2026 CAEE Advancing EE Conference

Students affected by trauma and neurodiverse learners often struggle in traditional classroom environments that rely heavily on sitting, sustained attention, and rigid structures. Outdoor learning environments can provide powerful opportunities for regulation, engagement, and meaningful learning.In this session, participants will explore how nature-based and outdoor education approaches can support students with trauma histories, ADHD, autism, sensory processing differences, and twice-exceptionality. Drawing from nearly a decade of experience leading Colorado’s outdoor, nature-based education movement and working with neurodiverse learners, Megan Patterson will share practical strategies for using outdoor environments to support emotional regulation, executive functioning, social development, and academic engagement.