Inspiring Environmental Citizenship

Outdoor & Eco Learning

Mark Brown AMRS, FRSA

The space we are in affects how we perform

Larger windows =

progress +15 % in mathematics

progress +23 %in reading

Heschong Mahone Group

21,000 students

The space we are in affects how we perform

Natural views =

higher test scores

higher graduation rates

more planning to attend college

fewer reports of criminal behavior

High school landscapes and student performance.

Matsuoka, R. H. (2008). University of Michigan

But classroom spaces in the main haven’t evolved so much

But classroom spaces in the main haven’t evolved so much

But classroom spaces in the main haven’t evolved so much

2012

But classroom spaces in the main haven’t evolved so much

Eco learning spaces can help educators tackle nature deficit

disorder and environmental citizenship

‘For a new generation, nature is more abstraction than reality. Increasingly, nature is something to watch, to consume, to wear – to ignore.’

Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods.

Children in Britain

How many hours watching TV per week?

17 hours

How many hours online per week?

20 hours

Ofcom October 2011

11-15 year olds

How many hours a day in front of a screen?

7.5

How much has that increased in the last 10 years?

+40%

Half their waking lives

Ofcom October 2011

Since the 1970s, children’s ‘radius of unsupervised activity’ has declined by

90%.

Gaster, S. (1991) ‘Urban Children’s Access to Their Neighbourhoods: Changes Over Three

Generations’

Fewer than one in ten children regularly play in wild places;

compared to almost half a generation ago.

Natural England (2009) Childhood and Nature: a survey on changing relationships with nature

across generations.

Children spend so little time outdoors that they are unfamiliar with one of

our commonest wild creatures.

National Trust survey 2008

What type of bird is this?

A. Pigeon

B. Jackdaw

C. Magpie

What type of bird is this?

A. Pigeon

B. Jackdaw

C.Magpie

30%

What type of insect is this?

A. Hornet

B. Wasp

C. Bee

What type of insect is this?

A. Hornet

B. Wasp

C. Bee

What type of insect is this?

A. Hornet

B.Wasp

C. Bee

50%

What is this?

A. Robot

B. Dalek

C. Toothbrush

What is this?

A. Robot

B.Dalek

C. Toothbrush

90%

The effects on our children

3 in 10 children are overweight.

Vitamin D deficiencyrickets shortsightednessasthma

Reduction in children’s physical ability

10% decline in cardiorespiratory fitness

1 in 10 have mental health disorder

1 in 12 adolescents are self-harming

35,000 children prescribed anti-depressants

“The less children play outdoors, the less they learn to cope with the risks and challenges they will go on to face as adults… Nothing can replace what children gain from the freedom and independence of thought they have when trying new things out in the open.”

Tanya Byron,

Hillsdon, M. (2009) Getting Kids Back to Nature, Tourism Insights.

“Even nature itself has become a commodity. Many believe they cannot experience it unless they are in a nature reserve, have the right pair of binoculars, or are wearing the correctly endorsed clothes… So often nature is seen as something to travel to – not something we are immersed in all the time and dependent upon for our physical, emotional and spiritual health”.

Baker, N. (2009) Last of the pond-dippers, in Natural World magazine September 2009.

‘I think children are born with an inherent love of the outdoors… but as parents we stop letting them have their freedom, and we work that love of nature out of them…’

Kate Macrae Education Consultant and Teacher

‘What we’ve done is we’ve put Nature over there – we’ve put a fence around it and said

‘That’s Nature’

Dr William Bird Outdoor Nation Interview 

‘Take only photographs, leave only footprints…’

Outdoor Learning

“Natural places are singularly engaging, stimulating, life-enhancing environments where children can reach new depths of understanding about themselves, their abilities and their relationship with the world around them.”

Tim Gill, ‘Now for free-range childhood’

Psychologist Aric Sigman:the ‘countryside effect’

Children exposed to nature

scored higher on concentration and self-discipline

improved awareness, reasoning and observational skills

better reading, writing, maths, science & social studies

were better at working in teams

showed improved behaviour overall.

