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Montrose, Colorado, population 19,000, located in the western part of the state, is about to become a case study in work/life balance theory. Colorado Outdoors, a planned development designed specifically to attract outdoor industry businesses is set to host a welcoming/coming out party in December. And unlike any other outdoor business campuses, this one includes hundreds of housing units too, a small, pre-fab town for outdoor enthusiasts.

Get pupils outdoors

"No matter what the weather is trying to prove otherwise, it is summer in the UK and time to take the learning outside. Science, geography and art are often thought about when planning outside lessons as the 'resources' of mini-beasts, ow-bow lakes and scenic landscapes, on the whole, are found outside. But what benefits are there for doing DT outside (other than keeping your classroom mess-free) or music outside (other than annoying the teacher of 5B)?"

A UK site which encourages exploration and outdoor activities by setting missions ranging from finding or photographing things from nature to going pond dipping to write reports about a location. Earn points for each mission completed. http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/PSHE%2C+RE%2C+Citizenship%2C+Geography+%26+Environmental

Outdoor learning and eco schools

chool camps are a wonderful opportunity to observe how our students handle the challenge of a different learning setting. Away from the norms and familiar settings of the classroom, we see students in a different light. For the students, camps are an exciting and for some frightening challenge. For teachers, they are an outstanding assessment tool that should inform our practices long after camp is over. 

The importance of children's contact with outdoors/nature

Martin van Hemert is a photographer based in Utah. He is actively involved in architectural, product, and fine art photography. Throughout his career, he has consistently been drawn to more labor intensive forms of the art, from baking films in hydrogen for astronomical photography, to long exposures and light painting of outdoor scenes photographed on 4×5 sheet films, to his current obsession with spherical panoramas. Born to a family of Dutch immigrants, he studied music at the University of Utah, following which he made the logical choice of a career in photography. Martin and his wife are the parents of three grown children and one un-grown grandchild, and live in rural Utah County with a small herd of horses. Their rodent control staff boasts 7 members.

This is a fabulous GPS and mapping Android app that gives you everything you need to go geocaching and exploring the great outdoors. There are location, compass, photo and tracking tools which should ensure you can always find your way... until your battery runs out! Download the app at https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.mictale.gpsessentials http://ictmagic.wikispaces.com/PSHE%2C+RE%2C+Citizenship%2C+Geography+%26+Environmental

"Unsung Heroes of the One Laptop per Child movement, interviewed live! Unleash Kids enables global volunteers who liberate kids via direct exploration of their electronic/outdoor worlds."

Ranger led workshops on camping skills for the family

Link to free color e-book preview.

outdoor ed and experiential learning. All looks good. 

A guide to learning anywhere. Great tips to make the most of your surroundings to help your students learn and explore.

"The Arts in Primary Education shows how resources already present in schools, such as picture books or the outdoor environment, can be used to develop a creative culture. With a focus on long-term initiatives including partnerships with art institutions and the training and personal development of teachers, the book also presents clear and accessible explanations of the benefits of integrating the arts across a school. Backed by research and evidence and complete with images and descriptions of artworks, this guide is ideal for helping develop a whole-school arts curriculum to enrich learning and raise attainment in all subject areas."

Wow... so much potential danger here. In America, we have successfully removed most all danger from any kind of learning. It's sanitized... and boring.

written by a neurologist and teacher

It is essential that children in today's 'technology focused world' get real, hands-on experiences. The only things that some of my children have in their hands, once at home, are games console controls! By making learning fun and interactive we can engage children in finding out about the world around them and their past, instilling a love of learning and giving them some practical skills to use in the real world...