Recommended Reading: Bringing Education and Nature Together

For many students today the school day consists of sitting indoors at a desk, staring at photocopied worksheets and the blackboard. But for the students at CA Frost Environmental Sciences Academy in Grand Rapids, MI, education isn’t confined to inside.

The school sits right next to a nature preserve, so teachers can help bring more hands on experiences with nature to their students. When studying ponds, the students were actually able to get into the pond to measure the temperature and learn how that impacted the ecosystem. In learning about soil they can go outside and feel the difference between sand or clay based samples.

This unique school, with its nature based curriculum, is open to any student in Grand Rapids, allowing equal access to more nature during the school day. With many schools canceling outdoor recess or physical education, there has been a noticeable lack of engagement between children and the natural world. However, as more schools begin to open up their doors to what’s going on outside, children can also begin to develop a life-long appreciation for nature.

Learn more about nature based education in Grand Rapids here.