Our Teaching in Nature programme supports groups of educators to work together to use a natural place to plan, implement and evaluate authentic and relevant outdoor learning experiences for their pupils. It combines collaborative, practical and online learning to support educators through the next stage in their outdoor learning professional development, pushing their boundaries and challenging their pupils. It matches experts on nature (site owners and managers) and experts on the curriculum (the educators), which benefits managers, educators and learners alike.
Teaching in Nature was accredited by the General Teaching Council for Scotland (GTCS) in 2014 (and reaccredited in 2019). This means that teachers who successfully complete the programme gain Professional Recognition in Outdoor Learning without having to apply separately to GTCS. The programme normally runs from for 12-18 months, starting in autumn. If we have places available, these will be advertised here.
Approximately 3500 learners and their teachers have directly benefited from our programme. A range of subjects have been addressed, including Technologies, Literacy, Sciences, Music, Maths and Social Subjects, many through interdisciplinary activities.
We contacted some participants one year after taking part.
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80% of respondents had continued to take learning outdoors;
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73% had supported a colleague to take learning outdoors;
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87% said that they were more able to adapt plans according to things that happen on the day;
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87% were more confident about championing outdoor learning, having seen the benefits for themselves;
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More than half of respondents now plan for a wider range of curriculum areas outdoors;
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90% said that their confidence in taking learning outdoors had increased.
Having seen the impact it can have, we would like more people to have the chance to benefit from the Teaching in Nature approach.
Guidance and case studies for educators
Guidance and case studies for land owners and managers
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