- NZ Made & Owned
- Humane Solutions
Outdoor Classroom Day is an international initiative to help get the next generation outside, learning amongst nature and improving their overall hauora/wellbeing. This happens twice a year, in May and November. The next Outdoor Classroom Day is on Thursday 21st May 2026.
Why is Learning Outdoors Important?
“Every child needs nature. Not just the ones whose parents appreciate nature. Not only those of a certain economic class or culture or set of abilities. Every child.”
For children across the globe, a large portion of their time is spent inside the classroom. There has been a marked decline in time spent outdoors, which has seen the health, wellbeing and development of these children follow the same trajectory. Studies show that this is not just a coincidence. Spending more time in sunlight and fresh air improves mental and physical wellbeing – and boosts mood as well.
The combination of changing their environment and doing something physically can help children to participate better in their own education. Giving children the opportunity to get outside not only creates a renewed sense of engagement in their learning, but gives hands-on environmental experience that can help develop important life skills.
It can also encourage curiosity, which can lead to a lifelong interest in nature. Outdoor Classroom Day has something for everyone, with learning opportunities across multiple disciplines:
It is crucial to instill this appreciation for the natural world in our young people, as they will be the next generation of environmentalists and conservationists. They will grow up to be responsible for continuing the work going into ensuring that the taonga native species of Aotearoa thrive for the future.
Beyond the SchoolSchools are just one of the places that our kids can participate in Outdoor Classroom Day. Community centres and after-school care – whether that’s at a program or at home – can decide to be a part of it. For more information and resources to help you and your community get involved, visit the official Outdoor Classroom Day website or a local resource site to get you started.
It is not just children who benefit from exposure to the outdoors either. In the hustle and bustle of everyday life, taking time to appreciate our gorgeous nature often falls by the wayside. Outdoor Classroom Day is a reminder to all of us to take some time to learn about the environment around us.
Unfortunately, adult life generally doesn’t lend itself well to dropping our day-to-day necessities and spending an entire day making observations about nature. But that doesn’t mean we can’t participate at all. Whether you’ve got ten minutes or a couple of hours, we strongly believe that every little bit counts.
And participation can look different for all of us: you can get your hands dirty in the garden; tap into your creativity making observations on paper; or see how many different species you can identify in your backyard. However you can connect to the world around you is a step in the right direction. The more we connect with it, the more we naturally want to help protect it.
Tracking Wildlife & Pests
Non-toxic wildlife tracking tools can be a helpful resource for classrooms working outside this Outdoor Classroom Day. Identifying what different kinds of species are in the area – from footprints left in the water-resistant ink or from the teeth patterns left on chew cards – is a fun way to get kids thinking about the wildlife around them.
This game of what-animal-is-that? can be used alongside the curriculum that introduces them to the concepts of introduced species, native species, and how those species interact. How pests impact the native ecosystem is an important part of the New Zealand curriculum – especially with such a vast variety of native species that are already threatened.
This is also a great experiment for those outside the classroom, monitoring the wildlife in your garden or local parks. Knowing what pests are around that may be negatively impacting any native plants or animals in the area makes pest control easier. With this knowledge, you can make sure you have the correct lures, bait, and traps to protect your local area effectively.
Outdoor Classroom Day is an awesome opportunity to get the next generation excited about the natural world – and a reminder to us to stay connected. We would love to hear what you’re doing for this Outdoor Classroom Day! How are you, your family, and your community participating?
