Outdoor Learning and Sustainability Conference 2018

Children running across school grass

This annual conference was organised by the Devon Education for Sustainability Working Group in collaboration with Natural Devon for the 13th March 2018. It provided educators in all schools and settings and at all stages of learning with an invaluable opportunity to:

  • Understand how outdoor learning across the curriculum can improve the engagement, achievement and well-being of children and young people as well as enabling them to feel more hopeful about the future.
  • Appreciate the motivational power of learning about and for the environment through sustainability.
  • Clarify how to embed outdoor learning and sustainability strategically across their school or setting and assess its impact on children and young people.
  • Leave with inspiration, resources and support to be a more effective educator in outdoor learning and sustainability.

This was a very practical and interactive day which met the needs of educators new to outdoor learning and sustainability as well as those with more experience. The programme consisted of workshops (inside and out), symposiums, TeachMeet sessions, seminars and presentations. There was an emphasis on providing opportunities for networking and learning from the good practice of colleagues. To finish there was a large exhibition of outdoor learning and sustainability providers currently working with schools and settings across the south west region from which colleagues could seek advice and practical support.

Children smiling by an insect hotel they made