Take It Outside! 2023

TAKE IT OUTSIDE! 2023

Pioneer Springs Community School in Charlotte, NC held their first Take It Outside conference in April, 2023. Teachers, parents and outdoor enthusiasts from as far away as Virginia came to spend the day learning, exploring and discovering the wonders of teaching outdoors on Pioneer Springs’s twelve acre campus of winding dirt pathways, wooded trails and outdoor amphitheaters.

With their DIY Nature Journal made from a stick and cereal box in hand, the group of participants made their way through a woodland forest maze in a group cooperative activity that fostered a learning community for the day. Participants then wandered the pathways to a garden tour and got their hands dirty in a garden learning activity. Others shared cuddles with Humphrey the rabbit while learning the benefits of having a classroom pet. Other sessions had participants touching tarantulas or measuring trees using a pencil as the group enjoyed learning ways to bring the math standards outside.

After a lunch shared outdoors on picnic tables with plenty of networking, the afternoon brought participants up close and personal with some of the school honeybees as they learned about the bees of our area and how to help solitary bees by building their own bee house to take home. Others wandered the woods with a partner, creatively sharing thoughts by writing poetry.

The final sessions practiced place-based education and explored the benefits of the Wonder Wagon, an outdoor mobile classroom. Participants worked together to create squirrel nests and used leaf blowers to test the effectiveness of their design.

The day ended with a campfire and s’mores and the sharing of ideas, passions and reflections on the day. To quote one participant- “‘You have ignited a new passion in me. Nature-based learning should be accessible to all students.”
If you missed out on this first conference, don’t worry!! We invite you to join us this fall for our second

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When's the last time you climbed a tree? Stepped in a puddle? Stood in the rain?

The connections between nature and cognitive growth, creativity, emotional balance, and overall wellness have been well documented but, despite this knowledge, school settings and many programs intended for children, adolescents, and young adults are still limited to traditional learning.

“‘You have ignited a new passion in me. Nature-based learning should be accessible to all students.”

Take It Outside! is an interactive, hands-on outdoor event hosted on the 12-acre campus of Pioneer Springs Community School. Learn how to take your lessons and programs outside, how to integrate nature into your experience and why it's imperative for the well-being of children to spend time to learn and connect to the outdoors. Questions? Contact Sandy Dixon for any help you need. We can't wait to meet you!

Take It Outside!

A sampling of Sessions for the fall 2023 Take It Outside Conference:

CSI- Critter Scene Investigators- Learn how to use nature’s mysteries to engage students, foster cooperation, explore divergent thinking and ensure your students are ready to tackle any challenge.

The Power of Sidewalk Chalk- Enhance your lessons outdoors no matter where you are with chalk! Participants will walk through three functional examples and learn how chalk can foster kinesthetic learning across all grade levels.

Get a Book & Go Take a Look- Expand literacy out into your schoolyard. Integrate Science, ELA and Art with hands-on activities as we take a short walk-about with some favorite books.

Racoons Balancing in a Mystery Maze? Through simple team building initiatives participants will explore hands-on activities that will boost student motivation, inspire collaboration, develop empathy & create a classroom of support.

Shapes and Patterns Galore!-Math is a tool to help us describe and analyze the many patterns we see around us. Explore patterns and shapes you find in nature as we explore how to develop a students knowledge of geometry and functions.

Measurement in mathematics

Bee school with Mr. Chris

Take it Outside! Fall 2023 at Pioneer Springs is a celebration of nature education and integration in K-12 and other public settings. All sessions are led by educators to promote the integration of nature as part of a whole child approach.

Who: Teachers, administrators, parents, home school, college students, daycare, park and camp supervisors, programmers, staff, counselors, volunteers and nature enthusiasts
When: Saturday, November 4th 8:00-3:00pm
Where: Pioneer Springs Community School, 9232 Bob Beatty Road, Charlotte, NC 28269
What: 4 concurrent sessions with an opening jubilee, lunch, and closing bonfire
How: Register for the event using the button below. The registration fee is $50. You'll receive confirmation of your registration and an agenda of sessions.
What else: Wear comfortable clothing and closed-toed shoes for "adventuring". Also, please bring a refillable water bottle and something with which to write.

Agenda
8:15-8:45 Check-in, meet & greet
8:45-9:15 Welcome Jubilee
9:30-10:15 Session 1
10:30-11:15 Session 2
11:30-12:30 Lunch/socialize
12:30-1:15 Session3
1:30-2:15 Session 4
2:30 Closing Celebration/bonfire & s’mores