Outdoor Learning: A Future Perspective

Outdoor learning is gaining increasing importance and is being recognised as a crucial component of education. The ECIS & ISD Outdoor Learning Conference in Düsseldorf in May 2025 underscores this development. Such events demonstrate that outdoor learning is not only feasible but also highly beneficial.

International Examples

Many countries already have successful examples of outdoor learning:

• Denmark: Approximately 30% of schools practise “Udeskole”, where classes spend at least one day outdoors every fortnight.
• Switzerland: The SILVIVA Foundation aims for at least 20% of all Swiss children to learn outdoors once a week by 2030.
• Germany: Schools such as Glücksburg Primary School in Schleswig-Holstein have successfully implemented the concept of outdoor schooling.
• Scandinavia and Great Britain: Outdoor learning is well-established here and is regarded as an important part of the education system.

Benefits and Future Prospects

Outdoor learning offers numerous advantages:

• Health benefits: Improvement of physical and mental health.
• Cognitive development: Enhancement of concentration and motivation.
• Social skills: Promotion of teamwork and communication abilities.
• Environmental awareness: Building a connection with nature.

Given these benefits, all schools should integrate the concept of outdoor learning into their curricula. It offers a unique opportunity to promote children’s health, well-being, and holistic development. For the sake of children and their future, educational institutions should take the step to implement regular learning in nature.

The Berlin Cosmopolitan School has been around for over 6 years. We have written down our experiences. Our pupils are our proof. It’s worth it, it’s a way to tackle many challenges.

Check out the Article from April 7, 2025 “BCS takes part in a research project on outdoor teaching”