Why Outdoor Learning? Building Connections Between Education and Public Health

While often viewed as an academic supplement, outdoor learning is a vital upstream intervention for public health. This session presents findings from recent PEAS teacher participant surveys, illustrating how garden-based education serves as a protective factor for student wellness. Our data reveals that moving the classroom outdoors addresses three critical public health pillars:

Environmental & Nutrition Literacy: Hands-on gardening significantly increases a student's knowledge of ecosystems willingness to consume fresh produce, establishing healthy habits including ones that combat food insecurity and diet-related illness.

Mental Health & Resilience: Educators report marked improvements in student emotional regulation and stress reduction, providing a restorative environment that supports neurodiversity and mental wellbeing.

Physical Activity: Outdoor learning naturally integrates movement into the school day, countering sedentary lifestyles and fostering a connection between personal health and environmental stewardship. 

By analyzing qualitative and quantitative shifts reported by PEAS educators, this webinar demonstrates how outdoor learning initiatives function as essential public health assets. We will discuss how to frame outdoor education not just as a pedagogical choice, but as a scalable infrastructure for community-wide wellness. Participants will gain insights into leveraging school gardens to bridge the gap between classroom success and long-term health equity.