The Transformative Benefits of Nature Based Learning

Each morning at Counterpane Montessori, several Upper School students walk up a small hill from the main building toward the cottage at the front of the property. Behind the house is a spacious paddock where the two school donkeys spend their days together. The students are responsible for feeding, watering, and grooming them every morning and they rotate on a weekly schedule to share the workload. Caring for animals is a pillar of the educational ideals at Counterpane and the students gain much more than the just the joy of being around the animals; they learn lessons in accountability, respect, patience and empathy. “The donkeys are very sweet and I love taking care of them because they love us and recognize us and greet us,” says Violet, an Upper School student. The experience has been even more meaningful as of late as our female donkey, Juliet, is expecting a foal in February. The whole school is very excited about the pregnancy and while a baby donkey will provide new challenges for the students, they are confident they are up to the task.

Juliet is five years old and came to us in March 2024 from a family farm in Cherokee County. Our male donkey, Samwise, affectionately called Sammy, was adopted by Counterpane in May 2023. He was living on a small farm in Tennessee whose owners previously rescued him from a situation where he was underfed and neglected. Their lives now are quiet and happy with many students and families stopping by throughout the day to give them a pat on the head and a kind word. Though with a baby coming, things are bound to get more interesting for the couple!

In addition to the donkeys, Counterpane also currently has several chickens, guinea hens, and a large red-footed tortoise named Yoda. The Lower School children, ages 6-12, also take turns feeding and caring for these smaller animals who free range on the property (or the classroom in Yoda’s case). One Lower School student, Malia, says she likes the chickens because “they’re fluffy and cool,” while Keke and Enrico say they like the “Yoda dance” the tortoise does when you pet her.

Counterpane has found that engaging students with the natural world enhances their academic experience in a myriad of ways and the school has embraced this method as an integral component of their educational philosophy. Each of the classrooms opens to an outdoor garden and students are encouraged to work, study, read, and take breaks outside. Students often hike on the property, work in the garden, compost, forage, and care for the animals. Outdoor learning has been shown to promote physical well-being and resilience, as students participate in hands-on activities that stimulate all senses and encourage active problem-solving. Counterpane believes that nature-based education also nurtures emotional growth: providing a tranquil setting that reduces stress and cultivates mindfulness while fostering curiosity and critical thinking. By integrating outdoor experiences into the curriculum, the school not only enriches the students’ understanding of core subjects but also inspires a lifelong appreciation and respect for the environment and all who share it with us.

“There must be provision for the child to have contact with nature, to understand and appreciate the order, the harmony and the beauty in nature… so that the child may better understand and participate in the marvelous things which civilization creates.“

-Dr. Maria Montessori