Why Teaching Outdoors Is So Important To Me
As a teacher, I often reflect on my time as a student, trying to remember what it was like for me at the age I now teach. Recently, when presenting a session on outdoor learning for the Institute for Outdoor Learning Global Conference. I decided to start with a story. This story explains my ‘Why’—why […]
A Message from the Doers: Consider context when offering advice
For the past two years, I’ve been sharing my experiences teaching children outdoors. I now feel confident in sharing this because of my 11 years of teaching experience, my MSc Outdoor Education that I completed alongside my practical experience. Even with this background, I still try to avoid using prescriptive language when sharing: like “should” […]
Ditch the Assumptions: Creating engaging outdoor learning lessons for your students
When working as an outdoor learning specialist across four international schools (Early Years to Year 6, for three years!), I led countless forest excursions for curriculum-linked tasks. My initial thought? Every child would be thrilled! But the reality wasn’t always that simple. I remember my confusion when some kids didn’t seem as into the trips […]
Learning Outdoors: A Digital-Natural Blend
I often get asked about my approach to learning outdoors. While I’m advocate for hands-on discovery with natural materials, I’ve also enjoyed combining edtech—specifically, the iPad. I find it a useful tool for bridging the gap between the outdoors and the classroom, creating an engaging experience for learners. Here’s how I use iPads to enhance […]
15 Years Going Strong: A Community Built and Bonded in the Great Outdoors!
Our Edinburgh University Outdoor Education MSc cohort recently celebrated our 15-year anniversary, a testament to the powerful community we built and the enduring love for nature that brought us together. Looking back on my time at the University of Edinburgh, one of the best years of my life was spent canoeing down the River Spey, […]
Outdoor Learning Worshop Success: Outdoor Learning Conference 2025
I am thrilled to have presented my Wild STEM Outdoor Learning workshop at the ECIS, the Educational Collaborative for International Schools Outdoor Learning Conference 2025! What a truly memorable and wonderful experience connecting with so many inspiring educators passionate about outdoor learning. I was absolutely overjoyed and humbled by the incredible turnout for my workshop […]
Learning English Outdoors: Phonics Fun in the Sun 🌞
The suns out!!! It’s the perfect time to take learning outdoors! Today, our brilliant KS1 EAL(English ad a second language) learners embarked on an exciting alphabet hunt across the playground! But the fun didn’t stop there! We brought the learning full circle by using our trusty phonics disks to build different words. This hands-on approach […]
Father’s Hope: Nurturing Our Children’s Connection to Nature
Watching my daughter stare in wide-eyed wonder at the great outdoors fills me with a teacher’s resolve. This natural connection, blossoming at such a young age, must be nurtured. In our fast-paced world, many children lack regular access to nature. Busy schedules, urban living, and safety concerns can create a barrier to exploring the wonders […]
Outdoor Learning Equipment: Less can mean more?
Many teachers love incorporating outdoor learning into our curriculum, but the pressure to create and manage elaborate outdoor equipment setups can feel overwhelming (time a lot if teachers may not have). The truth is, children thrive on simple exploration and open-ended play. So maybe you don’t need the pinterest-perfect mud kitchen and instead make it […]
Proud Moment: I Presented At My First Conference
Proud moment! Another step in the right direction. Just wrapped up my first conference presentation at Practicle Pedagogies 2024. It’s been a rollercoaster ride the past few years, filled with my fairshare of self-doubt and challenges to overcome. But I continue to push myself outside my comfort zone in order to develop into the educator […]