By Adam Bofinger
For years now schools, business, and specialized outdoor programs have been using our backcountry settings and the natural world as a tool for learning. Many find the idea of using the backcountry as a classroom a puzzling idea. As this idea of “Natures Classroom” becomes more popular and familiar amongst today’s society it will truly be able to be deemed a legitimate way of both teaching and learning. Hopefully as the idea grows and more popularized, people will accurately understand the value it holds.
So why use the backcountry as a classroom and what effect does nature really has on the learning process? Using a backcountry setting for desired learning outcomes can be effective in many ways. First let’s explore what the natural world has to offer. As many of us know nature can be both beautiful and unpredictable. For example, during our 14 day canoe expedition in Maine we experienced a variety of adverse weather conditions. One particular day we encountered some dangerous winds on a large lake crossing which resulted in rough waters and unnecessary risk. This caused us to take shelter and wait out the winds before making the crossing to camp. As a group we learned many valuable lessons that day due to the setting we were in and the real life scenarios nature set forth. Settings like these are what teach us to think quickly and react in a fast, safe, and efficient manner.
More evidence of the positive effects nature has the learning process can be discovered by exploring the serenity and beauty the natural world presents to us. Using the natural world is a great way to slow down ones thought process and create a clearer more concise train of thought. Being in the back country allows us to disconnect from the hustle and bustle of today’s ever so chaotic society and think in an almost meditative state. I think this way of manipulating ones thoughts can really enhance the way of looking at everyday life and even more specific problems or situations that may result. Nature allows us to think and think differently, which to me is a very important quality when time for learning.
The backcountry as a classroom can also be extremely beneficial due to the wide array of settings it has to offer. Venturing into the woods is a great way to learn because most wilderness experiences are truly unforgettable. I feel that if one is continually immersed into unfamiliar and fresh surroundings it will make retaining information easier and more pleasurable. The backcountry is very versatile. If used correctly, many different experiences and learning outcomes can be derived from teaching in nature. I feel that one of the most important aspects about using nature’s backcountry as a classroom is the way it immerses us to our prehistoric roots. It allows us to live like we used to learn from our surroundings, and learn by doing.
Nature has many effects on the learning process. By becoming immersed in wilderness and physically placing ourselves in the surroundings we seek to learn about is one of the most crucial steps of the learning process. The reason this semester has allowed not only me but my peers as well to obtain so much new knowledge is by flooding ourselves with everything nature has to offer, challenge, adversity, peace, happiness, and even misunderstanding. Everything the backcountry throws at us can be processed and manipulated into thousands of different learning outcomes. The learning is endless.
To conclude, using the backcountry as a classroom can indeed be extremely beneficial. I have learned from first hand experiences just how beneficial it justly is. Ending our three expeditions has given me the enlightenment and understanding of just how effective and powerful being immersed in a wilderness setting can be on ones learning. Immersion in the backcountry is truly a beautiful concept.
