Why Outsiders is an Educational Philosophy.

What Makes Outsiders Different? Understanding Our Philosophy

We’re often asked, “What makes Outsiders different?” or “What’s your educational philosophy?” These are important questions—ones we’re always excited to answer because they go straight to the heart of who we are and why we do what we do. At Outsiders, we believe education should be alive. It should be tangible. It should ignite curiosity and wonder. It should equip children not only for academics but for life. We are not just an educational program; we are a movement—a community—centered on Environment-Based Education and the idea that learning is best when it happens in connection with the world around us.

Our philosophy is simple, yet powerful: Learning should be experiential, immersive, and rooted in the natural world.

We believe that hands-on learning through adventure, exploration, and rich living books is quickly becoming a lost art. In today’s fast-paced, digital-heavy world, many children are being pulled away from the outdoors, from real-world problem-solving, and from unstructured creative thinking. Classrooms are increasingly filled with screens, standardized tests, and rigid curriculum requirements, leaving very little room for imagination, movement, or natural inquiry.

That’s where Outsiders steps in.

Recent studies and educational research have shown that incorporating outdoor, inquiry-based learning models into a child’s education provides profound benefits. Children who spend time learning outdoors are more likely to develop strong critical thinking skills, become confident problem solvers, retain and apply deep content knowledge, and gain a deep appreciation for their environment. But that’s just the beginning. When children are given space to move, wonder, and discover, they also develop life skills—like communication, teamwork, resilience, and emotional intelligence. They begin to uncover what they’re passionate about. They start to dream. They develop the confidence to chase those dreams. They grow into creative, resourceful, and environmentally literate citizens of the world.

At Outsiders, we embrace the idea that more is caught than taught. Children are observant; they watch how we live. They notice our passions, our energy, and our values. And when they see adults who are enthusiastic about learning, curious about nature, and excited about life—they catch it. That spark, once caught, has the potential to ignite into something powerful—a wildfire of curiosity, wonder, and purpose.

This belief is what fuels everything we do at Outsiders. It has become our anthem. We are a unique outdoor educational community that exists to rekindle a love for learning in a world that too often reduces education to a checklist. We offer more than a program—we offer a lifestyle that honors curiosity, embraces the outdoors, and values hands-on experience. We aim to walk alongside children—and their families—in this journey, knowing that true learning doesn’t happen in isolation. It happens in community.

This is community.

Not just a gathering of people, but a supportive, multi-generational circle of learners and mentors, parents and children, teachers and explorers. A place where everyone brings something to the table. Where curiosity is contagious, and growth is encouraged. Where questions are valued more than quick answers, and where each child is seen as unique—because we know there are no cookie-cutter learners.

We believe in laying a feast before our children—a wide and rich spread of experiences, ideas, skills, and stories. We believe in putting them in the way of beauty, of adventure, of wisdom passed down by passionate individuals who are excited to share what they know. Whether it’s building shelters in the woods, reading poetry around a campfire, studying animal tracks in the dirt, or diving deep into a classic novel under a tree—our children are learning by living. And that kind of learning sticks.

We encourage our kids to do hard things—to step out of their comfort zones, to persevere through challenges, to solve real-world problems, and to take risks. We want them to ask big questions: What makes me come alive? What am I passionate about? What do I want to pursue with all my heart? And then we walk beside them, cheering them on as they take those first brave steps.

We see this work as a banner of hope for our children.

Because they deserve more than worksheets and test prep. They deserve to read about the world—and then touch it, photograph it, dissect it, examine it, test it, build with it, create from it, and experience it. And in doing so, they develop not only a hunger for more knowledge but also a deep-rooted confidence in their ability to explore, learn, and make meaningful contributions to the world.

As author Richard Louv puts it so beautifully in Last Child in the Woods:

“An environment-based education movement—at all levels of education—will help students realize that school isn’t supposed to be a polite form of incarceration, but a portal to the wider world.”

That’s what we believe education should be: a portal. A gateway. A launching point.

Not a cage.

We believe the world is meant to be explored. That books are meant to be lived out. That dirt under your fingernails is sometimes a better sign of understanding than a grade on a paper. We believe in watching our children build forts, identify clouds, care for animals, write their own stories, and wrestle with big ideas. We believe that adventure is one of the best teachers. And we believe that wonder is not something to be outgrown—it is something to be cultivated and celebrated.

At Outsiders, we know we can’t prepare the path for the child, but we can prepare the child for the path. We can equip them with the tools, the mindset, and the heart to navigate life with curiosity, grit, joy, and grace.

So what makes Outsiders different?It’s not just that we meet outside.It’s not just that we integrate literature, science, art, and history into hikes, projects, and nature walks.It’s not just that we invite passionate mentors to teach alongside us.It’s that we believe in the whole child.We believe in education that touches the mind and the heart.And we believe that learning, at its best, looks a lot like wonder, exploration, and joy.

This is Outsiders.

This is the difference.