Outdoor Learning Conference 2026

In this session, examine how literacy skills foster deeper connections with the natural world. Through first-hand independent and group activities, we’ll experience how natural spaces can pique interest and increase student engagement in reading, writing, conversing, and presenting. However, this session will not focus on how to shift language arts from the classroom to the outdoors; rather, we will explore how time in nature can be enriched by including reading, writing, and structured oral interaction as an element of the experience, drawing learners’ attention to the benefits of time in nature--including reducing anxiety, extending focus, and strengthening social bonds. This session will impart practical strategies for fun and effective literacy instruction as part of outdoor learning.