Outdoor Classroom Exploring Nature Play and Learning in the Early Years $15.99
To access the Instant Download, please enter your name, email, and phone number. This information is needed to create your login and deliver your access link.
Please check your spam folder for your login credentials which you will need for the download..
Welcome to the Outdoor Classroom Field Guide
Thank you for being here.
This guide was created from over 17 years of hands-on experience working in a mixed-age home childcare setting rooted in outdoor learning, gardening, play, and child-led exploration.
My hope is that this guide encourages you to slow down, step outside, and see the environment as a living teacher.
Inside these pages, you will find practical ideas, seasonal inspiration, outdoor classroom strategies, gardening experiences, and reflections gathered from real days with children.
Download the guide below and begin where you are.
You do not need perfection to start.
You simply need a willingness to begin.
Small Steps — Beautiful Transformation
— Suzette Salmon
What you will learn
Inside This Field Guide
• Creating an Intentional Outdoor Classroom
• Outdoor Learning Through the Seasons
• Gardening with Children
• Pollinator Gardens & Biodiversity
• Mud Kitchens & Sensory Exploration
• Loose Parts & Child-Led Learning
• Infant & Toddler Outdoor Experiences
• Outdoor Art Invitations
• Nature Walks & Observation Skills
• Water Play & Seasonal Investigations
• Outdoor Learning Questions & Conversations
• Seasonal Planting Guidance
• Garden Planning & Outdoor Spaces
• Standards & Educational Connections
• Encouragement for Educators
Who This Guide Is For
This guide is designed for educators working with children ages 0–5, including home childcare providers, home educators, preschool educators, and early childhood programs seeking a more meaningful, nature-based approach to learning.
It is especially supportive for educators who:
Want to create an outdoor classroom but feel unsure where to begin
Work in mixed-age settings
Desire calmer, more intentional learning environments
Want to reduce overwhelm and reconnect with the joy of teaching
Believe children learn deeply through play, nature, movement, and exploration
Want practical outdoor learning ideas rooted in real-life experience rather than rigid curriculum models
For the cost of 1 lunch, you’re stepping into a richer outdoor learning experience, a clearer path, and an environment where curiosity, wonder, and childhood can flourish once again.
Small Steps — Beautiful Transformation
You deserve this transformation. I will see you inside the guide.