Documenting Outdoor Adventures

Many teachers in BC are providing education through outdoor programs. We know that spending time outdoors has many benefits. Students feel a decrease of stress, an increase of focus and many students find learning more effective in an outdoor setting. Parents may be interested in what outdoor learning or outdoor classrooms look like, using photography to document student learning and activities would be a great way for parents to visualize this type of learning. They can see it in action!

Photo by Artem Kniza Unsplash

When creating educational experiences with students that are taken place outside, some students may be experiencing activities that are new to them. When we take pictures of students outdoor experiences we may be able to use this as evidence to show the importance of these experiences. Another reason using photography in outdoor education is that some of the activities are created with natural forest items and when the activity is completed we leave it in the forest. Below is an example.

This is an art project that we completed in art class, because it is created of natural items when completed we leave items in the forest where they belong. This picture can be used in many ways, such as: for assessment, digital portfolio evidence of learning and for students to display their art in other ways. This picture also could also be used for other cross-circular activities.

In this blog I wanted to include some of our local outdoor learning resources that are available to teachers.

In Cranbrook we have access to a few outdoor programs that are curriculum based.

For local outdoor classroom resources visit:

Wildsight they are a community based out of Kimberley BC. WildSight provides outdoor programs that are connected to the BC curriculum. Their programing is engaging, includes hands on learning activities, and is designed for grades 4-7.

Another local program that provides outdoor education programing is Columbia Basin Environmental Education Network (cbeen). Their focus is place-based education, and promotes opportunities to take learning outside.

Next topic: Using photography for documenting student digital learning portfolios.