Outdoor learning is an important, proven and effective tool for the development of the individual and a group. It combines a range of experiences, processes and environments that tend to be outside of the experiences of the participants and is therefore an excellent tool to help participants understand both themselves and others.

The diversity of approaches and learning methods available through outdoor learning enables participants to experience at first hand, in a highly safe environment, physical, social and emotional learning in an innovative and rewarding manner. The flexibility of outdoor learning and the strength of its development potential means it is used as an integral component of many programmes in a wide range of contexts.

It provides transferable approaches to achieving goals, building trust, working with others and overcoming obstacles. One very common theme of these outdoor learning exercises is that participants have to collaborate and pool their ideas and experiences. A shared residential experience in combination with an outdoor learning development programme can help to develop important life skills with participants being given the opportunity to grow in self-reliance in a safe environment.

Participants who have been involved with outdoor learning are often exhilarated by the experience of achieving their goals and having successfully worked out of their comfort zone. This provides them with the confidence to tackle uncertainty and challenge elsewhere in their personal, school and working lives, thereby realising more of their potential.

High impact and high quality outdoor learning is therefore very different from outdoor activity. Outdoor activities just focus on the entertainment of the activity itself whereas outdoor learning is highly developmental.

Outdoor learning works in a unique way. It works with participants and it sticks!

Research indicates a need for outdoor learning in a number of areas –

1. Residential experiences. Where personal, social and emotional development undergoes a step change. This combined with using outdoor learning for people to experiment with their ‘stretch zone’.

2. Employment skills. Outdoor learning impacts key areas that help young people and adults gain the life skills to help them reach their potential at work.

3. Health. Outdoor learning helps people to engage positively emotionally as well as physically. Physical development is a healthy by-product whilst engaged in other activities and helps young people to find a positive way to enjoy physical activity. In addition healthy eating programmes at outdoor centres on a residential can have a major impact.