In May 2025 JUMP hosted a group of 10 primary school teachers for the Erasmus + training on “Outdoor Education”.
This 3-day workshop aimed to explore and outline the main principles of Outdoor Education and encourage pedagogical reflection among the participants.
The session kicked off on Tuesday morning with an ice-breaking activity and some meditation. It was followed by a brief introduction to Outdoor education, a nature walk, and a Gratitude Scavenger hunt. We then ended the session with a group discussion on the different ways in which Outdoor education could benefit students. Moreover, participants gained a deeper understanding of how nature can be used in a modern 21st-century classroom.
Wednesday’s session started with some team activities which encouraged the 4 C’s: collaboration, communication, critical thinking and creativity, followed by a discussion on outdoor safety and risk assessment. Finally, we discussed Technology and outdoor education and how the two can be used to create meaningful activities for young students. Moreover, the teachers showed enthusiasm and creativity throughout the entire morning.
On Thursday morning, the teachers learnt how to design an effective lesson plan for outdoor education and went on to prepare one themselves whilst sharing ideas among the group. Furthermore, the teachers developed solid ideas for implementing the strategies once home.
The session came to a close after a feedback moment and key takeaways. The session successfully engaged the participants in hands-on activities. The natural setting of the activities provided a stimulus for exploring different educational approaches, hence leaving the teachers with more confidence and enthusiasm in implementing the new practices into their classrooms.
Author: Isabel Di Cello, JUMP Trainer
