Providing fresh perspectives for Teachers with Outdoor Education

Outdoor learning has become an invaluable tool for educators looking to deepen students' connection to the world around them. For centuries, nature has been more than just a backdrop; it's a source of inspiration and growth for both the mind and body. Today, outdoor education is increasingly recognized as a vital approach to teaching, offering students an enriched educational experience that supports both academic learning and environmental awareness in an age where climate consciousness is essential.
The new edition of the course “Outdoor education: a new way of teaching and learning” took place in Porto from 13/10/2024 to 19/10/2024. The participants came from all across Europe, with Ester and Katrin from Põlva School in Estonia, Alexandra and Melanie from Alpen Adria Gymnasium Völkermarkt in Austria, Fanni from Bálint Márton Általános Iskola és Gimnázium in Hungary and Marja from Vuxenutbildningen Borås in Sweden.

The first day of the course was dedicated to the theory behind Outdoor Education. After a brief introduction and a reflexion on everyone’s fears, contributions and expectations regarding the course, the teachers delved into their own experiences with Outdoor Learning. The discussion focused mainly on discovering best practices and understanding what are the main obstacles that teachers face when trying to implement OE while also reflecting on the benefits that learners experience in terms of contact with the world, personal and academical growth and overall health.

Outdoor learning isn’t limited to lush forests or remote trails. During the course, teachers learned that urban parks, cityscapes, and local surroundings can become vibrant learning environments. Through activities that integrated subjects like science, math, music, and art, educators discovered new ways to connect students with their surroundings. This expanded view of outdoor learning underscored the idea that meaningful outdoor experiences can be created in nearly any environment.

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For this reason the next three days were dedicated to implementing outdoor activities in different settings: a local park just outside of Porto, the beach and the historical city centre. The activities in the local city park focused on cooperation and inclusivity, where the participants had to perform different quests around the park, but also with connection with nature with all of our senses. The day at the beach started with an activity that combined learning math while cleaning the beach from different types of trash but also with mindfulness activities sitting on the sand. In the historical centre the teachers had the chance to engage in a digital treasure hunt full of fun moments, interactions and of course healthy competition!

Finally, to put new insights into practice, each participant developed a unique outdoor lesson plan suited to their students’ needs. From early childhood educators to secondary school teachers, everyone crafted lesson plans that aligned with the principles of outdoor education. By presenting their plans to peers, teachers fine-tuned their activities to maximize student engagement and learning outcomes.
This intensive week showed how outdoor education can make learning a fun, engaging, and transformative experience. Participants returned to their schools with new skills, practical strategies, and a genuine appreciation for the possibilities of teaching outdoors. The course proved that outdoor education is not just a trend—it’s a powerful way to cultivate curiosity, environmental stewardship, and lifelong learning in students. We thank all of the participants for making this week a memorable experience for everyone (trainer included!)

Discover more about this course  here.