Nature: the perfect classroom
Some of the most unforgettable lessons experienced by Willow students happen outdoors. Lower School students use their observational skills to seek out bugs that live in the meadows, streams, and ponds in the outdoor learning space right outside their classroom door. Fifth graders study the local watershed. Seventh graders conduct a yearlong study of plants on our 34-acre campus. Utilizing the outdoors as a dynamic learning laboratory, Willow students gain knowledge across academic disciplines, while learning to care for and develop ethical relationships with the natural world.
Outdoor learning may be new for some schools, but here it’s been a central part of the Willow curriculum for 20+ years. Download our ebook to learn more about how we learn in and from nature!
See our Outdoor Learning Program in Action:
Dummy to Close First Accordion
Kindergarteners
Willow kindergarteners learn from trees found in our woods. Through hands-on exploration, they begin to make connections between the trees and our interdependent community.
First Graders
Willow first graders adopt monarch caterpillars, tracking their evolution into butterflies in science class before releasing them back into their natural habitat.
Third Graders
Willow third graders love Ms. M’s Nature Challenges! ‘Find Herman the Worm’ is a fun way to learn about natural decomposers (e.g. worms) while discovering how they play a healthy part of our ecosystem. Third graders take responsibility for the school’s compost, helping to reduce waste.
Fifth Graders
Willow fifth graders study the watershed that runs through our campus and beyond to study erosion, build homes for the creatures that live there, while learning how to respect and care for natural resources.
Seventh Graders
Willow seventh graders embark on a yearlong study of the plants on our campus, honing their observation skills and educating parents and visitors about how to care for native species.
Middle Schoolers
Middle schoolers lead Willow’s collaborative Maple Syruping Project. Different grades work together to tap maple trees, collect the sap, and boil it into syrup. The project integrates science, math, social studies, and more while emphasizing joy and community-building.
Learn more about how Outdoor Learning at Willow can engage and motivate your child. Contact Director of Enrollment Management Lisa VanderVeen at (908) 470-9500, ext. 1100 or via email.
More to Explore in Outdoor Learning
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Willow’s International Day 2026: Oceania
Every year, International Day at The Willow School brings the world to campus, inviting students to explore and celebrate cultures from across the globe through immersive, hands-on experiences. This year’s 14th Annual International Day focused on the vibrant cultures...
Request our ebook on Outdoor Learning. We will email it to you immediately.
Director of Enrollment Management Lisa VanderVeen is here to help! Contact her at (908) 470-9500, ext. 1100 or via email















