Outdoor Education
How exactly does outdoor education work? And how do we design a student trip that challenges, enriches, and teaches? The answer is simple: participatory learning, site visits, and field school!
Our goal is not just to get children out into the great outdoors, but to instill in them respect for the environment and encourage them to positively impact the world around them.
Participatory Learning
Everyone learns better when they participate in real life projects with hands-on experience. Through our extensive partnerships with conservation organisations, NGOs and research institutes, students can participate in existing projects on the ground, from animal rehabilitation to reforestation.
Site Visits
Whether it’s getting behind the scenes of wildlife management programmes in East Africa or joining farmers in the Australian Outback, students will have the chance to visit and learn from top experts across various fields.
Field School
Learning outside the classroom has proven to develop students’ interests in the wider environment and so much more. Our camps have everything you need to run your classes while allowing you to experience the environment in more ways than you can achieve indoors.
Our Curriculum
We have developed a sequential programme for students aged 7 – 18 based on Curriculum Guidelines from Outdoor Education Australia. The programme gives students a broad range of critical outdoor and personal development skills, ranging from health and environmental management to conservation and culture.
Each year, we build on core areas and offer certification for individual students after successfully completing each stage, through our Adventure Passport Programme. In this way, schools are able to deliver well-structured outdoor education and adventure trips in different locations.
Ten Steps To Quality Outdoor Education
All of our trips are guided by the Outdoor Council’s 10 Step Positive Outcomes model.
Enjoyment
Young people enjoy participating in outdoor activities and adopt a positive attitude to challenge and adventure.
Confidence
Young people are gaining personal confidence and self-esteem by taking on challenges and achieving success.
Social Awareness
Young people are developing their self-awareness and social skills, and their appreciation of the contributions and achievements of themselves and of others.
Environmental Awareness
Young people are becoming alive to the natural environment and understand the importance of conservation and sustainable development.
Activity Skills
Young people are acquiring and developing a range of skills in outdoor activities, expeditions and exploration.
Personal Qualities
Young people are demonstrating increased initiative, self-reliance, responsibility, perseverance and commitment.
Key Skills
Risk Management: Young people are developing and extending their key skills of communication, problem-solving, leadership and teamwork.
Health & Fitness
Young people are learning to appreciate the benefits of physical fitness and the lifelong value of participation in healthy leisure activities.
Increased Motivation and Appetite for Learning
Young people are displaying an increased motivation and appetite for learning that is contributing to raised levels of attainment in other aspects of their education.
Broadened Horizons
Young people are broadening their horizons and becoming open to a wider range of employment opportunities and life chances.
Read the full Guide developed by the English Outdoor Council on High-Quality Outdoor Education.