Euless, October 12, 2025
News Summary
Treetops Charter School in Euless is replacing traditional classrooms with outdoor learning in the surrounding woods. This innovative approach aims to enhance student writing by engaging their senses and fostering creativity. Teachers have already observed improvements in students’ writing abilities and confidence. Involving students in designing the outdoor classroom and gathering parent support further enriches the educational experience. Overall, the initiative aligns with a growing trend among schools to integrate outdoor settings into learning to boost children’s success.
Euless — Treetops Charter School in Euless is abandoning traditional classrooms in favor of outdoor learning in the lush woods surrounding the school. The shift is intended to improve student writing by placing learners in a sensory-rich setting where they can feel, smell, and hear nature as they observe and compose.
What happened
Treetops Charter School in Euless is abandoning traditional classrooms in favor of outdoor learning in the lush woods surrounding the school. The approach aims to stimulate creativity among students by engaging their senses—feeling, smelling, and hearing nature. Teacher Rikki McDonald, a former student of Treetops, emphasizes the impact of nature on child development, based on her research during college. More teachers are adopting outdoor teaching methods, inspired by the positive effects of nature on children’s learning.
Immediate results and student experience
Students report more vivid, detailed writing after lessons held outside. Student Gia Patel described how writing about nature enhanced her essay, noting sensations such as rough bark and cool wind. Teachers observe that students who previously struggled with writing are producing richer descriptions and displaying higher confidence in their abilities. McDonald noted that students who struggle with writing benefit significantly from real-life experiences outside, leading to increased confidence in their writing abilities.
Social and emotional effects
The outdoor curriculum has also affected students’ comfort with the natural world. Patel expressed personal growth in overcoming fear of bugs, now feeling comfortable sitting near them after outdoor experiences. Increased comfort with outdoor settings contributes to calmer, more focused learning sessions for many students.
How the program is implemented
Implementation emphasizes student involvement, teacher collaboration, and parent support. Students at Treetops took the initiative to design an outdoor classroom, detailing the necessary elements for outdoor learning. This planning covered seating, shade, writing surfaces, and ways to protect materials from weather. Parents contributed by providing manpower for the outdoor classroom project. Teachers adjust lesson plans to tie sensory experiences directly to writing assignments, prompting observation, descriptive language, and revision based on real-world stimuli.
Teacher role and collaboration
More teachers are adopting outdoor teaching methods, inspired by the positive effects of nature on children’s learning. Professional development and peer observation have allowed teachers to share techniques for maintaining academic rigor while working outside. The program balances structure with open-ended exploration to support both literacy goals and engagement.
Outcomes and broader context
Early outcomes at the school indicate stronger descriptive writing, higher student confidence, and a growing appreciation for outdoor spaces. Overall, the approach has fostered more confident writers and a greater appreciation for the outdoors among students. The initiative is part of a wider trend as the outdoor learning initiative aligns with school districts focusing on unique strategies to boost children’s success.
Next steps and evaluation
School leaders plan to monitor writing samples, track student engagement, and collect teacher feedback to evaluate the program’s effectiveness over time. The outdoor classroom built with student design input and parent support will be used throughout the school year, including adaptations for weather and seasonal change.
Background
Outdoor learning has been used in various educational settings to connect students with their environment and provide context for academic tasks. At Treetops, the shift was driven by teacher observation and a small-scale internal effort to bring writing prompts into the natural setting. Teacher Rikki McDonald, a former student of Treetops, emphasizes the impact of nature on child development, based on her research during college. That research informed lesson design and encouraged peers to explore outside-based instruction.
FAQ
What change did Treetops Charter School implement?
Treetops Charter School in Euless is abandoning traditional classrooms in favor of outdoor learning in the lush woods surrounding the school.
What is the goal of the outdoor approach?
The approach aims to stimulate creativity among students by engaging their senses—feeling, smelling, and hearing nature.
Who is leading or influencing the program?
Teacher Rikki McDonald, a former student of Treetops, emphasizes the impact of nature on child development, based on her research during college.
Are other teachers involved?
More teachers are adopting outdoor teaching methods, inspired by the positive effects of nature on children’s learning.
How did students describe writing after outdoor lessons?
Student Gia Patel described how writing about nature enhanced her essay, noting sensations such as rough bark and cool wind.
Does outdoor learning help struggling writers?
McDonald noted that students who struggle with writing benefit significantly from real-life experiences outside, leading to increased confidence in their writing abilities.
Has outdoor learning affected student fears or comfort levels?
Patel expressed personal growth in overcoming fear of bugs, now feeling comfortable sitting near them after outdoor experiences.
Who designed the outdoor classroom?
Students at Treetops took the initiative to design an outdoor classroom, detailing the necessary elements for outdoor learning.
Did parents help with the project?
Parents contributed by providing manpower for the outdoor classroom project.
What are the overall results of the initiative?
Overall, the approach has fostered more confident writers and a greater appreciation for the outdoors among students.
How does this fit into broader educational trends?
The outdoor learning initiative aligns with school districts focusing on unique strategies to boost children’s success.
| Feature | Status or description |
|---|---|
| Setting | Outdoor learning in the lush woods surrounding the school |
| Sensory focus | Lessons engage students by feeling, smelling, and hearing nature |
| Teacher leadership | Teacher Rikki McDonald leads design and instruction informed by college research |
| Student involvement | Students at Treetops designed the outdoor classroom and its elements |
| Parent support | Parents contributed manpower for the outdoor classroom project |
| Writing outcomes | More confident writers and richer descriptive essays among students |
| Broader alignment | The outdoor learning initiative aligns with school districts focusing on unique strategies to boost children’s success |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- NBC DFW: North Texas Students Writing in Nature
- Wikipedia: Outdoor Learning
- NBC DFW: Nature Inspires Student Writing
- Google Search: Impact of Nature on Child Development
- NBC DFW: Carter in the Classroom
- Google Scholar: Outdoor Education Benefits
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