A new initiative to teach more outdoors: teach outdoors in the natural park

The management of the nature park and the 10 schools of the natural park of the Attersee-Traunsee nature park are starting a new initiative for more outdoor teaching with the delivery of the book “Teaching Outdoors”.
“With this practical manual we want to help our committed educators bring the classroom to nature,” says Clemens Schnaitl of Nature Park Management, “because not only can biology be taught well outside, but also mathematics, language lessons, specialized knowledge, geography and geology, history, musical and visual education, works and of course exercise and sport “.

In the schools of the natural parks of Upper Austria, the transfer of knowledge in nature has been practiced for a long time. Training courses, workshops and annual days of natural parks are prepared and carried out together with nature mediators and herbalists or forest educators. The schoolyards and gardens are gradually being developed in collaboration with the nature park communities that keep the schools in the direction of “classrooms in the field”. With the creation of wildflower beds, insect hotels, bird nesting aids, and the 10-season natural calendar hedge, important components for natural classrooms have been created in recent years. Because especially now, in the challenging days of the Crown, the concept of “teaching out” is literally awe-inspiring.

There are several good reasons to take lessons outdoors: Experts agree that spending time in nature strengthens the immune system and helps you cope with stress – that is, it has positive effects on your health. In addition, “teaching outdoors” promotes motivation to learn and anchors what has been learned. It also has a social competence building effect and promotes cohesion in the class community and above all: being in nature is simply good for you!

The “Teach Outdoors” practical manual provides 300 robust and waterproof ideas for curriculum-based teaching for primary and secondary schools (secondary level).