Integrating outdoor learning into formal education

Connecting with nature has had a significant positive influence on human cognitive, behavioral, and emotional development since ancient times. Even today, it's common to feel inspired, intimidated, or impacted by spending time outdoors or appreciating natural and urban landscapes. Outdoor education is an innovative teaching method that provides an opportunity to tackle two crucial issues in today's society:
delivering enduring, high-quality education and raising awareness about the importance of preserving our planet in the face of the daunting threat of climate change.
The new edition of the course “Outdoor education: a new way of teaching and learning” took place in Bologna from 07/04/2024 - 13/04/2024. The participants came from all across Europe, with Mihaela Szilagyi-Tomoiu, Luminița Ana Enescu and Luminița Cebotari from  Școala Gimnazială  Nr. 3 Cugir in Romania, Belén Cazorla Guirado and Lidia Baldán García from CEIP Madre de la Luz in Spain, Bettina Schroeter and Stephanie Schmidt from Stadtschule Travemünde in Germany, Eva Frgalová from Gymnázium Zlín Lesníčtvrť in Czech Republic, Pertti Hietanen from Mikaelin Koulu in Finland, Max Fabian from Feudenheim Realschule in Germany, Ludivine Bonneau from Madame in France, Mario Thüne from Landesamt für Schule und Bildung in Germany. Starting from the definition of Outdoor Education, we explored the diverse ways in which we can guide our students to come in contact with the outdoor, which doesn’t imply to be always in nature and forests. Indeed, we dedicated one part of the training to Urban Outdoor Education in the city. The participants learned to teach subjects like science, maths, music, art, language and more by testing activities which guided their attention to the surroundings.

Another part of the course was focused on practicing many tools in a natural environment in local parks. All the games and activities tested were much appreciated and gave inspiration to our participant not only in sharing their activities with the rest of the group, but also to create their own Outdoor activity. 
Participants also delved into the principles of Non-Formal Education (NFE), a teaching method that encompasses many outdoor activities. This approach emphasizes the practical experiences students gain while participating in activities or tasks as the focal point of the learning process. By guiding students through the entire cycle and ensuring that we ask them the right reflective questions, they can connect the new knowledge they acquire to their lives and put it into practice.

​Moreover, the final segment of the course was dedicated to creating a customized outdoor experience for each participant's target group. After studying the principles of the outdoor learning approach, understanding the 10 Kurt Hahn rules and their significance, and engaging in various urban and natural activities, each participant designed an outdoor lesson on the final day of the course based on the subject matter taught. Considering the age level of their students, as well as the skills and topics they wished to address, each teacher meticulously planned the session, presented it to the other participants of the course, and received feedback on how to improve it.

This week served as a prime example of the effectiveness of experiential outdoor learning: through our hands-on approach, participants gained a firsthand experience of what an outdoor education activity entails and acquired the knowledge necessary to plan one for their students. During this course participants were able to explore a vast series of activities and games that they will be able to replicate with their students, showing that learning doesn’t happen only inside a classroom!
Discover more about this course  here.