Outdoor learning: Health and Physical Education

Health and Physical Education

Outdoor learning provides opportunities to learn about interacting with others, connecting to the environment, teamwork and leadership. The outdoors provides a valid and important environment for developing movement competence, promoting a sense of wellbeing, enhancing personal and social skills, and developing an understanding of the concept of risk versus challenge. Outdoor recreation is typically associated with physical activity in outdoor, natural or semi-natural settings. These activities provide opportunities to connect individually, in small groups or as a community to the outdoor environment, contribute to health and wellbeing through direct personal experiences and promote lifelong physical activity.

Depending on how outdoor learning is planned and delivered, there is scope to link to focus areas such as: challenge and adventure activities, safety, health benefits of physical activity, food and nutrition, mental health and wellbeing, and lifelong physical activities.