Creative Outdoor Arts for Sustainability Education
DESCRIPTION
A professional development course designed for educators seeking to integrate arts and sustainability education into their teaching practices. This course addresses critical challenges in sustainability education, including the limited impact of current initiatives, the lack of meaningful learning opportunities for students, and the constraints faced by teachers in implementing sustainability education.
Despite progress, sustainability education often relies on individual efforts, limiting its broader impact (Education and Training Monitor, 2024). Only 42% of young people report having meaningful opportunities to learn about sustainability in school, and teachers often cite lack of time, space, and resources as barriers to integrating sustainability into their teaching (European Commission staff working document, 2024). Additionally, while 84% of young people believe sustainability is important, fewer than one-third take action in their daily lives, highlighting the need for more engaging and actionable education (Education and Training Monitor, 2024).
Schools also face disruptions due to climate change, and many students are unaware of career opportunities in the green transition (World Bank report, 2024; OECD working paper, 2024).
This course equips educators with practical tools and strategies to overcome these challenges by integrating outdoor arts education into their classrooms.
Through a combination of theoretical insights, hands-on activities, and collaborative exercises, participants will learn how to design and implement engaging outdoor arts activities that align with curriculum standards, foster student engagement, and promote sustainability.
COMPETENCES
Understand and apply the principles of Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) in formal and non-formal educational settings.
Design and implement outdoor education activities that align with EU curriculum standards and address local environmental challenges.
Develop creative strategies to engage students in environmental learning and combat disengagement.
Foster intercultural collaboration and share best practices in outdoor education across European countries.
Cultivate personal and social skills through nature-based activities and reflective exercises.
Create personalized action plans to integrate outdoor education into school programs and community initiatives.
METHODOLOGY
This course combines practical, outdoor-based learning with interactive and collaborative approaches. Key methodologies include:
Hands-on outdoor training sessions in natural settings.
Cooperative group work and idea-sharing activities.
Role-playing and scenario-based exercises to address real-world environmental challenges.
Reflective journaling and feedback sessions to enhance learning outcomes.
Workshops for co-creating environmental education tools and strategies.
Intercultural exchanges to explore diverse approaches to outdoor learning.
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9:00–9:30: Welcome Session and Introduction to the Course.
9:30–10:30: Icebreaker Activity: Sharing experiences with environmental education.
10:30–11:00: Exploring ESD and the importance of outdoor learning.
11:00–11:15: Coffee Break.
11:15–12:00: Personal Goal-Setting Exercise.
12:00–13:00: Group Discussion: Challenges and opportunities in environmental education.
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9:00–10:00: Challenges in Outdoor Education.
10:00–11:00: Introduction to ESD (Part 1).
11:00–11:15: Coffee Break.
11:15–12:00: Advanced ESD Strategies (Part 2).
12:00–14:00: Workshop: Creating nature-based lesson plans aligned with EU standards.
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9:00–10:00: Building a Supportive Outdoor Learning Environment.
10:00–11:00: Teaching Methods for Environmental Education Success.
11:00–11:15: Coffee Break.
11:15–12:30: Integration Strategies for Inclusive Outdoor Classrooms.
12:30–14:00: Enhancing Student Engagement Through Nature-Based Activities.
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9:00–10:00: Addressing Environmental Challenges in Education.
10:00–11:00: Empathy in Practice: Intercultural Outdoor Education Challenge.
11:00–11:15: Coffee Break.
11:15–12:30: Developing Collaborative European Environmental Projects.
12:30–14:00: Case Studies and Problem-Solving in Outdoor Settings.
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9:00–10:00: Overcoming Resistance to Change in Outdoor Practices.
10:00–11:00: Workshop: Creating a Good Practice Guide for Outdoor Education.
11:00–11:15: Coffee Break.
11:15–12:30: Presentation of Workshop Outcomes.
12:30–13:30: Reflective Exercises: Enhancing Personal and Social Skills in Outdoor Settings.
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9:00–10:00: Presenting Personalized Action Plans for Integrating Outdoor Education.
10:00–11:00: Course Wrap-Up: Key Learnings and Future Commitments.
11:00–11:15: Coffee Break.
11:15–12:30: Certificate Awarding Ceremony.
12:30–13:30: Closing Session and Farewell.
RESULTS
Gain a deeper understanding of ESD and its relevance in modern education.
Acquire practical skills to design and implement effective outdoor learning activities.
Develop innovative strategies to address environmental challenges in their communities.
Strengthen their ability to collaborate across cultures and educational systems.
Feel motivated and equipped to lead sustainable education initiatives in their schools.
Be able to transform environmental challenges into engaging learning opportunities.
Course Format
One-week length: two weeks or other formats are available on request.
4-5 hours per day: from Monday to Friday, with excursions planned during the training.
Fully fundable: Meeting the Erasmus+ KA1 budget criteria.
Flexible: change courses, locations, or dates without fees.
Audience and requirements
Courses are structured around the collective sharing of participants’ experiences, therefore all courses are in English. For participants with a very low English level, we advised to come with a translator in the team.
We provide tailored courses for school roles like teachers, principals, and staff, as well as for different levels of IT skills. Our programs are designed to meet the unique needs of professionals such as adult educators, language teachers, youth workers, and social workers, ensuring they have a meaningful impact in education and social work.
€80/ day
Our services include:
✔ Infopack about the location
✔ Pre-arrival information.
✔ Tuition & training materials.
✔ Coffee break.
✔ Training Certificate.
✔Europass Certificate.
✔ Admin & organisational costs.
Additional Services:
✔ Accommodation options, including hotels and self-catering apartments
✔ Half-day and full-day trips
✔ Cultural experiences and local activities
✔ Airport transfer services
✔ Local transportation arrangements
Our Pricing:
100% funded by the Erasmus Plus Program
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