What I Wish I Knew Before Implementing School-Based Outdoor Experiential Education: Interviews with In-Service Teachers

Teacher preparation programs in the United States rarely integrate school-based outdoor experiential education (SBOEE), leaving many new teachers underprepared to use the outdoors as an instructional setting. This qualitative study examined how in-service teachers successfully implement SBOEE, what they wish they had learned about SBOEE before entering the classroom, and how their insights can inform teacher preparation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 22 educators from across the United States who regularly facilitate SBOEE. Findings show that effective SBOEE implementation develops through mentorship, collaborative learning communities, hands-on practice, and supportive school environments. Teachers emphasized that their preparation programs offered little exposure to SBOEE, which they viewed as a significant oversight. Participants identified experiential learning, structured practice opportunities, access to practical resources, and faculty modeling as key supports they wished had been included in their preparation. These insights offer actionable guidance for incorporating SBOEE into teacher education.