Being connected to nature is widely known to improve physical health, wellbeing and learning in young people. Spending time outdoors can help us to be more active and focused, stimulating new ideas and helping young people to apply their learning to real situations.
By enjoying outdoor activities with others, young people can improve their communication skills and confidence through shared tasks, whilst making a positive difference to their environment and the natural world.
When it comes to wellbeing, the outdoors can offer space to process difficult experiences, and acts as a break from busy places.
Click here for the evidence behind the benefits of learning in and about nature. You can also read more about the benefits of being outdoor and what we’ve learnt about engaging young people in the outdoors in our learning papers 2 and 4.
A few projects upskilled teachers and other educators in outdoor learning, as well as building their confidence and changing attitudes around this type of provision.
“The project ran courses for teachers to help them gain the confidence to take their teaching out of the classroom into the community.” Project manager
Resources for outdoor learning
The brilliant Ulster Wildlife have put together some helpful videos on outdoor learning as part of their #LearnMoreOutdoors campaign. Find advice on planning outdoor lessons, and ideas for how nature can be incorporated into different subjects, below.
Find out more about the other asks: