Growing a Lifelong Love for Nature: Outdoor Learning at ISP

At the International School of Prague, we believe that learning in nature is a bridge that connects a child to the world around them. In our Early Childhood Foundations (ECF) programme, outdoor learning is more than just play. It is a hands-on experiential journey designed to nurture curiosity, confidence, and a lasting connection to the natural world.

We know that to develop a deep understanding of nature, children need more than observation. They need to touch, explore, question, and experiment which makes Outdoor Learning the perfect programme to engage ECF students in a way that builds curiosity, empathy, and confidence as they learn to care for the world around them. 

A Classroom Without Walls

Outdoor Learning is an essential part of the ECF programme, woven seamlessly into the school week to ensure children experience nature firsthand while developing curiosity, confidence, and hands-on skills. 

A dedicated indoor-outdoor learning space allows lessons to continue year-round, making it possible to bring the outside in during colder months while still preserving the hands-on exploratory nature of Outdoor Learning. Whether students are in the garden, exploring the playground, observing insects, or the chickens in the chicken coop on our campus, nature itself becomes the classroom.

Where Learning Takes Root

Gardening is at the heart of Outdoor Learning at ISP, giving students a hands-on way to connect with nature and the environment. From planting seeds in early spring to harvesting vegetables in the summer, students get to see the full cycle of growth and life. They dig, water and care for plants, learning through doing and discovering how their actions make a difference. 

Whether it’s a zucchini, radish or marigold, every plant becomes a small adventure and a lesson in patience, responsibility, and discovery. For many ECF students, harvesting the vegetables they nurtured themselves sparks excitement and pride, turning gardening into an experience that is as educational as it is joyful.

“My hope is that children become comfortable in nature, curious about it, and begin to care for it as they grow. That relationship stays with them long after they leave the garden.” 
Kerry Craig, ECF Outdoor Learning Teacher

 

Building Confidence Through Nature 

In addition to gardening, ECF students can also be found exploring and nurturing animals, giving students the hands-on opportunities to observe, interact with and develop empathy for the animals around them. By combining observation and creativity, students can build nests, create clay animals or care for the school’s chickens.

For many students, these experiences can help reduce fear and build confidence. Digging for worms or holding insects may feel uncomfortable at first, but over time, students become more comfortable and curious. They begin to understand animals as living beings with systems, needs, and roles in the environment.

One memorable unit focuses on birds, where students can learn to identify species, observe behaviour using binoculars and even create bird feeders. This ability to recognise and name what they see outdoors gives students a sense of empowerment in the natural world. The significance of relationships in the early years is a fundamental part of establishing important skills and dispositions that centre on trust, agency and belonging.

At ISP, Outdoor Learning in ECF is about nurturing curious minds, compassionate hearts, and confident learners from the very beginning. Through hands-on experiences in nature, students learn to explore with wonder, care for living things, and trust in their own abilities to make a difference. 

These early moments, planting, observing, questioning, and helping, lay the foundation for students to grow into thoughtful, capable Changemakers who engage with the world with empathy, responsibility, and purpose.