Outdoor Classroom

Summit Kids Academy is so proud of our Outdoor Classroom. Today more than ever, children need to be outdoors and learning in a natural environment. That's why we've been developing our outdoor classroom concept.

What is an Outdoor Classroom?

Not just a physical space outside or a playground, the Outdoor Classroom is a child-centered focused concept set in a natural outdoor space. This concept is based in research that shows that children who are enrolled in outdoor classroom programs become better critical thinkers, problem solvers, suffer from less stress and develop strong creative and social emotional skills.

Being outside, using larger spaces and using natural materials from a young age will offer your children more opportunities to develop the skills they will need later in school and in life.

Benefits of the Outdoor Classroom

Research has shown that:

Physical movement is positively linked to brain development
Children are healthier when they spend time outside
Children learn better when they spend time outside
Children are happier when they spend time outside

In addition to discussing this program with your child’s teacher and our directors, we welcome you to consult numerous research papers which can be found here.

The Outdoor Classroom core concept is that anything that can be done inside can be done outside. And many learning activities simply cannot be done inside. Once fully developed, our outdoor classroom with include the following elements:

Vegetable Gardens
Flower Gardens
Climbing Areas
Building and Sensory Play
Quiet Reading Areas
Water Play
Art Studio
Sand Boxes and Mud Pits (yes, mud pits - getting dirty will be so much fun!)

These areas will enable the children to fully explore science, math, literacy and creative abilities along with developing their physical skills by climbing, balancing, lifting, building jumping and running as children should.

As teachers, our role in the outdoor classroom concept, as well as in the indoor classroom, is to mentor the children to reach their highest potentials in all areas of development.

Did You Know

Children with views of and contact with nature score higher on tests of concentration and self-discipline. The greener, the better the scores (Wells 2000, Taylor, et al. 2001).
Children who play regularly in natural environments show more advanced motor fitness, including coordination, balance and agility, and they are sick less often (Grahn, et al. 1997, Fjortoft & Sageie 2001).
Exposure to natural environments improves children’s cognitive development by improving their awareness, reasoning and observational skills (Pyle 2002).
Play in outdoor environments stimulates all aspects of children’s development more readily than indoor environments (Moore & Wong 1997).

All these activities mentored by our teachers are educational, age-appropriate, loads of fun, and messy! Yes, having fun sometimes means getting wet and dirty. Luckily the dirt can be washed away while the learning and experiences will last forever.

With this in mind, it's important to dress for success in our program! That means that you should not send your child wearing something you would have a problem if it got muddy. Clothes and shoes worn by the children should be comfortable, lightweight and okay getting dirty. Please also send several changes of clothes so that they can change throughout the day.

Testimonials

Love the Life Cubby and the video cameras in the classrooms.

I like that Summit Kids Academy has special activities that are done with the children like the Mini Chef Program. I also love the Life Cubby and the video cameras in the classrooms. They have a good selection of learning toys/books/puzzles in the classrooms. I believe the iPad lab is a great learning tool, my kids love to use them they thinks of them as games/fun, but they are actually learning a lot from them. Ms. Tasha is very calm and patient with the children. They get down on the kids level and help learning in a comfortable, safe way.

Tina Bofo
I love the communication from Summit Kids Academy.

From the weekly newsletters to the Life Cubby blasts, I feel like I am connected with my child throughout the day. My child loves to count and read. He is always showing me how he does things at school, talking about his friends and his teachers. The teachers are great at greeting the kids in the morning. They really make each child feel like they have been waiting for them to arrive. It makes drop off very easy!
I absolutely love my daughter’s school and feel so blessed to have found them.

The thing I love most about Summit Kids Academy is the partnership between parents and teachers! Any concern or idea I have is heard and embraced. I love that no one is ever too busy to talk with me. I love not having to worry when I’m at work and knowing that my child is receiving top level care from people who truly care about daughter as if she was their own.

My daughter is excited for school every day and is always happy when I pick her up! I can see she is being taught the essentials she will need when she starts school.

From ABCs to picking up after herself. These lessons are priceless! My goodness she was potty trained in a matter of 2 weeks! The different programs offered are a huge advantage as well.

My child’s teacher knows my daughter … genuinely. She knows what she likes to eat and what her favorite activities are. My daughter isn’t “lost” in a sea of children. She is being taught and loved! I absolutely love my daughter’s school and feel so blessed to have found them! It’s so hard to find genuinely good people who care for children. I consider them my family.

Katie Marvici
The teachers are excellent

I like the friendly environment at Summit Kids Academy. The teachers are excellent, the school is always clean, and of course has great administration. Our daughter has learned more social skills, concentration, focus, and last but not least communication skills.

All teachers are so friendly and especially Ms. Rachel is so understanding and loving for her. I like her behavior with parents; she knows how to treat kids just like a mommy.

Sobia Iqbal
State of the art curriculum for my Pre-K son!

Summit Kids Academy is a top rated school with their state of the art curriculum for my Pre-K son. He was going to a different school at first and we changed him into this school and what an improvement. The facility is always kept clean and organized, they are always on schedule and the office staff is personal and friendly to each and every child there. My son was very shy, now since he has been at Summit Kids Academy he is very outgoing, extroverted and loves to learn. Ms. Lourdes and Ms. Tely are excellent in all areas of education. I highly recommend Summit Kids Academy. You won’t be disappointment. The security is amazing, and you can even watch your child throughout the day from your computer or phone very easy to set up and use.

Stephanie Cole

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