The primary purpose of this pamphlet is to promote a better understanding of outdoor education and its value in schools. Five reasons are given for the inclusion of outdoor education in the elementary school program: (1) learning takes place most effectively through direct experience--beginning with concrete activities and letting useful abstractions follow; (2) outdoor education provides a setting that makes teaching more creative; (3) some objectives of the curriculum can be achieved more effectively outside the classroom in an outdoor situation; (4) the out-of-doors is a community resource for education and should be used to the best advantage in the school program; and (5) modern conditions of living have increased the need for outdoor education. Topics of discussion include taking the classroom out-of-doors; outdoor education as laboratories for schools; resident outdoor schools, with a sample elementary outdoor school program; and resources for outdoor education, including selected references and films. (HBC)