Outdoor education: a new way of teaching and learning

Educators from across Europe gathered in Bologna to experience Outdoor Education through a dynamic blend of theory and practice. Each day was filled with enriching activities that highlighted the potential of learning beyond classroom walls.
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The new edition of the course “Outdoor education: a new way of teaching and learning” took place in Bologna from 01/06/2025 - 07/06/2025. The participants came from all across Europe, with Kolbrún Fjóla Ármúla Arnarsdótti from Menntaskolinn Isafirdi ın Iceland. María Domínguez Martín, Laura Vicente Crespo from CEIP PADRE MANJO ın Spaın. Paulina Ból, Katarzyna Szusterowska from 8 Liceum Ogólnokształcące Samorządowe i. gen. Sowińskiego ın Poland. Justyna Nurkowska, Eliza Lenczewska from Szkoła Podstawowa im. Króla Zygmunta Augusta w Wasilkowie ın Poland. Ricardo Alexandre from Agrupamento de escolas Frei Gonçalo de Azevedo ın Portugal. Berta Bayo Herranz from IES Aguas Vivas ın Spaın. 

Monday set the tone with an icebreaking activity that helped participants connect and share their expectations for the week. This was followed by a guided brainstorming session on the meaning and applications of Outdoor Education, introducing its main pedagogical trends and benefits. Later, educators presented their schools, providing a valuable exchange of practices. The day ended with a hands-on outdoor activity focused on how various school subjects can be taught in open-air environments.

Tuesday was spent in the beautiful Villa Ghigi park, where participants engaged in hands-on Outdoor Education activities. This immersive experience allowed them to experiment with methods to integrate nature-based learning into their own teaching practices.

Wednesday introduced the concept of Non-Formal Education and how it complements outdoor learning. Participants practiced this method through an outdoor activity. Later, they explored risk management and prevention, learning essential tools to safely plan and implement outdoor lessons. The day ended by breaking down the steps for preparing an outdoor activity, including identifying goals, choosing locations, and adapting to students’ needs.
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On Thursday, educators took their learning into the city with an Urban Outdoor Education activity in Piazza Maggiore. This practical session demonstrated how even urban settings can be turned into engaging learning environments, using the city as a tool for exploration and discovery.

Friday wrapped up the course with a playful yet educational Treasure Hunt, where participants discovered tips for getting started with Outdoor Education. They then collaborated in a group-based activity to observe and map a location for a potential outdoor class. The week concluded with a final reflection and sharing session, where educators exchanged experiences and plans for integrating outdoor strategies into their own classrooms. A certificate ceremony marked the successful end of a transformative week.
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Discover more about this course  here.

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