December 2023 Newsletter
Dear NOLA Members,
December is a time in which many people seem to speed up while others would rather slow down. Whether you welcome this month with an abundance of festivities or settle into the cozy practice of Hygge, we hope you celebrate the beginning of winter while honoring our shared passion for embracing outdoor learning in all seasons.
Fall Networking Summit
We kicked off our quarterly Networking Summits back in November. Our Executive Director, Erica Hermsen, was joined by NOLA founding members to share more about EverWild and our founding members’ programs.
Networking Summits are an opportunity for NOLA members to join a community of educators and administrators who share the goal of increasing outdoor learning opportunities for youth in their programs. As we come together in support of each other, we will discuss our challenges and share solutions.
We will announce the date for our Winter Networking Summit in January of 2024.
Looking Ahead
We are working hard to bring our Founding Members the resources they need as they create, build, and expand their outdoor learning programs across the country. We now have members in more than 13 U.S. states and Canada!
Over on our website, you will find program support and custom curriculum, with more being added monthly. Whether you need email support or real-time coaching, templates for your business plan, hiring, or even a release of liability, you can find it under the Program Support tab. One of the perks of membership includes a discount on all of our templates and curriculum!
Looking ahead, we will be adding online learning opportunities, including virtual courses and free webinars. We’ve developed industry-leading teacher training for our flagship outdoor learning program, EverWild Forest School, and we are excited to share it broadly with our Founding Members!
Please add info@outdoorlearningalliance.org and andrea@everwildforestschool.org to your contacts so that you never miss an update from the National Outdoor Learning Alliance!
Research & Resources
The National Outdoor Learning Alliance is on a mission to increase the prevalence of learning opportunities in the outdoors, and we are so thankful to have you working alongside us! The benefits of outdoor learning are widespread, from reduced stress and anger to increased prosocial behaviors, and improved test scores for children of all ages.
Data from the UK, Japan, and the USA indicate that childhood play in natural spaces has decreased from 80% approximately 40 years ago to just 10% for today’s youth. This study from Germany in 2022 reveals that just 1 day per week of outdoor learning impacts children’s biological stress regulation and brain development positively!
Review a quick summary of the research-backed benefits of nature for children here.
Over at EverWild Forest School, our educators have often marveled at how resilient children are to the cold weather. As the adults bundle themselves up, our students are often seen tossing their gloves and hats at basecamp as they freely explore the natural world around them.
We work to ensure our EverWild families understand how best to dress their children for the winter weather. With the right base and mid layers, children feel more comfortable and confident to engage in cold-weather play. EverWild Forest School’s gear guide helps our families choose the right clothing for any time of the year. If you find it helpful, please share it with your families, too!
Nominate EverWild Forest School
Join us in making a positive impact on our community! Scheels Idaho is generously offering $10,000 in donations to local nonprofits, and we're eager to become one of the lucky recipients.
Here's how you can nominate us:
Click on the link: https://bit.ly/3NacovX
Submit your nomination for EverWild Forest School by December 13th.
Spread the word to friends, family, and supporters to increase our chances of winning!
Together, let's create a meaningful impact this giving season and continue providing enriching outdoor learning experiences for children in our community.
Outdoor Adventures
Winter weather brings a renewed sense of wonder and curiosity in our students at EverWild Forest School. Along with plenty of winter-themed free-play and games, our place-based curriculum focuses on winter adaptations of local flora and fauna, the importance of watersheds, and how to look for animal clues in the snow. Movement games are particularly important during the winter months, and our students are often inspired to create themed obstacle courses and relay races!
December 1st brought the first snow to the Treasure Valley, and EverWild Forest School students are studying snowflakes, animal tracks, and winter birds!
Are you passionate about children learning while outdoors? Gain access to our growing list of curated resources, our highly experienced support team and a community of educators nationwide with a National Outdoor Learning Alliance Founding Membership.
Founding members gain the benefit of discounted membership and provide invaluable support as NOLA grows into a national leader in the outdoor learning movement.
