More Trees Please

Outdoor professionals have known for a long time, that spending time outside is beneficial to kids in many ways. For years, research has provided compelling evidence of the need for today’s kids to spend more time outdoors.

Outdoor professionals, as well as past campers, past staff members, or anyone who has been involved in the camping industry can attest to the value of the outdoors. A recent study helped to show this long-known fact to the rest of society. The study looked at the NDVI, Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, or, in layman's terms, a measurement of vegetation density. The study measured NDVI around 905 elementary schools in Massachusetts. The results showed significantly higher test scores in both math and English in areas with higher density of trees.

"It shouldn’t be surprising anymore that green spaces make us happier, healthier, and just generally better, but every time a hard finding on the topic pops up it seems incredible once again. Just being near nature is enough to bump up kids’ grades—though we’ll need more data to back this up, it probably can’t hurt to head out and look at some trees any chance you and your kids can get." - Levitan

As the next generation continues their education, one thing is clear: there is a growing need for outdoor education. Whether it is camping out under the stars, identifying trees, or learning about the water cycle, camps offer unique opportunity to teach kids about nature - in nature. As the research regarding the benefits of time spent outdoors becomes clearer (and that today’s kids are losing touch with nature), more and more schools are looking to camps for outdoor education opportunities.

Many camps and organizations are listening and responding to these schools' calls for programs. Take the current “Camp Moves Me” movement sponsored by the American Camp Association for example. It is, according to the ACA’s website, the “first ever, nationwide, fundraising effort aimed at celebrating the spirit of camp while raising dollars to send more children to ACA-accredited camps across the country.”

Does your camp have an outdoor education program? What could your camp offer to nearby schools or after school programs. Perhaps it is a simple as allowing schools to use camp property for an outdoor lab field trip, or perhaps as structured as a weeklong outdoor education experience. Whatever it is, camps are in a unique position to continue to serve youth beyond the summer months.

To learn more about starting your own Outdoor Education Program, check out this guide from The Oregon Community Foundation here.



Levitan, Dave. "Green Space Makes for Better Students." Conservation RSS. Conservation Magazine, 14 Oct. 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2014.