Blog post by: Aljosa Rudas and Hannah Machiels
Last week, we facilitated a Training of Trainers (ToT) as part of the Outdoor Play Labs project (OUTPLAY). Hosted by the Educational Research Institute (ERI), the ToT brought together the project partners to learn about and experience the newly developed OUTPLAY Toolkit.
At the heart of the OUTPLAY project lies the belief that some of the richest and most meaningful learning experiences happen outdoors. Not only does spending time outdoors help children regulate their emotions and improve their wellbeing, but it also allows them to build a connection with nature from an early age – these early experiences lay the foundation for a lifelong appreciation of and care for the natural world. Building on this, the project brings together STEM education, Social and Emotional Learning (SEL), and outdoor play to create meaningful learning opportunities for children aged 3-10.
To bring this approach into practice, ICDI developed the OUTPLAY Toolkit: Learning Outdoors through Play for preschool and primary school educators. The toolkit guides educators through the OUTPLAY approach with a theoretical background and pedagogical foundations, before introducing seven thematic projects that encourage children to gradually explore the world around them; they start small with what they can find right at their feet and slowly expand their focus to the wider environment to eventually end at the Earth itself. Across these themes, educators can use 42 outdoor learning activities, alongside reflection and assessment tools that help them document children’s STEM and SEL learning. Accompanying the toolkit, ICDI also developed the Outdoor Learning Lab Kit & DIY Guide (OLL Kit), which outlines all materials educators might need to implement the activities, as well as practical tips on how to collect, organise, and put these materials together in their own portable Outdoor Learning Lab Kits.
During the training in Ljubljana, we worked through the Toolkit together with the partners, allowing us to exchange ideas and experiences, provide feedback before the toolkit is piloted, and also to experience the activities ourselves. We also took some time to reflect on what was still needed for partners to feel confident in implementing the toolkit and the OLL. The three main areas identified included: a stronger understanding of the theoretical foundations behind the activities; more hands-on experience with the toolkit materials; and knowing how to respond to uncertainty from caregivers and schools about the value of outdoor play. Through practical sessions, discussions, and the exchange of personal knowledge and experiences, we were able to discuss these topics at length. By the end of the training, everyone left feeling confident in both the toolkit and the ideas behind it, ready to start bringing OUTPLAY into practice.
Of course, a project about the importance of outdoor play would not have been complete without spending plenty of time outdoors ourselves. Many of the sessions took place in the green areas around ERI’s office, and we even did some extracurricular nature activities – from taking a walk through the scenic Tivoli Park to visiting the beautiful surroundings of Lake Bled! Somewhere between testing the activities, sharing our previous outdoor learning experiences, and enjoying the fresh air, we were reminded of how magical it can be to be outdoors. After all, if we want children to enjoy the outdoors, should we not first believe in its value ourselves?
With the training now behind us, we will focus on making some of the last improvements to the toolkit. After that, the toolkit will be translated into all partner languages before being implemented by each of the partners in their countries. The project partners are Open Academy Step by Step in Croatia, Educational Research Institute in Slovenia, Škola dokorán – Wide Open School in Slovakia, and Fundacja Pro-Fil in Poland.
After this inspiring week, we look forward to seeing the OUTPLAY activities come to life in classrooms and outdoor spaces across Europe. At the same time, we also keep reminding ourselves that if we want children to discover the joy of learning outdoors, we should never stop experiencing that joy ourselves.
OUTPLAY is implemented by a transnational consortium of early childhood education, research, and community-based organisations across Europe, led by Škola dokorán – Wide Open School, and and includes International Child Development Initiatives (the Netherlands), Fundacja Pro Fil (Poland), Pučko otvoreno učilište “Korak po korak” (Croatia), Pedagoški institut (Slovenia), and the International Step by Step Association(the Netherlands).
Co-funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or SK01 – Slovak Academic Association for International Cooperation. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them.
