Happy Teacher Appreciation Week from Tremont! To kick off the week, we’re sharing insights from one of our longtime Schoolyard Network participants, Elizabeth Cade, second grade teacher at Christenberry Elementary in Knoxville.

The schoolyard is the safe space where students and nature meet. It is the catalyst for encouraging exploration of the natural world, and it’s right outside our classroom doors!

I truly believe students at some point in their educational experience need to get outside and explore! We know there are many student benefits of learning in the dirt, such as physical health, mental health, and academic success. Teachers also understand all the unrealistic demands placed upon us in the traditional classroom that tend to make us hesitant about outdoor learning. I encourage fellow educators to go for it, even if it’s a small activity. It is one hundred percent worth the effort to get outside. Students will ask for more and become invested in the lessons.

It’s always a good day when we are outside learning! I think the biggest thing I have observed is just how much student engagement increases when we step outside into the school yard. It’s pure happiness to see students enjoying learning. It’s what keeps me going on the hard days.

So, if you stick with it even during those hard days of teaching, not only will you see happiness, but you will also see how your efforts grow into something bigger. For me, being brave and going solo to teacher nature-based workshops has led to building a community of teachers who encourage me, which has led to being bold to explore my own school yard, which has turned into overnight field trips at Great Smoky Mountains Institute at Tremont for our students and ultimately created experiences of a lifetime. The little things grow over time.

Interested in outdoor teaching? Check out these resources:

  • Tremont’s Schoolyard Network offers friendly, informal monthly professional development sessions for teachers nationwide. Join the Schoolyard Network to learn about upcoming sessions. [FREE]
  • Attend a Teacher Escape Weekend in the Smokies. Find inspiration from other educators, share ideas, and practice experiential learning activities that they can take back to the classroom. [$94 includes material, food and lodging for two days]
  • Book a Schoolyard Consultation for custom-tailored professional development designed to meet the unique needs and challenges of your schoolyard. [Contact us for pricing.]
  • Bring your students to Tremont for immersive, hands-on learning in one of the nation’s most biodiverse ecosystems. [Starts at $288 per student. Financial aid and scholarships are available.]