Outdoor learning is a powerful way to enrich education and foster a deeper connection with the natural world. By embedding these experiences into school culture, we can enhance wellbeing, engagement, and sustainability across the whole community.
Nature Connection
Outdoor learning takes students beyond the classroom into natural environments, creating active, creative, and memorable experiences. Regular time outdoors improves mental health, resilience, concentration, behaviour, attendance, and attainment. Nature connectedness, the emotional and cognitive bond with the natural world, develops through repeated, meaningful experiences. This connection fosters care, responsibility, and motivation to protect nature. When schools prioritise outdoor learning, sustainability becomes something lived rather than taught, inspiring climate action and a shared sense of purpose across the school community. Embedding these experiences helps students grow as environmentally conscious citizens while strengthening wellbeing and engagement in learning.
Outdoor Learning in School Culture
Integrating outdoor learning starts with curriculum design: science experiments in school grounds, geography fieldwork, and creative writing inspired by nature. Beyond lessons, eco-clubs, biodiversity projects, and campaigns empower students to act for climate and nature. Operational changes, such as wildlife areas, tree planting, outdoor classrooms, make nature accessible daily, supported by practical resources like waterproofs. Staff training and collaborative planning build confidence, while partnerships with environmental organisations and frameworks such as the John Muir Award provide structure and recognition. Celebrating achievements through assemblies, newsletters, or awards reinforces positive behaviours and motivates continued action, creating a culture where sustainability thrives.
Sometimes it's not possible to get pupils physically out onto a farm. LEAF provide free virtual farm visits for primary and secondary students.
Videos
This National Education Nature Park video explains how teachers can guide students through a five-step cycle to boost biodiversity on school grounds: mapping spaces, identifying opportunities, planning, implementing changes, and monitoring impact.
This video highlights how the John Muir Award because promotes environmental stewardship and outdoor learning. Through structured activities, the programme helps students connect with nature, develop skills, and take responsibility for conservation, aligning with sustainability and curriculum goals.
Newsround showcase the benefits of engaging with Outdoor Learning Day, a twice a year event that encourages schools to embrace nature-based education. Teachers can join in by planning outdoor lessons and using provided resources to make learning active, memorable, and connected to the natural world.
The Woodland Trust’s Green Tree Schools Award video highlights free support for teachers, including tree planting guidance, curriculum-linked projects, and recognition through a flexible award system that boosts wellbeing and nature engagement.
Organisations and support
Frameworks
The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom offers schools and educators free guidance, audit tools, lesson ideas, quality badge accreditation, and partner resources, all designed to help embed outdoor learning into curriculum, enhance wellbeing, and deliver highimpact, memorable learning experiences.
The Forest School Association webpage provides guidance, training, and accreditation for educators to deliver Forest School programs. It offers resources, best practice advice, and a supportive network to help schools embed outdoor learning, build confidence, and connect children with nature year-round.
Resources and Training
Learning Through Landscapes offers teachers practical outdoor learning training, including courses, resources, and expert guidance. Support covers curriculum integration, risk management, and activity ideas, helping educators confidently deliver engaging lessons outdoors.
Sustainability Support for Education have collated resources designed to support you with developing an outdoor learning space in school. These spaces can support the teaching of sustainability by allowing young people to observe and interact with the environment.
The Sustainable Schools Academy offers teachers guidance, resources, and training to integrate outdoor learning into the curriculum. It provides practical lesson ideas, planning support, and strategies to link nature-based activities with sustainability education.
The Royal Horticultural Society's free online courses will help you to understand the key benefits of gardening in your school and give you the skills to get growing. There are 3 courses, all just one hour long.
WWT Learning Zone provide curriculum resource packs designed to support outdoor learning. Teachers can access detailed lesson plans and activities linked to science and geography, helping students explore nature hands-on while integrating environmental topics into classroom teaching effectively.
The Teaching Climate and Sustainability in Primary Schools course on FutureLearn is for primary educators. It builds confidence in teaching climate topics, offers outdoor learning strategies, and provides practical tools to embed sustainability across the curriculum effectively.
LEAF Education provides teachers with training, interactive workshops, and curriculum-linked resources focused on food, farming, and sustainability. It helps educators bring outdoor learning to life, connecting students with real-world environmental issues and promoting hands-on experiences beyond the classroom.
Suffolk Wildlife Trust helps schools embrace outdoor learning through nature reserve visits, Wilder Schools programmes, and teacher training in Forest School and Wild Beach. These resources inspire curriculum-linked activities, fostering environmental awareness and hands-on experiences in natural spaces.
RSPB Wild Challenge empowers schools with a free award scheme featuring nature-themed and conservation activities, CPD for teachers, online evidence submission, and bronzetogold certificates — boosting outdoor learning and wildlife stewardship.
Grow to School provides expert guidance, resources, and training to help schools create vibrant outdoor learning spaces. From curriculum-linked activities to practical gardening support, they empower teachers and pupils to connect with nature, boost wellbeing, and embed sustainability into everyday learning.
Happy By Nature is WWF-UK’s primary schools programme helping schools embed daily nature connection. It offers a free classroom pack (poster, passport, stickers, stamp), four themed curriculum linked activity sets, live webinars with Steve Backshall, and outdoor and play toolkits.
