Outdoor Teaching and Learning

Did you know that federal Elementary & Secondary Schools Emergency Relief (ESSER) funds can be used to support environmental and outdoor education activities?! The Illinois State Board of Education has allocated $512 million directly to Illinois school districts through ESSER and districts are deciding right now what to do with it. 

Wilder Waite Elementary School – Dunlap, IL
Prairie School of DuPage; Wheaton, IL
Riddle Elementary Arboretum – Mattoon, IL

Please see the following documents for more information or reach out to EEAI Executive Director, Brekke Bounds if you have any questions; brekkeboundseeai@gmail.com

Then, please reach out to your school-based partners as well as your home school district and ask that environmental and outdoor education activities be included in their plan, activities such as:  

Resources to Increase Outdoor Teaching and Learning

Start With the Why

To build a supportive network of educators, administrators and community members is it important that everyone understand WHY outdoor learning is vital for students. 

Implement Successfully

Just like teaching indoors, outdoor teaching and learning comes with challenges and implementation strategies. 

Plan the Space

From evaluating your current space, examining available resources and deciding the first elements that are needed to increase outdoor teaching and learning there are resources to help any school or learning facility design and plan out their outdoor learning spaces. 

Get Support

Educators from all over the world are now engaging in more outdoor teaching than ever before. Find ways to connect, learn and share ideas with other educators passionate about teaching outdoors.