While studying abroad in Urbino, Italy, I had the opportunity to document a unique preschool nestled in the secluded mountains, where education is entirely rooted in hands-on learning and nature. Unlike traditional classrooms, these children learn by interacting with their environment—counting with leaves instead of numbers on paper, building with sticks and mud instead of blocks, and even napping in outdoor tents. Every aspect of their daily routine, from meals to playtime, happens outside, fostering a deep connection with the natural world.

 

For this multi-media storytelling project, I captured their way of life through a documentary and a photo essay, highlighting the beauty and simplicity of this unconventional approach to early education. Through film and photography, I aimed to showcase how an outdoor, experience-based learning environment shapes curiosity, independence, and resilience in young children.