At Conejo Adventist Elementary School (CAES), kindergarten and first-grade students are learning beyond the walls of the traditional classroom.
Every morning, these young learners have worship outside before heading out to hike one of the various trails around the campus. On these daily excursions, imagination, sense of wonder, and exploration are nurtured as they observe and identify wildlife, talk and collaborate with peers, and move their bodies—all while connecting with God’s creation. After the hike, they partner up and rotate through outdoor stations including art, science experiments, playtime, and more before settling back inside their classrooms in the afternoon.
The outdoor learning program was introduced by Joe Fralick, first-grade teacher. Prior to coming to CAES, Fralick helped create a forest kindergarten program at another school. When he moved from teaching upper to lower elementary at Conejo, he introduced this chaparral experience.
“Outdoor education transforms learning from something children hear about into something they experience,” Fralick said. “Instead of sitting at desks, children move, explore, build, observe, and discover using all five senses. Letters are found in sticks and signs, math is practiced by counting rocks and measuring plants, and science comes alive through real insects, weather, and soil.”
“We wanted to create a learning space that reflects how young children naturally learn—through movement, curiosity, and hands-on exploration,” added Lisseth Ponce de Leon, kindergarten teacher. “We have seen greater focus, joy in learning, improved cooperation, increased confidence, and stronger observational skills.”
This marks the first year of this outdoor educational experience at Conejo, during which staff have seen the students grow socially, academically, and spiritually since the start of the school year.
“At Conejo, we really believe in developmental education, especially for the lower grades,” said Jennifer Lew, principal. “They’re helping each other on their hikes, relying on each other, and supporting each other. It’s great social development for the kids to work together as a team. They’re doing well in math and reading. Spending time outside hasn’t taken time away from any of the core learning; it’s actually enhanced it. I think it really helps kids understand God better when they can understand nature.”
Conejo plans to continue and develop this outdoor learning program in the years to come. To learn more, visit conejoadventist.org.
