Planned and delivered! Teachers gain recognition for nature-based projects

The teachers were awarded Professional Recognition in Outdoor Learning from The General Teaching Council for Scotland after working with Grounds for Learning (GfL) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH).

They had taken part in SNH and GfL’s ‘Teaching in Nature’ projects and GfL’s Lead Teacher in Outdoor Learning Project. ‘Teaching in Nature’ evolved from a research project undertaken for SNH by the University of Stirling, also called Teaching in Nature. The projects match teachers with natural places, and the people who know about these.

Teachers planned and delivered visits to their place linked to other indoor and outdoor work with their class. They collaborated with other participants and shared plans and experiences, helping them overcome challenges and push their boundaries.

The benefits of outdoor experiences for young people’s learning, behaviour and physical and emotional health are now well recognised and Outdoor Learning is an integral part of the curriculum. However some teachers need support to fully integrate it into their practice. The professional development opportunities offered by GfL and SNH aim to provide this.

One of the teachers taking part in SNH’s Teaching in Nature project commented: “I have always associated Outdoor Learning with mainly Science topics or with Health and Well-being. I think this project has made me realise that Outdoor Learning has much more scope than this and that any curricular area can be covered outdoors."

Sharon Cunningham, SNH’s outdoor learning officer, said: “The Teaching in Nature project has allowed us to make a big impact on the participating teachers’ practice whilst making the most of available resources. A recent evaluation of our 2012/13 project shows that, one year later, most participants are still going out regularly and some have supported colleagues to do so too.

“The project also encourages teachers to access some of the National Nature Reserves we manage without being a huge draw on reserve staff time – something that is desperately valuable during the busy summer months.”

Matt Robinson, outdoor learning officer with Grounds for Learning, said: “It is satisfying to see the impact these programmes have on teachers’ and learners’ lives. This long-term course encourages teachers to make use of what they already know, using the outdoors according to the opportunities presented and learners’ interests, and is an incredibly powerful approach.

“SNH’s funding of our work has allowed us to develop these courses further, which has been recognised by the jump in numbers completing, and in accreditation by the General Teaching Council for Scotland.”