Integrating outdoor learning into formal education

Learning outside is a modern and engaging approach to education that promotes students' cognitive, behavioral, and emotional development. Humans naturally absorb information from their surroundings, making outdoor learning both effective and dynamic. Additionally, through these lessons, students gain an appreciation for nature, learn how to care for the environment, and understand fundamental practices to combat global warming, which they can apply in everyday life.
The latest edition of the course “Outdoor Education: A New Way of Teaching and Learning” was held in Bologna from October 27 to November 2, 2024. Participants came from all across Europe, including Michaela Zvolenská from Gymnázium Ivana Kupca in Slovakia; Kristi Leppmets and Diana Senkel from Väike Päike Children's Club in Estonia; Azucena Jiménez Yuste and Fernando Real Rubio from CEIP La Pradera in Spain; and Dominika Celery from Súkromná základná škola in Slovakia.

At the beginning of the course, participants attended an introductory session to share their experiences and discuss their schools. They also expressed their hopes and goals for the course, providing instructors with valuable insight into their needs and expectations.
The main segment of the course focused on methods for incorporating the environment into teaching. Given that participants teach a wide variety of subjects, the course explored alternative strategies that can be applied across disciplines. Urban outdoor education allowed participants to test these methods firsthand within the city of Bologna, showcasing the flexibility of this teaching style.
One of the highlights was a treasure hunt game held in various locations around the city center, where participants completed different tasks designed to build intelligence, communication skills, and teamwork—skills which they were able to evaluate and improve during this exercise.

Participants also engaged in nature-based interactive games in a natural park just outside the city, testing activities that they could incorporate into their own teaching. Notably, all participants were actively involved and pleasantly surprised by how these activities helped reinforce the subjects they teach.
A critical topic covered was ensuring safe and supportive conditions for outdoor activities, as this is essential for any educator implementing extracurricular learning.
Through this course, participants learned how to adapt lessons and materials into interactive outdoor activities, had the chance to apply these techniques, and, most importantly, enjoyed positive experiences and outcomes.

Discover more about this course here.