Sigman, A. (2007) Agricultural Literacy: Giving concrete children food for thought

Contact with nature reduces the impact of ADD

Symptoms more manageable after activities in green settings than after activities in other settings

The greener a child’s everyday environment, the more manageable their symptoms will be.

Taylor, Andrea Faber; Frances E. Kuo; and William C. Sullivan. In Environment and Behavior,

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Environmental Citizenship

During a ‘direct nature experience program’ participants had a

significant increase in environmental knowledge and attitudes

Duerden, M. D., & Witt, P. A. (2010). The impact of direct and indirect experiences on

the development of environmental knowledge,

attitudes, and behavior.

The critical age of influence appears to be before 12 years. Before this age contact with nature in all its forms, but in particular wild nature, appears to strongly influence a positive behaviour towards the environment.

William Bird for the RSPB, Natural Thinking

If we are going to save environmentalism and the environment, we must also save an endangered species: the child in nature

Richard Louv, Last Child in the Woods

Children do want to learn about environmental citizenship

82% agreed learning about green issues as important

science (35%), IT (36%)

art (37%) 66% want to learn more about wildlife and nature

62% want to learn about green issues

96% were worried about people damaging the planet 

The Co-operative Green Schools initiative 20111027 7-14 year olds

Children do want to learn about environmental citizenship

 

How many children here influence their parents' green behaviour?

64% 

The Co-operative Green Schools initiative 20111027 7-14 year olds

Opportunity for Schools and Early Years settings

Outdoor Learning

in a

safe environment

to

promote Environmental Citizenship

Research suggests help & ideas are needed

How much of the school day do you spend outside?

25%

How much of that is spent learning?

10%

How many headteachers didn’t know?

14%

How many schools used a shelter for outside teaching?

55%

Research suggests help & ideas are needed

88% agreed ‘the promotion of environmental best practice, using outdoor learning, was a key area of underperformance’

Only 33% prioritised this for development

42% don’t know the time that children were learning about environmental citizenship

What are the biggest barriers to successful development of Environmental Citizenship?

Lack of funding 26%Need to cover other curriculum areas

45% Lack of staff understanding/training

39%

What we have heard at The Learning Escape

The eco-friendly building has encouraged even our youngest children to be more aware of their environment and the importance of looking after it.

Molly Ball Dickleburgh Pre-School Chairman

Both children and staff have really enjoyed working in this lovely new classroom, with easy access to the outdoors for play. The children are fascinated with the pools of light from the sun pipes and have appreciated the beautiful views across the fields through the seasons. A welcome bonus is that we have saved significantly on energy costs!

Sue Dubois Head teacher Hindringham

We now have a creative learning space which offers the children wonderful opportunities to compliment our creative curriculum. The children are inspired by working in the outdoors and we've seen a great improvement in their creativity.

Marianne BakerHead teacher Dodford

Eco Learning

Educators talk about how Eco Learning spaces inspire Outdoor Learning and promote Environmental Citizenship

View on YouTube

 http://youtu.be/dnBEHxVGUhQ 

‘How can our children learn to care about their futures?’

Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning helpsteamworkmoral reasoningsocial interactionconflict resolution risk-assessmentnegotiation.

Integrating environmental education can

instill ‘care for the future’ as a part of their role as a responsible citizen.

Making a Difference

Lead by example

Take the curriculum outdoors

Get children involved

Encourage them to ‘pass it on’

Support a scheme like Eco-Schools

Reward good environmental citizenship

Consider how you bridge the gap from in to out

Consider your classrooms and buildings

Designing to promote Environmental Citizenship

Minimise barriers between inside and out   Large full height windows and doors Harness the sun; sun pipes, water. electricity. AA rated appliances & smart meters Generous ceiling heights for low C02

Covered canopies for free flow Natural materials, recycled insulation

Away from the main school so it’s a special place

Simple small Eco learning spaces can kick start