Not all classrooms have to be indoors. The idea behind a teaching forest is to connect nature to knowledge by providing a hands-on approach to learning for both students and teachers alike. From natural sciences to the humanities, there are limitless possibilities that can be found outside the confines of the traditional classroom space. 

Many universities across the country have embraced the concept of teaching forests. Schools like Oregon State University have developed what they call a ‘living laboratory’, providing a practical way to learn about local ecosystems and management. Harvard Forest hosts a variety of research projects ranging from biodiversity to environmental justice. UC Davis Arboretum and Public Garden is known for their collaboration with local communities and environmental agencies to create engaging learning experiences for all.

Other Land Grant universities across New England, among them the University of Connecticut, the University of New Hampshire, and the University of Vermont, have developed their campus-adjacent forest areas as multi-use academic and recreational spaces.

From the 2022 North Woods Stewardship Preliminary Report

In 2022, the North Woods Stewardship Council completed a preliminary study on the current use and value of the North Woods to the URI community. They report that their “investigations of best practice at these and other universities have revealed a multitude of creative and beneficial uses of university woods apart from their innate value:

• As a natural classroom and living laboratory promoting engaged learning
• As a field trip destination for which no motor transport is required (indeed, a number of CELS courses have relied on the North Woods during the COVID-19 pandemic)
• As a “common space” for interdisciplinary/transdiscliplinary academic collaboration
• As a restoration and conservation site
• As a site for silviculture and botanical research
• As a venue for outdoor performances and natural art installations
• As an archaeological dig site and cultural historical resource
• As a carbon sequestration resource for meeting university emissions targets
• As a focus for promoting sustainability education and land stewardship
• As a place for outdoor recreation including hiking, jogging, birdwatching, and casual walks
• As a health and wellness space: a peaceful place for de-stressing and quiet contemplation
• As a locus for philanthropic opportunities
• As a promotional opportunity to showcase the Kingston campus’s natural beauty

These types of activities can serve as an illustrative starting point for community-wide discussions on how the North Woods can best serve the diverse needs of the University in the model of many other New England Land Grant institutions.”