine, and continues beyond the end of the campaign.
When: Anytime.
Who: Can be organized by teachers, administrators, or staff.
Materials: Posters, flyers, or other awareness materials. Tracking sheet for school-wide time outside competition.
Why: Use campaigns can encourage educators to take students outside through reminders and friendly competition, and help make time outside part of the regular class routine.
Barriers addressed: Educator Awareness; Educator Content Knowledge; Educator Interest/Willingness; Remembering to Include Nature; School Culture; Support from Authority