Embracing the Outdoor Classroom

Traditional learning is associated with desks, worksheets and whiteboards, contained within four walls. Time spent outside is seen as a break from "real work." But this mindset overlooks a fundamental fact – learning and play are deeply interconnected and thrive in natural spaces.

That's one of the beautiful aspects of outdoor education, Corbett Prep STEAM teacher Aimee Popalis writes in Tampa Bay Parenting Magazine. Outdoor education is the purposeful use of natural elements and outdoor environments for learning experiences. It can take many forms, such as structured lessons, nature walks, free play in the yard or informal learning during family hikes.

At Corbett Prep, where boardwalks wind under the tree canopy, teachers weave outdoor education into weekly routines. Preschoolers might explore shadows on the sidewalk to learn about light and form, while fifth graders paddle into the center of the lake to collect samples and measure water quality.

Popalis explains the benefits of time spent outdoors and how families can integrate these approaches into their own lives at home in the August 2025 issue of Tampa Bay Parenting.

Read more in the magazine.