Gear Up and Get Outside this Winter!

Gabriela Reyes-Acosta

Southern Idaho

Students check out the view from Bogus Basin during a break from snowshoeing during Snow School, a program created by the Winter Wildlands Alliance to get students learning outdoors in the winter.

When the weather turns colder, how do we engage young people in outdoor education? By combining tools and tangible resources with a sense of joy that meets young people where they are, winter doesn’t have to be solely enjoyed indoors!

As Idahoans we all know that winter can be varied across the state: from lower snow levels in parts of Southern Idaho to the deep drifts that frequent the Northern and Eastern parts of the state. No matter where one lives though, one thing is common- the cold. Outdoor and environmental education is easy when it’s warm and sunny outside, but when temperatures are plummeting and it’s wet and cold, it can be harder to sell outdoor activities to young people. Use the information below to help you get started.

Gear Up!

Ensure that your students and young people have proper gear to be outdoors before you do any activity. I am a firm believer that there is no bad weather, only bad clothes. This is most proven in winter weather, when a warm jacket and good boots are the difference between a fun or a miserable experience. Students should have a pair of waterproof snow boots, warm pants (waterproof if there is heavy snow), long sleeved layers, and a warm jacket. REI’s Layering Basics Guide is a helpful place to start, especially if there are snow play activities present like tubing, snowshoeing, or cross country skiing. I acknowledge that many students may not have all of the gear needed for longer periods of time outdoors. Educators can refer parents and caregivers who ask for support to local thrift stores and stores like Walmart or Big 5, which carry many options for waterproof and acceptable quality gear for students to recreate outdoors at a lower cost. Raising funds for donations, seeking out grants, and working with local retailers or foundations can also be a method to ensure that students have the clothes they need to have fun and safe. 

Students gather sagebrush seeds in December to be used by Idaho Fish and Game to re-seed burn scars in the Boise Foothills from the Valley Fire.

Start Short (and Build!)

Don’t plan your outdoor activities with youth with the goal of spending all day outdoors. For many youth, being outside in the cold is uncomfortable, or they associate the cold with negative memories or connotations. Make your activities short, not only for students’ comfort but for their safety as well. Educators can take their students out for short bursts, having them identify visible animal tracks and their movements, observing and discussing how plants survive through winter, or even observe how snow changes over the course of the day and responds to temperature variations. 

Stay Active! 

Make sure to stay active in your activities, as students will notice the cold more during periods of being idle. Below are some of my favorite activities/topics in the winter that are connected to environmental education. 

• Birding

• Animal movements/tracking

• Nature scavenger hunts

• Changing seasons (phenology)

• Tree health/winter changes

• Snowshoeing

  
  

  

  Students play outside in the snow most days at EverWild Forest School in Boise. Check out their Gear Guide suggestions for preparing kids for learning outdoors.

Next time you feel limited by the cold, we hope this guide helps you feel ready and excited to take students outdoors. There is so much to learn and observe in winter and we can’t wait for you to discover it!