An outdoor classroom needs seating. It also needs somewhere to put the tools, materials, loose parts, books, and everything else that makes outdoor learning sessions work without constant trips back inside. The ONP Outdoor Bench with Storage does both in a single cedar piece: 48 inches of child-height seating at 18"H, with storage built into the unit beneath the seat so materials stay accessible at the point of use, in the outdoor space where they are needed.

At 48"L x 17"D x 18"H it seats multiple children side by side - long enough for a small group, proportioned at a height that works for toddler and preschool-age children to sit with their feet on the ground. Every edge and corner has been rounded specifically for outdoor early years use. The Western Red Cedar frame requires no staining, resists rot and insects naturally, stays comfortable to touch even in summer heat, and lasts 15 to 20 years outdoors without treatment. It is a piece you place once and use for the life of an outdoor programme, across North America.

The storage space underneath adds the practical dimension that distinguishes this from a plain bench. In an outdoor classroom, accessible, in-situ storage determines whether a provocation or learning invitation can be set up and taken down efficiently enough to use every day. 

Key Features of the ONP Outdoor Bench with Storage

• Built-In Storage Beneath the Seat - Integrated storage underneath the bench seat keeps outdoor materials - books, loose parts, tools, buckets, art supplies - accessible in the outdoor space where they are needed, reducing the time and friction of setting up and packing away outdoor learning sessions
• 48"L x 17"D x 18"H - Group Seating at Child Height - At 48 inches long the bench seats multiple children simultaneously; at 18 inches high it is correctly proportioned for toddler and preschool-age children to sit with feet on the ground, providing stable, grounded seating without the adult-height overhang that makes some benches uncomfortable for young children
• Rounded Edges and Corners Throughout - All edges and corners have been specifically rounded for safety in outdoor early years settings, ensuring the bench is safe for unsupervised child use without requiring protective edge coverings or additional padding
• Natural Western Red Cedar Construction - Cedar requires no staining, resists rot and insects naturally, stays comfortable to touch in summer heat because it does not absorb warmth the way treated timber does, and lasts 15 to 20 years outdoors; the same material used across the full ONP outdoor learning range
• All-Season Weather Resistance - Cedar's natural properties prevent shrinking, warping, and rotting across the full range of seasonal conditions - summer heat, freeze-thaw cycles, rain, and snow - making this a permanent outdoor fixture rather than a piece that needs seasonal storage or protection
• Kid-Friendly Rustic Design - The natural cedar finish and proportioned design integrate visually with outdoor gardens, natural play spaces, and early years outdoor classrooms in a way that plastic or metal benches do not; a piece that looks like it belongs in the outdoor environment rather than in a classroom corridor

How the Outdoor Bench Supports Early Years Learning

• Rest, Transition & Emotional Regulation Outdoors - A defined, stable seating space outdoors gives children a place to sit, observe, rest, and self-regulate between active outdoor sessions - supporting the emotional regulation and sensory recovery that some children need to maintain throughout an outdoor learning day
• Group Gathering & Social Communication - A bench that seats multiple children side by side naturally generates conversation, shared observation, and peer interaction; group bench seating in outdoor classrooms is used for story time, small-group instruction, and the kind of incidental social learning that happens between children who are simply sitting together
• Practical Life & Independence - Having materials stored at point of use within the outdoor space gives children the opportunity to access, use, and return materials independently - a Montessori and Reggio-aligned outcome that bench-plus-storage makes possible without adult mediation
• Outdoor Engagement & Nature Connection - A permanent, comfortable seating option integrated into the outdoor space increases the time children spend engaged outdoors, supporting all the sensory, physical, cognitive, and social developmental benefits that early years research consistently associates with extended outdoor time

Ideal for

• Early years childcare centres and outdoor classrooms needing dual-purpose seating and storage
• Montessori, Reggio-inspired, and nature-based programmes building functional outdoor learning environments
• Schools and preschools equipping outdoor spaces with child-proportioned, all-weather cedar furniture
• Occupational therapists setting up accessible outdoor seating for mixed-ability groups
• Families with outdoor spaces wanting a durable, natural cedar bench with storage for a garden or covered patio
• Any outdoor learning environment where seating and storage belong in the same piece of furniture

• Dimensions of Storage Unit: 48″ L × 17″ D × 18″ H 
• Dimensions of Storage Boxes: 46 cm L × 46 cm W × 46 cm H 
• Weight: Approximately 35 lb
• Material: Western Red Cedar & Eastern Canada White Cedar