Outdoor Learning in Rural Schools: Lessons From a Positive Outlier Case Study.
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| Title: | Outdoor Learning in Rural Schools: Lessons From a Positive Outlier Case Study. |
|---|---|
| Authors: | Jacobs, Lauren E.1 lauren.jacobs@maine.edu, Abildso, Christiaan G.2 cgabildso@mail.wvu.edu, Daigneault, Adam J.3 adam.daigneault@maine.edu, Leahy, Jessica E.4 jessica.leahy@maine.edu, Nightingale, Christopher J.5 christopher.nightingale@maine.edu |
| Source: | Rural Educator. Spring2026, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p68-86. 19p. |
| Subject Terms: | *Outdoor education, *Rural schools, *Curriculum planning, *Basic education, *Professional employee training, Mental health, Physical activity |
| Geographic Terms: | Maine |
| Abstract: | This study explored the barriers and facilitators to outdoor learning and outdoor activities in a small K--12 case school in rural Maine. The case school was a positive outlier (PO), providing significant outdoor learning and activity opportunities to all students during the school day. Outdoor learning and outdoor pursuits in school settings can increase student physical activity, provide opportunities for students to reap the mental and emotional benefits from time in nature, and help them make important connections to local culture. The positive outlier methodological approach sought to uncover reasons for the case school's PO status and find practical strategies that could be useful to other rural schools seeking to increase outdoor learning. The PO case school was identified following surveys of administrators and physical education teachers of all K-12 inclusive schools in Maine. The PO school took part in the next phase of the study, including multiple interviews with educators and administrators, a site visit, and administration of two components of the Rural Active Living Assessment. A case narrative for the PO was created from the collected data. We found that incorporating outdoor learning time during the regular school day and curriculum was an important facilitator. In addition, providing outdoor learning related professional development opportunities and curricular connections for teachers, strategizing long-term program sustainability, and connecting outdoor curricula to the local culture were critical in supporting this work [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Rural Educator is the property of National Rural Education Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Education Research Complete |
| FullText | Links: – Type: pdflink Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: ehh DbLabel: Education Research Complete An: 193183932 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Outdoor Learning in Rural Schools: Lessons From a Positive Outlier Case Study. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jacobs%2C+Lauren+E%2E%22">Jacobs, Lauren E.</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo><i> lauren.jacobs@maine.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Abildso%2C+Christiaan+G%2E%22">Abildso, Christiaan G.</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo><i> cgabildso@mail.wvu.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Daigneault%2C+Adam+J%2E%22">Daigneault, Adam J.</searchLink><relatesTo>3</relatesTo><i> adam.daigneault@maine.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Leahy%2C+Jessica+E%2E%22">Leahy, Jessica E.</searchLink><relatesTo>4</relatesTo><i> jessica.leahy@maine.edu</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nightingale%2C+Christopher+J%2E%22">Nightingale, Christopher J.</searchLink><relatesTo>5</relatesTo><i> christopher.nightingale@maine.edu</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Rural+Educator%22">Rural Educator</searchLink>. Spring2026, Vol. 47 Issue 2, p68-86. 19p. – Name: Subject Label: Subject Terms Group: Su Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Outdoor+education%22">Outdoor education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Rural+schools%22">Rural schools</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Curriculum+planning%22">Curriculum planning</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Basic+education%22">Basic education</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+employee+training%22">Professional employee training</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Mental+health%22">Mental health</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Physical+activity%22">Physical activity</searchLink> – Name: SubjectGeographic Label: Geographic Terms Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Maine%22">Maine</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: This study explored the barriers and facilitators to outdoor learning and outdoor activities in a small K--12 case school in rural Maine. The case school was a positive outlier (PO), providing significant outdoor learning and activity opportunities to all students during the school day. Outdoor learning and outdoor pursuits in school settings can increase student physical activity, provide opportunities for students to reap the mental and emotional benefits from time in nature, and help them make important connections to local culture. The positive outlier methodological approach sought to uncover reasons for the case school's PO status and find practical strategies that could be useful to other rural schools seeking to increase outdoor learning. The PO case school was identified following surveys of administrators and physical education teachers of all K-12 inclusive schools in Maine. The PO school took part in the next phase of the study, including multiple interviews with educators and administrators, a site visit, and administration of two components of the Rural Active Living Assessment. A case narrative for the PO was created from the collected data. We found that incorporating outdoor learning time during the regular school day and curriculum was an important facilitator. In addition, providing outdoor learning related professional development opportunities and curricular connections for teachers, strategizing long-term program sustainability, and connecting outdoor curricula to the local culture were critical in supporting this work [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Rural Educator is the property of National Rural Education Association and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 19 StartPage: 68 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Outdoor education Type: general – SubjectFull: Rural schools Type: general – SubjectFull: Curriculum planning Type: general – SubjectFull: Basic education Type: general – SubjectFull: Professional employee training Type: general – SubjectFull: Mental health Type: general – SubjectFull: Physical activity Type: general – SubjectFull: Maine Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Outdoor Learning in Rural Schools: Lessons From a Positive Outlier Case Study. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Jacobs, Lauren E. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Abildso, Christiaan G. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Daigneault, Adam J. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Leahy, Jessica E. – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nightingale, Christopher J. IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 04 Text: Spring2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 0273446X Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 47 – Type: issue Value: 2 Titles: – TitleFull: Rural Educator Type: main |
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