Outside for 5

Join the Movement

Do you believe every child deserves time to learn outside? Add your name and stand with educators, families, and advocates who know outdoor learning is essential.

By signing on, you’ll help us:

• Build visible, statewide support for outdoor learning in every school and community.
• Lift up stories from parents, teachers, and students about why learning outside matters.
• Build a connected network of outdoor learning advocates who are ready to take action. ​​

Together, we can make sure every student can experience the five big benefits outdoor learning has to offer—whether it’s five minutes a day, five days a week, or part of your daily routine.​

Your sign on helps demonstrate widespread support to spark conversations, inspire commitments, and build partnerships that make outdoor learning easier, stronger, and more accessible for every school and every child.

**We’ll start with four emails packed with tips, resources, and ideas for connecting with campaign partners. After that, you’ll hear from us only a few times a year with quarterly updates.

What Is Outside for 5?

Childhood is for exploring, discovering, and asking “what if?” But too many kids spend their days indoors, missing the chance to grow and connect with the world around them.

Outdoor learning benefits every child—and it takes a whole community to make it part of every school day. Together, we can make outdoor learning the norm, not the exception and ensure that all students GET OUTSIDE for 5 big benefits including:

1. Enhances Learning and Critical Thinking: Being outdoors boosts focus, creativity, and curiosity, which supports strong academic growth.
2. Supports Mental and Emotional Health: Time outside reduces stress, builds confidence, and helps kids feel calmer and happier.
3. Promotes Strong, Healthy Bodies: Outdoor play and movement improve coordination and overall physical well-being.
4. Empowers Leadership, Collaboration, and Problem-Solving Skills: Kids learn how to communicate, cooperate, and work through real-world challenges together.
5. Inspires a Lifelong Connection and Care for Nature: Regular time outside helps kids feel connected to the natural world and encourages them to care for it as they grow.

There are lots of partners working to support YOU in making these benefits accessible to every student!  The North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) Affiliate Network is dedicated to providing excellence in environmental education. Together with partners and members across the country, we bring people together to create change and mobilize support for environmental education at all levels.

Connect with your local NAAEE Affiliate

98% of studies reported knowledge gains

 

90% of studies reported increased skills

86% of studies reported positive changes

83% reported enhanced environment related behaviors

Find even more downloadable activities and professional learning provided by our partners:

• Walking Mountain Science Center Backyard Nature Challenges
• Sharing Nature
• Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies
• Colorado Parks and Wildlife
• Project Learning Tree
• Take Me Outside Resource Directory
• SciStarter
• Outdoor Learning Store Professional Development
• North American Association for Environmental Education (NAAEE) eeCOURSES and eeCREDENTIALS

We would love to hear how you are getting your students #Outsidefor5! Click below to share your #Outsidefor5 story.

What are you doing to get Outside for 5?