Outdoor School and Independence — A Parent’s Perspective

by BOPN parent, M.D.

Not long ago, we took our 2.5 year old son, who recently celebrated his 1 year BOPN-versary, on a walk in our town forest. He confidently ran down the trail on his own, stopping periodically to pick up a rock, a piece of lichen, or a particularly good big stick.

We came across a lean-to in the forest, where many big sticks were leaned against each other to create a small structure. It looked just like one in his outdoor classroom at school, so he ran right in.

He looked at us through the gaps in the branches and yelled “bye!” with a big wave and a smile. We walked about 15 steps down the path assuming he’d start following us. We glanced back only to find him sitting down and slowly leaning back to lay down on the forest floor.

I burst out laughing.

Sometimes, as a parent, you wonder if the school you’re paying for is meeting your educational goals. Is my child learning something? Are his daily experiences making him grow? For me, I wonder, is he gaining confidence? Resiliency? Autonomy? Independence?

For my BOPN student, the answer is a resounding YES! I think, in no small part, thanks to his outdoor school education. To see my two year old feel so confident and comfortable in the woods that he was ready to lie down and take a nap on his own warmed my heart and assured me that, yes, my goals for him are being met.

I want nothing more than for him to feel at home with himself and at home in the natural world — confident that he can take risks, make decisions, and solve problems. BOPN fosters that natural self-assurance and independence in children and sets them up well to succeed in Kindergarten and many years thereafter.