One of the clear risk differentiators for contracting COVID-19 is indoor versus outdoor activities. In fact, the CDC says:

• Indoor spaces are more risky than outdoor spaces where it might be harder to keep people apart and there’s less ventilation.

and, Activities are safer if

• They are held in outdoor spaces. Indoor spaces with less ventilation where it might be harder to keep people apart are more risky.

This has caused many companies and organizations to move things outside such as restaurants and concerts.   And more people are engaging in outdoor activities such as camping, hiking, bike riding, and kayaking where they can maintain appropriate physical distancing.

What about Schools?

Schools have been one of the areas that have had difficulties opening and while it is still debatable just how much risk is associated with indoor classrooms that are set up with physical distancing, wearing of masks, and other risk mitigation strategies, there is another way.

Moving classrooms outdoors.

Sure there are issues with weather, space, bugs, and others, but none of these are truly unsolvable. Plus there are many benefits to outdoor learning including improved mental health, fresh air, exposure to nature, and many others that have been well documented.

A national group, Green Schoolyards of America established the National COVID-19 Learning Initiative to

supports schools and districts around the country in their efforts to reopen safely and equitably using outdoor spaces as strategic, cost-effective tools to increase capacity with physical distancing measures in place. The Initiative seeks to equitably improve learning, mental and physical health, and happiness for children and adults using an affordable, time-tested outdoor approach to keeping schools open during a pandemic.

This is a fantastic idea and the various committees and workgroups are hard at work producing the documents to validate and consider this approach.

Fred has volunteered to co-lead a workgroup in the Health Subcommittee on Protocols and Programs. If you are a school district consider becoming involved or look to them for resources on how you can reopen or conduct more of your activities outdoors.