Still Thinking Outside

Outdoor learning has long been a cornerstone of RHCD, and perhaps more than ever is necessary for restoring a healthy balance to the lives of our students. Students everywhere are seeing their normal ideas of school life being turned upside down and inside out. Just over a year ago we never used phrases like “distance learning,” “synchronous learning,” “teaching pods,” etc. However, at Rocky Hill Country Day, one variable did not change because of the pandemic. In fact, it was already in place - the use of outdoor classrooms. It appears that the uninterrupted flow of nature as part of our classroom experience has become more prominent during the past year.

always extended the classroom beyond its walls. Commenting on her learning experience at Rocky Hill Country Day, Kinsey D. ‘32 explained that “we take nature walks and look for animals in their habitats,” while Michael F. ‘33 revealed, and let students find comfort in our outdoor classroom. We have and will continue to value our outdoor learning environment - perhaps lately more than ever. It is a place to find calm and instruction, a place to enjoy learning while having their perpetual minds be a bit more still.

Whether our students are experiencing the waterfront, exploring the Land of Fires Trail, or diving deeper into a moment while just being outside, RHCD has

It’s business as usual for students learning outdoors and as an educator, I do my best to instill a love of the natural environment