Environmental And Outdoor Education
A practical Erasmus+ course for teachers and educators who want to integrate outdoor learning, environmental education and sustainability into meaningful real-world learning experiences.
Course Description
Outdoor learning and environmental education provide powerful opportunities to engage students in meaningful, active, and real-world learning experiences. By connecting education with nature, teachers can promote environmental awareness, sustainability, well-being, creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving while supporting students' personal and academic development.
This course is designed for teachers, trainers, school leaders, youth workers, and educational professionals who wish to integrate environmental and outdoor education into their teaching practice. Participants will explore how outdoor learning can enhance student engagement, develop environmental responsibility, strengthen key competences, and support interdisciplinary learning across different educational settings.
Through practical workshops, outdoor activities, environmental investigations, collaborative projects, and curriculum design sessions, participants will gain the knowledge, confidence, and practical tools needed to create safe, meaningful, and impactful outdoor learning experiences for their students.
Methodology
The course follows an experiential and inquiry-based learning approach where participants actively engage in environmental investigations, outdoor challenges, collaborative problem-solving activities, project-based learning, reflective practice, field observations, and sustainability-focused workshops. The methodology promotes learning by doing, critical thinking, environmental stewardship, collaboration, and direct application of acquired knowledge within participants' educational contexts.
By the end of the course, participants will be able to:
- Understand the principles and benefits of outdoor learning and environmental education.
- Design engaging outdoor learning experiences aligned with curriculum objectives.
- Apply experiential and inquiry-based learning methodologies in outdoor settings.
- Promote environmental awareness and sustainable behaviours among students.
- Integrate environmental education across different subjects and educational levels.
- Develop practical outdoor activities that support student engagement and well-being.
- Strengthen students' observation, problem-solving, collaboration, and critical-thinking skills.
- Apply risk assessment and safety considerations for outdoor learning.
- Design school-based environmental projects and sustainability initiatives.
- Foster environmental stewardship and responsible citizenship.
- Create long-term action plans for implementing outdoor learning practices.
Available Dates & Locations
5-Day Training Programme
Foundations of Outdoor Learning and Environmental Education
Topics
- Understanding outdoor learning and environmental education.
- Benefits of learning beyond the classroom.
- Sustainability and environmental responsibility.
- Outdoor learning across the curriculum.
Tasks
- Ice-breaking and nature-connection activities.
- Mapping outdoor learning opportunities within participants' schools.
- Environmental awareness workshop.
- Group discussion on barriers and opportunities for outdoor learning.
- Development of an Outdoor Learning Toolkit.
Exploring Nature Through Inquiry and Observation
Topics
- Inquiry-based learning in natural environments.
- Biodiversity and ecosystems.
- Observation and field investigation techniques.
- Environmental challenges and local contexts.
Tasks
- Guided environmental observation activities.
- Biodiversity exploration workshop.
- Nature-based inquiry challenges.
- Group investigation and data collection exercises.
- Reflection and peer discussion.
Designing Engaging Outdoor Learning Experiences
Topics
- Project-based outdoor learning.
- Cross-curricular environmental activities.
- Learning through exploration and discovery.
- Adapting outdoor learning to different educational contexts.
Tasks
- Design of outdoor learning scenarios.
- Development of interdisciplinary environmental activities.
- Collaborative lesson planning workshop.
- Peer review and feedback sessions.
- Creation of adaptable outdoor learning resources.
Sustainability, Problem Solving and Environmental Action
Topics
- Climate change and sustainability education.
- Environmental problem-solving.
- Green schools and sustainable practices.
- Student-led environmental initiatives.
Tasks
- Sustainability challenge workshop.
- School sustainability audit activity.
- Design of environmental action projects.
- Problem-solving simulations.
- Group development of sustainability campaigns.
Implementing Environmental and Outdoor Education
Topics
- Long-term planning and implementation.
- Risk management and safety considerations.
- Assessment of outdoor learning.
- Building sustainable environmental education programmes.
Tasks
- Development of a School Outdoor Learning and Sustainability Action Plan.
- Presentation and peer review of action plans.
- Exchange of European good practices.
- Reflection on implementation strategies.
- Course evaluation and certification ceremony.
Objectives of the Mobility Experience
- To strengthen participants' competencies in environmental and outdoor education.
- To promote experiential and inquiry-based learning approaches.
- To increase environmental awareness and sustainability within educational settings.
- To support the development of outdoor learning programmes and activities.
- To encourage active citizenship and environmental responsibility.
- To foster student well-being, engagement, and connection with nature.
- To develop interdisciplinary approaches to environmental education.
- To exchange European good practices related to sustainability and outdoor learning.
- To strengthen international cooperation and professional networking among educators.
Type of Certification Awarded
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