Doctrinal Statement

I. The Scriptures

We believe that the Scriptures—both Old and New Testaments—are the inspired, inerrant, infallible, and authoritative Word of God (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:20–21). The Bible is the final rule for faith, practice, and all matters to which it speaks. It is sufficient, trustworthy, and clear, and it is to be interpreted according to its literal, grammatical, and historical sense. All teaching, including outdoor education and nature study, must be submitted to the authority of God’s Word (Ps. 19:7–11; Matt. 4:4; Acts 17:11; Heb. 4:12).

II. The Triune God

We believe in one living and true God, eternally existing in three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each equally and fully God, yet distinct in role and relation (Deut. 6:4; Matt. 28:19; 2 Cor. 13:14). This triune God is infinite in holiness, wisdom, power, justice, and love, and sovereign over all creation, providence, and redemption.

III. God the Father

We believe that God the Father is the first Person of the Trinity, the source of all that exists (1 Cor. 8:6). He foreordains all things according to His own will and purpose (Eph. 1:11), upholds the universe by His providence (Ps. 115:3), and works all things for the glory of His name and the good of His people (Rom. 8:28).

IV. God the Son

We believe that Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God, is fully God and fully man (John 1:1, 14). Conceived by the Holy Spirit and born of the virgin Mary, He lived a sinless life, perfectly obeyed the Father, and offered Himself as a substitutionary, atoning sacrifice for sinners (Heb. 4:15; 1 Pet. 2:24). He physically rose from the dead, ascended into heaven, and now reigns at the right hand of the Father as the only mediator between God and man (1 Tim. 2:5).

V. God the Holy Spirit

We believe that the Holy Spirit is the third Person of the Godhead, who glorifies Christ by applying the benefits of redemption to the elect. He convicts the world of sin, regenerates dead hearts, indwells and seals believers, empowers them for godliness, and progressively sanctifies them (John 16:8–14; Titus 3:5; Rom. 8:9–11). He is the down payment and guarantee of our eternal inheritance (Eph. 1:13–14).

VI. Man and the Fall

We believe that humanity was created directly by God in His own image, male and female (Gen. 1:26–27) with dignity, purpose, and dominion under God. However, through Adam’s sin, all humanity fell into sin and became subject to death and under God’s just wrath (Rom. 5:12, 18–19). Man is totally depraved, spiritually dead, and utterly incapable of saving himself apart from divine grace (Eph. 2:1–3).

VII. Salvation

We believe that salvation is a sovereign work of God, accomplished by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone (Eph. 2:8–9). Before the foundation of the world, God chose a people for Himself (Eph. 1:4–5). At the appointed time, He regenerates their hearts by the Holy Spirit, granting repentance and faith. Believers are justified by the imputed righteousness of Christ, adopted into God’s family, and progressively sanctified until glorified in eternity (Rom. 8:29–30). While good works do not earn salvation, they inevitably follow as the fruit of saving faith (James 2:17; Eph. 2:10).

VIII. The Church

We believe that the Church consists of all those who have been regenerated by the Spirit and united to Christ by faith (1 Cor. 12:13). The local church is a visible gathering of believers under the headship of Christ and the leadership of qualified elders. Its purposes include the worship of God, the edification of the saints, the faithful preaching of the Word, the administration of the ordinances, and the proclamation of the gospel to the world (Acts 2:42–47; Eph. 4:11–16).

IX. Creation and Providence

We believe that God created the heavens and the earth in six literal, 24-hour days, as described in Genesis 1–2. All things were created good and for God's glory (Gen. 1:31; Col. 1:16). God continues to uphold, govern, and direct all creation by His sovereign providence (Heb. 1:3). Creation bears witness to God's existence, power, and wisdom (Rom. 1:20; Ps. 19:1), and humanity is called to steward the earth in obedience to the creation mandate (Gen. 1:28), honoring God through faithful dominion and care.

X. Human Identity and Gender

We believe that human identity is rooted in God’s created design. God created mankind as male and female—biological and complementary—each bearing His image (Gen. 1:27). Gender is not a social construct but a divine gift. Marriage is the exclusive, covenantal union of one man and one woman (Gen. 2:24), designed to reflect the relationship between Christ and His Church (Eph. 5:22–33).

XI. The Christian Life

We believe that Christians are called to live in joyful obedience to God, pursuing holiness and bearing fruit in keeping with repentance (1 Pet. 1:14–16; John 15:8). The Christian life is marked by continual growth in Christlikeness, separation from sinful patterns of the world, and a commitment to spiritual disciplines and service. At Cedarwood Outdoor School, we affirm that education—even in outdoor and practical settings—must be submitted to Christ’s lordship and grounded in the truth of Scripture

XII. The End Times

We believe in the personal, bodily, and glorious return of Jesus Christ to gather His Church, judge the nations, and establish His kingdom (Acts 1:11; Rev. 19:11–16). We affirm a pretribulational rapture of the Church, followed by a seven-year tribulation in which God’s wrath is poured out on the earth (1 Thess. 4:13–18; Rev. 6–18).

After the tribulation, Christ will return to establish a literal thousand-year reign on earth, known as the Millennium (Rev. 20:1–6). At the end of this age, Satan will be finally defeated, the wicked will be judged, and God will create a new heavens and new earth, where His people will dwell with Him forever in righteousness and joy (Rev. 20:7–21:4).

Philosophy of Outdoor Education

I. Creation as Revelation

Cedarwood Outdoor School affirms that the created world is a theater of divine glory—a visible proclamation of the invisible God (Psalm 19:1–6; Romans 1:20). From the sky scattered with stars to the intricacy of a bird’s wing, creation testifies to the power, wisdom, beauty, and order of its Maker. Every living creature and natural process, when rightly understood, becomes a cause for worship, not of the creation itself, but of the One who made and sustains it (Nehemiah 9:6; Psalm 104:24).

Creation studies, then, are not neutral or secular. They are theological acts of reverent observation. We study nature not merely to catalog species, but to trace the fingerprints of God in the world He has made. Each student at Cedarwood is invited to engage with the natural world not as spectators of chance, but as disciples learning from the works of the Lord (Psalm 111:2). Creation is not ultimate—it is instrumental. It exists to lead us into greater awe, humility, and praise.

II. The Limitations of General Revelation

While creation clearly proclaims God's eternal power and divine nature (Rom. 1:20), it offers only a partial and preparatory witness. Nature is not a second Bible. It cannot teach us the name of Jesus, the message of the cross, or the way of salvation (Rom. 10:14–17). For that, we need God's special revelation, which is found in the Scriptures alone (2 Tim. 3:16–17; 2 Pet. 1:3). Creation offers a true sermon, but it is incomplete without the infallible Word. It renders us without excuse but not without sin (Rom. 1:18–23).

At Cedarwood, we do not elevate nature as a source of mystical revelation or moral authority. We reject pantheism, animism, and nature-based spiritualism, affirming instead that all true understanding flows from the Word of God, by which we interpret creation rightly (John 17:17; Prov. 3:5–6). Our approach to outdoor education is not speculative but scripturally submitted. The world is not a source of new revelation, but a witness to the God who has already spoken.

III. Scripture as the Lens for Nature Study

Because general revelation is insufficient for salvation or spiritual maturity, Scripture must be the interpretive lens through which all outdoor learning is filtered. The created order becomes intelligible and meaningful only when viewed through the clarity of God’s Word (Psalm 119:105). The ant teaches diligence not because of its instinct alone, but because Proverbs 6:6 calls us to “go to the ant… and be wise.” The birds of the air remind us of God’s provision because Jesus explicitly points to them as evidence of His care (Matt. 6:26).

Thus, outdoor education at Cedarwood is not the pursuit of personal intuition or mystical insight—it is the pursuit of truth already revealed, observed in the world, and confirmed by Scripture. With that, the Word of God plays an integral role in every class taught.

IV. The Dangers of Mysticism and Misinterpretation

We recognize that outdoor education is often shaped by secular or pantheistic worldviews which ascribe to nature a kind of autonomous divinity or communicative power. This is a theological error. Nature does not speak with personal intent, nor does it contain hidden messages to be decoded. As fallen image-bearers, we are prone to read our emotions into the world and mistake sentiment for revelation (Col. 2:18–19).

Therefore, at Cedarwood, we actively guard against mysticism, subjective impressions, or assigning spiritual meaning to arbitrary natural events. We do not interpret hawks circling overhead or changes in wind direction as signs from God. Instead, we direct students back to the Scriptures and invite them to see in nature what God has already spoken: that He is good, powerful, wise, faithful, and worthy of worship.

V. The Role of Creation in Discipleship and Formation

Biblical outdoor education is not an end in itself—it is a means of spiritual formation. The goal is not merely to gain ecological awareness, but to cultivate reverent hearts, disciplined lives, and a deeper love for Christ. Nature slows us. It steadies us. It trains us to see God’s faithfulness in the ordinary (Ps. 119:90), His beauty in the small (Matt. 6:28–30), and His providence in the predictable (Gen. 8:22).

We use outdoor experiences to draw students into stillness (Ps. 46:10), teach rhythms of rest and work (Lev. 25:4; Prov. 6:6–8), and reinforce biblical truth through tangible encounters with God’s world. Whether tracking animals, studying plants, observing weather, or sitting quietly in a “sit spot,” our goal is never nature for nature’s sake. It is always transformation through truth—rooted in Scripture and reinforced in creation.

VI. The Purpose: Respond in Worship

Ultimately, all outdoor education must terminate in doxology. The heavens declare the glory of God (Ps. 19:1), and we must not merely admire that glory—we must respond in worship. To study the created world without worshiping its Creator is to fall into idolatry (Rom. 1:25). At Cedarwood, every course—whether birding, blacklighting, or botany—is designed to foster reverence for the Lord and obedience to His Word.

We study creation because we know the Creator. And because we know Him, we want to enjoy, steward, and proclaim His handiwork faithfully. As Isaiah declared, “The whole earth is full of His glory” (Isa. 6:3). Our philosophy of outdoor education exists to help students see that glory—and to glorify the One who made it by responding in worship.

For further reading, see our blog post on “Redeeming Outdoor Education.”