While attending Vision Boys Academy, each young boy will have daily opportunities to explore many of nature’s amazing wonders in our awe-inspiring back yard. We love our surrounding area and the plethora of wholesome outdoor experiences it has to offer in rural Missouri.
Students earn these off-campus outings as they complete weekly academic and program requirements and follow our basic rules. We all look forward to these wonderful outing incentives each week as it is an opportunity to grow and reflect as a person, and as a group.
Benefits of Outdoor Recreation
Experts say that outdoor learning is quite beneficial to students because it makes them healthier and happier, and they do better academically. The various benefits include: 1
- Students who get to experience an outdoor learning environment tend to be more attentive and, therefore, have a better recollection of the information that was shared.
- Consistent exposure to nature decreases stress and anxiety, helps elevate mood, and helps with emotion.
- Children often have too much exposure to digital screens via televisions, computers, and cell phones. This can result in a “nature deficit disorder,” which may lead to obesity and possible psychological and academic issues. Outdoor learning allows students to put their focus back on nature.
- Outdoor environments naturally inspire children to be more physically active.
- Exposure to bright sunlight found in nature is also healthy for vision. Bright sunlight is necessary for the eyes to develop properly, lowering the risk of nearsightedness.
- In outdoor settings, children are more motivated to work together in groups, which can improve their social skills. They learn to manage conflicts, communicate, and cooperate with their peers in a more effective manner.
- Outdoor learning provides children with hands-on experiences in nature. Most children learn better by using their senses. Outdoor environments provide the perfect place to do this. Instead of viewing different types of plants or wildlife on a computer or TV screen, they can see, smell, hear, and touch them in nature. Students can even start a garden and grow fruits and vegetables, which may have them wanting to sample their harvest. These hands-on experiences cultivate a love of nature and get them.1
Outdoor education and play support emotional, behavioral and intellectual development. Studies have shown that students who learn outdoors develop: a sense of self, independence, confidence, creativity, decision-making and problem-solving skills, empathy towards others, motor skills, self-discipline and initiative. 2
Learning outdoors is active and increases students’ physical, mental and social health. Some studies have even shown follow-up (e.g., non-school) physical activity increases with outdoor learning. Access to nature has also been shown to decrease the symptoms of ADHD. Outdoor learning and access to nature also decrease stress levels of students and teachers. 2
A number of studies have documented increased school performance through outdoor education. Research has document increased standardized test scores, enhanced attitude about school, improved in-school behavior, improved attendance and overall enhanced student achievement when students learn in and about nature.
In addition, outdoor education effectively employs a greater range of children’s intelligences. Many researchers contribute the increase in performance to increased relevance and hands-on experience of learning outdoors. 2
Vision Boys Academy Offers Outdoor Learning!
Please visit our website to explore the activities and academic opportunities that we provide to each young boy enrolled at Vision Boys Academy in rural Missouri. Or give us a call to learn more about how we help young boys, ages 8-12, explore the great outdoors, and learn important, life-changing lessons with our devoted staff.
Call (888)500-4090 now.
Sources:
1 https://www.learningliftoff.com/the-surprising-benefits-of-outdoor-learning/