Question 1

How do I manage safe bathroom use in my pod when I am teaching outside?

Establishing a pass system for using indoor classrooms allows for educators to remain outside while students use the indoor facilities. Make sure students know the rules of the road for how many students can be inside a bathroom at any given time. If possible, consider two portable toilet to serve your outdoor pod.

Answer

One scenario: split bus routes in half with two runs each morning and afternoon bringing half the students to a local community partner site, and half to the school. School dropoff at 8 a.m. and pick up at 2 p.m. Partner sites drop off at 9 a.m. and pick up at 3 p.m. Color code bus seats for each run with odd rows on the driver’s side used for the school run and even rows on the passenger side for the partner site run Additional vehicles (and drivers) available from the community partner can further reduce the transportation bottleneck. Family transportation or local walking or bicycle riding could further reduce the demands on bus capacity, depending on availability.

Answer

As we say often in Maine, “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only inadequate clothing.” When cold weather is a safety concern, schools can gather extra donated boots and clothing and assign gear to individual students for the season so it is always on hand for outdoor learning. For early childhood centers, consider purchasing classroom sets of waterproof suits that can cover the outer layer of clothing to protect students from getting wet. Community partners like thrift stores or community closets could support a whole school effort to help students be ready for inclement weather. Tents, yurts, and shelters can be used to protect students from both sun and rain, and some offer protection from the snow and cold as well. Creating a rotating warm up schedule and doing shorter blocks of time outside in winter are also options to keep outdoor learning incorporated into the daily schedule.

Answer

CARES Act funding to schools is intended for Covid-related needs - and learning outdoors reduces transmission risk, so some schools are using CARES to pay for larger outdoor classroom infrastructure needs. There are also numerous grants available to teachers from Maine-based and national foundations and agencies that fund small and large projects. Of course, every school’s greatest resource is its community. Many educators have been able to build outdoor classrooms, easels, picnic tables, benches, school gardens and more on a shoestring by reaching out to local businesses and school families for materials and construction. This fall, many community members are looking for ways to contribute and support their local schools and are eager to respond to requests for support.

Answer

Outdoor learning can be as diverse as Maine’s student body. Partnering with local organizations that have deep experience serving the community that makes up the student body can tailor outdoor learning to meet the needs of the cultural experiences of all students. Outdoor learning can also support successful learning for youth who may struggle with the traditional classroom. All schools in Maine can successfully implement outdoor learning, especially if collaborating with community partners, for additional outdoor space, curriculum, or safety support. Contact the Nature Based Education Consortium or the Maine Environmental Education Association for assistance in connecting with community partners.

Question 2

How should our outdoor classrooms be cleaned?

Like any classroom, high touch items should be cleaned frequently and if possible between uses. Being in the sunlight may provide some natural disinfection!

Question 3

How should we organize safe travel to community partner sites, camps, or parks?

At this time, field trips to indoor locations that require travel are not recommended. Guidance for the safe travel of students is evolving, but travel by walking remains safer than travel with groups of students inside a vehicle.

Question 4

Can students within my pod share any equipment or materials when we're outside?

Yes, students can share equipment with focus on hand sanitizing before and after touching or using shared equipment. It is important to remember that COVID-19 is primarily spread by respiratory droplets and potentially spread by touching an infected item with your hands and then touching your nose, mouth or eyes. Good hand hygiene can prevent the spread of viruses.

Question 5

Are there types of common outdoor activities that I should avoid with my class?

It is important to realized that singing, shouting or vigorous exercise can increase dispersal of respiratory droplets up to 14 feet! It would be best to move further apart when students do these activities or avoid these activities altogether if unable to distance.

Question 6

How do I manage transportation to community partner sites?

Question 7

What about sun, rain, and snow?

Question 8

How can I pay for outdoor learning at my school?

Question 9

Guidance & Resources for Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Spaces

Models, etc.

Additional Resources

Winter Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Managing an outdoor learning pod