Integrating outdoor learning into formal education

Being in contact with the outdoor has a considerable positive impact on the cognitive, behavioural and emotional development of human beings since prehistory. Even nowadays it is not unusual to feel inspired, intimidated or even influenced by walking in nature or admiring a natural or urban landscape. Outdoor  education is an innovative teaching approach that offers the possibility to address two of the most important topics of today’s society: providing long-lasting high quality education and raising awareness on the importance of preserving our planet in the face of the daunting threat of climate change.

A new edition of the "Outdoor Education: a new way of teaching and learning" course recently took place in Rimini from 29/09/2024 to 05/10/2024. This event brought together a diverse group of educators, each eager to integrate outdoor learning into their own teaching practices. Participants came from three different countries, including Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia. Representatives from Alytus "Viltis" School-Kindergarten (Lithuania) included Simona Neveckienė, Renata Mockevičienė, RadmilaKrividienė, GitanaSurdokienė, Laura Klimavičiūtė, and Justina Monkevičiūtė. VäikePäike Children's Club from Estonia sent EleSaareleht, KristiinKoster, and KaieMamontov. Latvia was represented by JelgavasNovadaIzglītībasPārvalde, with JeļenaŽoide and NellijaŠvede attending.

The week-long course offered a comprehensive and immersive experience that highlighted the importance of outdoor education, particularly for younger learners. It began with an introduction to outdoor learning principles, focusing on beach-based activities. This introduction set the tone for the rest of the week, as participants engaged in a variety of hands-on, non-formal learning.

Educators spent the morning in a local park, participating in collaborative games designed to heighten sensory awareness and improve teamwork skills. These activities demonstrated how outdoor spaces could be leveraged to engage learners in a natural setting, offering a deeper connection with the environment while promoting critical thinking and problem-solving.

The course then shifted focus to the practical aspects of planning outdoor classes. Participants explored non-formal educational techniques that could be adapted to their specific teaching contexts. This session was invaluable, as it provided clear guidelines on incorporating outdoor education into daily lesson plans, emphasizing logistics, materials, and objectives for conducting successful outdoor lessons. Urban outdoor education was explored next, with activities in Rimini’s city center. Educators experienced how urban environments can be creatively utilized as learning spaces, breaking down traditional classroom boundaries. This segment proved that outdoor learning can be effective in both natural and urban settings, enriching the educational experience.

The course culminated in another beach session where participants were involved in new games and activities. Lastly, each educator worked on planning and crafting their own outdoor lesson, to implement with their students back home. The session was concluded with a presentation of each school and landscapes from each country, bringing together different cultures.

Throughout the week, participants improved their abilities to craft meaningful outdoor educational experiences, integrating the principles and practices of outdoor learning into their future teaching. They left the course not only with new skills and knowledge but also with a renewed passion for education!