Adapting Outdoor Education for Diverse Learning Styles
Outdoor education should feel like an open door, not a locked gate. Too often, though, students who don't click with traditional teaching methods quietly check out. They sit in the back, stay silent, or worse, start believing they're just "not good at this stuff."
At Adventure Education Solutions (AES), we see things differently. Whether we're running our Rock Climbing and Ski & Snowboard Leagues or leading intersession camps, we know that every student has their own way of taking in information and making sense of the world. When we design programs that work with these differences instead of against them, something magical happens. The outdoors becomes a place where every kid can shine.
Understanding How People Learn (And Why Nature Gets It Right)
Everyone learns differently. Some people need to see it, others need to hear it, and plenty of folks need to get their hands dirty and figure it out by doing. Here's how we think about the main learning styles:
Visual Learners - They love maps, diagrams, and watching demonstrations. Show them what good technique looks like, and they'll pick it up fast.
Auditory Learners - These are your storytellers and listeners. They learn through conversation, music, and spoken instructions.
Kinesthetic Learners - The "learn by doing" crowd. They need to move, touch, and experience things firsthand.
Reading/Writing Learners - They thrive with checklists, journals, and written instructions. Give them something to write down, and they'll remember it.
Social Learners - They learn best in groups, bouncing ideas off others and working through problems together.
Solitary Learners - These students need quiet time to process and reflect on their own before they're ready to share.
Here's the beautiful thing about outdoor education: nature naturally speaks to all these learning styles at once. Take rock climbing, for example. In a single session, students might study route maps (visual), listen to safety briefings (auditory), practice knot-tying (kinesthetic), fill out gear checklists (reading/writing), work with climbing partners (social), and take quiet moments to prepare for their next attempt (solitary) mentally.
The trick isn't hoping this happens by accident. It's making sure it happens on purpose.
Meeting Every Student Where They Are
At AES, we don't believe in one-size-fits-all instruction. Instead, we design activities that give every type of learner multiple ways to succeed. Here's how we do it:
For Visual Learners
We use trail maps, route sketches, and step-by-step photo guides. Before students tackle a climbing route, they see exactly where they're going. We demonstrate techniques clearly, breaking down complex movements into simple, visual steps that they can follow and copy.
For Auditory Learners
Our safety briefings aren't boring rule lists, they're stories. "Picture this: you're halfway up a climb and storm clouds roll in. What's your first move?" We use rhythm and music to teach skiing techniques, and our post-activity discussions let students talk through what they learned.
For Kinesthetic Learners
These students learn best by jumping in and trying things out. We start them with hands-on practice right away, giving feedback while they're moving. They learn knots by actually tying them, balance by actually balancing, and problem-solving by actually solving real problems.
For Reading/Writing Learners
We provide field journals where students can track their progress, write down new techniques, and reflect on their experiences. Laminated instruction cards give them something concrete to reference, and pre- and post-activity prompts help them process what they're learning.
For Social and Solitary Learners
We build in both group challenges and individual reflection time. Some students thrive in team problem-solving activities, while others need quiet moments to process what they've experienced. We make sure there's space for both.
How This Looks in Real Life
Let's get specific. Here's how we adapt our programs for different learning styles:
Rock Climbing League
Visual learners get route diagrams drawn on whiteboards. Kinesthetic learners spend time on easy practice walls before moving to harder climbs. Auditory learners hear live coaching: "Feel your weight shift to your right foot now." And reading/writing learners keep climbing logs where they track their attempts and breakthroughs.
Ski & Snowboard Leagues
We teach turning through word pictures that auditory learners love ("imagine you're pouring water out of your boot"). Visual learners get markers on the snow to aim for. Kinesthetic learners practice the same movement over and over with immediate feedback. Solitary learners get quiet practice time at the bottom of the hill to integrate what they've learned before their next run.
Intersession Camps & Outdoor Skills Programs
We mix map reading (visual), team challenges (social), solo nature sits (solitary), and hands-on skill building (kinesthetic). By the end of camp, every student has learned through their strongest channels and stretched themselves in new ways.
The Tools That Make It Work
1. Say It Three Ways
We rarely explain something just once. We show it, say it, let students try it, then talk about what happened. This way, no matter how you learn best, something will stick.
2. Check In Often
Instead of one big discussion at the end of the day, we pause frequently for quick check-ins: "What just clicked for you?" "What would you try differently next time?" These mini-reflections help every type of learner lock in what they're discovering.
3. Offer Choices
When it's reflection time, students can write, draw, or record voice memos. Same learning goal, different pathways to get there.
4. Feedback That Fits
A coach might give verbal tips on the mountain, sketch out a technique back at the lodge, and send home practice notes. Same lesson, delivered in multiple ways so every student can access it.
Why This Matters More Than You Think
When we design for different learning styles from the start, amazing things happen:
More students stick with it. When kids can learn in ways that make sense to them, they don't give up as easily.
Confidence grows. Students who might have written themselves off as "not outdoorsy" discover they absolutely can learn and even lead outside.
Teams work better together. When everyone's way of learning is respected, the whole group collaborates more effectively.
Skills transfer to other areas. The self-knowledge students gain, "I learn best when I can see it first" or "I need quiet time to process", helps them in school, sports, and life.
Making It Work at Home and School
Want to extend this approach beyond AES programs? Here are some simple strategies:
Help kids notice their own learning style. After they learn something new, ask: "Did the diagram help more than the explanation?" "Do you prefer to try it first or watch it first?"
Share important information in multiple ways. Pair verbal instructions with written ones, or follow up a demonstration with a chance to practice.
Build in reflection time. Whether it's a quick sketch, a voice memo, or a journal entry, processing time helps cement learning for everyone.
Mix group and solo time. Some students shine in team settings, others need individual challenges. Both are valuable.
Focus on effort, not just results. Ask "What did you try?" and "What did you learn about yourself?" as much as "Did you make it to the top?"
Safety First, Always
Here's something crucial: inclusive teaching isn't just nice to have, it's a safety must-have. When we present safety information in multiple formats, students are more likely to remember critical steps like partner checks or emergency signals. When learners feel seen and valued, they communicate more openly and ask for help when they need it. And when every student believes they belong in the outdoors, we're building the next generation of outdoor leaders who will make these spaces welcoming for everyone.
The AES Commitment
At AES, we don't ask students to fit our mold. We shape our programs to fit our students. Our team is always asking, "Who are we missing?" and "How can we make this concept more accessible?" That mindset drives everything from how we introduce new skiers to the mountain to how we design camps that spark curiosity and build competence.
Ready to See Your Student Flourish?
Every learner is different, and that's exactly what makes outdoor education so powerful. Whether your student learns best with a map in hand, through conversation with friends, or by diving right in and figuring it out as they go, AES is ready to meet them exactly where they are.
Check out our Rock Climbing or Ski & Snowboard Leagues, explore our intersession camps, or just give us a call to talk through which program might be the best fit for your student's learning style. The outdoors truly is for everyone, and with the right approach, it becomes a classroom where every learner can thrive.
Let's get outside, learn in the way that works best for each of us, and build confidence that lasts a lifetime.
At Adventure Education Solutions, we introduce students to outdoor environments and present them with experiences that challenge them physically, socially, and mentally. Contact us to learn more about our after school programs, camps, and study abroad programs.
