Embracing Laudato Si’ and Outdoor Learning to Support the Spiritual, Emotional, and Physical Well-Being of Every Child
Article published on August 21, 2025 by NCEA Talk written by Noelle Beale, Ph.D., Regional Superintendent, Central Westchester Catholic Schools, Archdiocese of New York, Noelle.Beale@archny.org
Grounded in mission, Catholic education promotes student wellness by forming our students intellectually, spiritually, emotionally, and physically in all that we do both inside and outside of the classroom. In the time that has followed the COVID-19 pandemic, many Catholic schools have placed a greater emphasis on student wellness because anxiety, stress, and social disconnectedness is on the rise with our youth. Add to this rise, the emphasis placed on digital learning platforms and it becomes even more important for schools to find ways to help students disconnect from technology and reconnect to the world around them. Catholic schools can respond to this ever growing need with practices that nurture the whole child and one way this can be done is through outdoor learning. Outdoor learning offers opportunities to support student wellness and provide a foundation for students to be observant, mindful, and morally aware of the natural world around them.