Developing outdoor approaches to learning in schools is increasingly being recognized as effective in preparing young learners for the 21st century workplace. We aim to empower all students, including those with mental or behavioral health problems by enhancing emotional wellbeing through the development of creative/nature-based learning skills. With schools currently facing a multitude of external, top-down pressures on educational attainment and health and wellbeing inequalities, there is a need for learning experiences that simultaneously improve health, wellbeing and school engagement whilst addressing curriculum needs.

Our collective experiences show that the opportunity to provide high-quality teaching experiences to engage children aged 7-12 in learning is not restricted to the classroom setting. Taking learning outside the classroom/into the natural environment provides the opportunity for an integrated, cross-curricular approach to achieving education aims.