Day 83 – Rob Ridley, Coordinator (Field Centres)

I had a teaching colleague come up to me this week and say, “it must be nice to work outdoors – the solitude would be welcomed”. The funny thing is the more time you spend outdoors teaching the more you see that solitude perhaps is not the right word.

Frustrated? Step outside. A new perspective on that math lesson? Step outside. Writer’s block? Step outside. (as I did for this post, formulating the concept on an early morning run).

In fact I’d argue that the outdoors is almost an organic, solar powered Maker Space.  I have promoted the fact often that the outdoors is in fact the perfect space and atmosphere for collaboration. Forget desks in a row, forget “pods” – Students need the permission to move to work with others which many the educator finds easier to grant in an outdoor setting.

Connections abound when outdoors – for faculty as well as students. Trust me, sitting in the staff room and discussing a project will no doubt get you through the agenda – but you have the potential of having a much deeper connection by walking side by side down a pathway discussing the vision you work towards.

Perhaps it’s not solitude we crave outdoors but a sense of place and being part of something.

Rob Ridley is the Field Centres Coordinator for the Peel District School Board. He and his staff offer one day and over night field trips at the four Board operated Field Centres and also are available to come to your school for community based environmental education lessons. To book an in-school visit, please contact him via board email or twitter.

Check out the Field Centres YouTube Channel and our SharePoint site