Being in contact with the outdoor has a considerable impacto positivo on the cognitive, behavioural and emotional development of human beings since prehistory. Even nowadays it is not unusual to feel inspired, intimidated or even influenced by walking in nature or admiring a natural or urban landscape. Outdoor education is an innovative teaching approach that offers the possibility to address two of the most important topics of today’s society: providing long-lasting high-quality education e raising awareness on the importance of preserving our planet in the face of the daunting threat of as alterações climáticas.
A nova edição do curso “Educação ao ar livre: uma nova forma de ensinar e aprender” took place in Bologna, Italy from 26/10/2025 to 01/11/2025. The participants came from all across Europe, with Kristi, Kaidi and Maris from Kanepi Gymnasium in Estonia, Marietta from Salgótarjáni Bolyai János Gimnázium in Hungary and Ilona and Borbála from Salgótarjáni Tankerületi Központ – Salgótarjáni Bolyai János Gimnázium NA2101 in Hungary too.
Starting from the definition of Educação ao ar livre, we explored the diverse ways in which we can guide our students to come in contact with the outdoor, which doesn’t imply to be always in nature and forests. Indeed, we dedicated one part of the training to Urban Outdoor Education in the city. The participants learned to teach subjects like science, maths, music, art, language and more by testing activities which guided their attention to the surroundings.
In addition, our course was divided into five different days, and this is how the week was organized:
On Monday, we started the week in class by giving a definition to Outdoor Education and discussed its benefits. Moreover, the participants presented their schools and shared their different ways of working with Outdoor Education.
A nova edição do curso “Educação ao ar livre: uma nova forma de ensinar e aprender” took place in Bologna, Italy from 26/10/2025 to 01/11/2025. The participants came from all across Europe, with Kristi, Kaidi and Maris from Kanepi Gymnasium in Estonia, Marietta from Salgótarjáni Bolyai János Gimnázium in Hungary and Ilona and Borbála from Salgótarjáni Tankerületi Központ – Salgótarjáni Bolyai János Gimnázium NA2101 in Hungary too.
Starting from the definition of Educação ao ar livre, we explored the diverse ways in which we can guide our students to come in contact with the outdoor, which doesn’t imply to be always in nature and forests. Indeed, we dedicated one part of the training to Urban Outdoor Education in the city. The participants learned to teach subjects like science, maths, music, art, language and more by testing activities which guided their attention to the surroundings.
In addition, our course was divided into five different days, and this is how the week was organized:
On Monday, we started the week in class by giving a definition to Outdoor Education and discussed its benefits. Moreover, the participants presented their schools and shared their different ways of working with Outdoor Education.
On Tuesday, the group reached Villa Ghigi and participated in activities for developing their senses, orientation, warm up and team building.
On Wednesday, participants went to the city center of Bologna to play an interactive urban treasure hunt game, which was very useful and entertaining.
On Thursday, the group mainly discussed about the role of non formal education.
Finally, on Friday, participants participated in different outdoor activities for different subjects and reflecting on how to plan an activity outdoor.
Another part of the course was focused on practicing many tools in a natural environment in local parks. All the games and activities tested were much appreciated and gave inspiration to our participant not only in sharing their activities with the rest of the group, but also to create their own Outdoor activity.
Participants also explored the concepts of Non Formal Education (NFE), a pedagogical approach in which many of the outdoor activities falls in. This approach puts at the centre of the learning process the concrete experience that students live when they are performing an activity or a task. By following the entire cycle and making sure we ask our students the correct reflecting questions, they are able to relate the new knowledge acquired to their lives and apply it.
Indeed, the last part of the course was dedicated to designing an outdoor experience ad hoc for each participant’s target group. After studying the principles of outdoor learning approach, discovering the 10 Kurt Hahn rules and their true meaning, getting in touch with many different urban and natural activities, in the last day of the course each participant designed an outdoor lesson based on the subject taught. Taking into consideration the level of age of their pupils, and the skills and topics they wanted to address, each teacher planned in details the session, presented it to the other participants of the course and received feedback on how to improve it. This week was a true example itself of the efficacy of experiential outdoor learning: with our hands-on approach, participants had a real taste of what an outdoor education activity looks like and acquired the knowledge needed to plan one for their pupils.
During this course participants were able to explore a vast series of activities and games that they will be able to replicate with their students, showing that learning doesn’t happen only inside a classroom!
Saiba mais sobre este curso aqui.
On Wednesday, participants went to the city center of Bologna to play an interactive urban treasure hunt game, which was very useful and entertaining.
On Thursday, the group mainly discussed about the role of non formal education.
Finally, on Friday, participants participated in different outdoor activities for different subjects and reflecting on how to plan an activity outdoor.
Another part of the course was focused on practicing many tools in a natural environment in local parks. All the games and activities tested were much appreciated and gave inspiration to our participant not only in sharing their activities with the rest of the group, but also to create their own Outdoor activity.
Participants also explored the concepts of Non Formal Education (NFE), a pedagogical approach in which many of the outdoor activities falls in. This approach puts at the centre of the learning process the concrete experience that students live when they are performing an activity or a task. By following the entire cycle and making sure we ask our students the correct reflecting questions, they are able to relate the new knowledge acquired to their lives and apply it.
Indeed, the last part of the course was dedicated to designing an outdoor experience ad hoc for each participant’s target group. After studying the principles of outdoor learning approach, discovering the 10 Kurt Hahn rules and their true meaning, getting in touch with many different urban and natural activities, in the last day of the course each participant designed an outdoor lesson based on the subject taught. Taking into consideration the level of age of their pupils, and the skills and topics they wanted to address, each teacher planned in details the session, presented it to the other participants of the course and received feedback on how to improve it. This week was a true example itself of the efficacy of experiential outdoor learning: with our hands-on approach, participants had a real taste of what an outdoor education activity looks like and acquired the knowledge needed to plan one for their pupils.
During this course participants were able to explore a vast series of activities and games that they will be able to replicate with their students, showing that learning doesn’t happen only inside a classroom!
Saiba mais sobre este curso aqui.
Where this course took place: Erasmus courses for teachers in Bologna
Planning your own Erasmus+ course? Descarregue o catálogo de cursos 2026-2027
English (UK)
Español
Italiano
Deutsch
Română
Български
Čeština
Ελληνικά
Polski
Português
Français