Outdoor Learning in the Winter Months

A look at the benefits of autumn and winter outdoor and residential learning experiences.

“There’s no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
- Alfred Wainwright

As the seasons change it’s easy to discount the opportunity to enhance learning through the great outdoors. The days get shorter, the weather turns colder and wetter and the lure of a warm, well lit and safer indoor environment makes for a safe port to anchor in through the winter months.

However, as the saying goes – ships are safest in the port, but that’s not what ships are for!
No matter what the season, the purpose for educating young people remains the same.

We all want to help children to reach their full potential and to do so means exposing them to the best learning experiences possible as a platform for their future success.

To create an irresistible curriculum in a school involves planning and implementing variety, challenge and real experiences that, with guidance, allow the children to be innovative, gain and apply knowledge and be creative to gain a sense of wonder and achievement that itself acts as a catalyst for a desire to keep learning.

Essentially, we want them to become knowledgeable about themselves, care for those around them, responsible for the world they live in and passionate to know more! Sadly, for those who teach, the true impact of our part in their education is often unseen until later in a child’s life. Occasionally we see moments of success in those we educate, we reflect on the fantastic progress a child has made in an academic year or receive a heart-felt thanks from a parent.

We may bump into them later in life or hear from others that someone’s become a Doctor, finished University or become a great parent to two kids themselves.

Therefore, we need to be sure that the time they are with us, short as it is, needs to give them the best preparation as they set sail into the unknown waters of life.

Enhancing the curriculum

Outdoor educational experiences are well proven to enhance a school’s curriculum to bring about some of the outcomes mentioned above. Such benefits can be found in national guidance such as High Quality Outdoor Learning: www.englishoutdoorcouncil.org/HQOE.pdf

As our society develops and changes, there is a danger that not exposing our children to some of the hazards and challenges of the world will limit their ability to manage risk levels or gain benefits for themselves later in life, whilst also reducing the likelihood of continuing to benefit from outdoor learning experiences.

For those interested in knowing more on this subject, the ‘Nothing Ventured’ publication by Tim Gill is well worth a read 

Building a connection with nature

In Scandinavian countries, people have built a connection with nature as part of their society. From nursery age, through school and right into adult working life people are encouraged to practice ‘friluftsliv’ which means being fully present in nature, getting outdoors & open-air living, all year round in some of the toughest conditions imaginable.

This is more than just about being in nature – physical presence is just the starting point – but more about being mindful and appreciative of the environment and that present moment where they really connect with the world around them.

Despite the initial challenges of the dark and the UK weather, the autumn and winter periods are excellent times of year to increase the opportunity for schools to add to their curriculum and the children’s learning experiences.

The changes in temperature and weather promote a sense of challenge from the elements that require children to plan and take responsibility for their comfort levels. It builds their resilience and the need to be aware of how the environment is affecting others as much as themselves.

The power of nature

Sometimes the power of nature gives us more perspective as we feel our place in world through immersion in a challenging environment, such as struggling to walk against a strong wind or feeling the rain bounce off you as you smile at the feeling of protection from your waterproof coat and the warmth of your woolly hat.

The winter seasons also provide a change in colour as well as feel. A gentle walk on a cold morning through a forest bursting with autumnal colours
or an early afternoon setting sun casting long shadows over a still landscape can create some vivid memories for children.

This gives opportunity for creativity and reflection as children become aware, inspired and responsible for the world around them.
And when that sun finally sets, the world they know may appear as if sleeping. In reality, a whole new magical world in just awakening! Night walks provide access to animals and sounds not usually heard by children, with a real sense of challenge as one of their senses is taken from them, clinging tightly to the person next to them for support as they face this adventure in an unknown world together.

As if this isn’t enough, nothing can beat that moment when the clouds clear and expose children to the wonders of the night sky. The constellations provide a creative narrative for their imaginations to run wild as the science of space again promotes curiosity, questioning and inspiration to learn more. And once the adventure is over, the sense of achievement and camaraderie is tangible. Piling into a warm minibus or singing loudly in unison around a campfire backdropped by a midnight sky, or maybe laughing in conversation while drinking a steaming cup of hot chocolate as the cold air nips at the windows, cements the experience into something the children can draw upon as a highlight of their time at school.

In fact, such experiences early in the school year can be a perfect cornerstone for building relationships between the children and with the teacher, or a springboard to launch into an immersive curriculum learning for the rest of the year.

Learning away

Being a champion of such experiences isn’t a new concept either. Learning Away have some great supporting literature to help convince parents and Headteachers that winter residentials are a good idea – see www.learningaway.org.uk/free-
resources/winter-residentials/2-benefits/ to get an insight on what the facts and figures say!

They’ve even created a promotional video to really help showcase the benefits: www.vimeo.com/234107865

Just as those we educate sometimes need a nudge in the right direction, so I hope this article has inspired you to reflect on your use of the outdoors and residentials in the winter period and possibly laid the foundations for a future visit that can really add depth and value to your curriculum and the lifelong memories education can give.