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.

The new edition of the course “Outdoor education: a new way of teaching and learning” took place in Tenerife from 17/11/2024 to 23/11/2024 .The participants came from all across Europe, with Magdalena Hnat from Szkoła Podstawowa nr 2 im. Adama Mickiewicza w Drawsku Pomorskim in Poland,Alina Alhasova and Laila Gedrovica from Talsi State gymnasium in Latvia,Hana Kubelková and Andrea Rulíšková from Střední škola řemesel Šumperk in Czech Republic,Guillaume PENISSON  and Henri GAUTIER from Lycée Pilote Innovant et International in France,Michael Thomas and Thomas Prior from Kaufmännische Schulen des Lahn-Dill-Kreises in Dillenburg in Germany. 

Beginning with the definition of Outdoor Education, we delved into various strategies for guiding our students to engage with the outdoors, emphasizing that this experience extends beyond forests and nature. A significant portion of the training was dedicated to Urban Outdoor Education, where participants learned to incorporate subjects like science, math, music, art, and language into activities that drew their attention to the urban environment. We also spent valuable time in local parks, engaging in practical exercises that showcased a range of tools and activities in a natural setting.

These hands-on experiences not only inspired participants to share their ideas with one another but also empowered them to design their own outdoor activities tailored to their students. A key focus of the course was the concept of Non Formal Education (NFE), a pedagogical approach that underpins many outdoor activities. This method places emphasis on the concrete experiences students encounter during tasks, fostering a deeper connection to the material. By guiding participants through a reflective process, we ensured they could help students relate new knowledge to their lives and apply it effectively.

The culmination of the course involved designing personalized outdoor experiences tailored to each participant's target group. After exploring the principles of outdoor learning, studying the 10 Kurt Hahn rules and their significance, and experiencing various urban and natural activities, participants crafted detailed outdoor lessons relevant to their subjects. They took into account their students’ age levels and the specific skills and topics they aimed to address. Each teacher presented their planned session to the group, receiving constructive feedback to enhance their designs.

​This week exemplified the power of experiential outdoor learning. Through our hands-on approach, participants gained a tangible understanding of what outdoor education entails and acquired the essential skills to create impactful experiences for their students. The course provided a rich array of activities and games that participants can easily replicate, reinforcing the idea that meaningful learning can and should happen outside the traditional classroom setting.
Discover more about this course  here.