Cultivating Curiosity: Outdoor Nature Education

WRITTEN BY CHRISTY HOWARD

It is a warm summer day in Bozeman, Montana. Birdsongs and calls fill the air. The kids at Montana Outdoor Science School (MOSS) can pick out the familiar “Cheese-burger” song of a Black Capped Chickadee at once. The same is true of the familiar “Chick-a-dee-dee” alert call. The Chickadee, a common bird in the Gallatin Valley, is a bird the campers always listen and look for as it has a song and call they are not likely to forget. This is the beginning of a summer of curiosity and wild wonder.

In recent years, both education and childhood have changed. Kids are spending more time on screens and less time outside. In terms of education and development, children who engage in outdoor education have enhanced attention spans, creativity and learning skills. Nature education is also excellent for kids who may find the more concrete structure of school difficult and often thrive in the more abstract setting of outdoor education.

By providing a change in structure and pace, nature education and outdoor learning opens an entirely different framework of thought for kids. Time spent in nature has been proven to be a crucial part of childhood development. In addition, kids who spend time in nature regularly are shown to become better stewards of the environment – especially when that environment houses their favorite birds.

As the kids jump into their camp lives at MOSS, their independence, leadership and confidence create huge potential for them to cultivate personal interests and strengthen their sense of purpose, which may continue into their teenage and adult years. In a survey conducted by the American Camp Association, in conjunction with Philliber Research Associates, 63% of parents reported their kids continued to participate in activities learned at camp after returning home, and 74% of kids said they did things “they were afraid to do” at camp.

At outdoor nature education camps, like MOSS, kids can discover the wonders of nature, learn new skills and develop their character. MOSS is a place where kids can connect with themselves, each other and the world around them. It is a place where kids can be kids, where they can grow, and where they can cultivate their curiosity. It is where their days are filled with wild wonder.

Christy Howard works at the Montana Outdoor Science School in Bozeman, where she shares MOSS’s passion for inspiring kids of all ages to get outside and to learn and explore Montana’s rich natural history and resources. For more information about MOSS’s Summer Camps, PIR programs, and much, much more please visit outdoorscience.org or call 406-219-3899.