Routes to Outdoor Oriented Teaching and Sustainability Erasmus Project

Project Title

Routes to Outdoor Oriented Teaching and Sustainability

Project Key Action

This project related with these key action: Cooperation for innovation and the exchange of good practices

Project Action Type

This project related with this action type : Strategic Partnerships for Schools Only

Project Call Year

This project’s Call Year is 2017

Project Topics

This project is related with these Project Topics: Health and wellbeing; Natural sciences; Key Competences (incl. mathematics and literacy) – basic skills

Project Summary

Context/background of the project:
The project was created in context with the importance of health promotion in schools along with increased environmental awareness. In 2006 the European Commission, the Council of Europe and the World Health Organization supported the establishment of the European Network of Health Promoting Schools (ENHPS). In the project we address all four key themes in the policy of health promotion in schools: nutrition, mental health, physical activity and healthy lifestyle.

Objectives
The main objectives of the project were to interlace health promotion in schools with curricular contents, specifically regarding natural sciences and cultural heritage. Thus, with outdoor physical and intellectual activities in the field, we aimed to acquisition of knowledge and skills and at the same time to ignite interest in and recognition of the importance of one’s environment, its conservation and its value in the past, in the present and in the future.

Number and type/profile of participants
The participants of the project were teachers and pupils of the five partner schools. Around 60 pupils and 35 teachers were directly involved and participating in the short term learning and training activities. The pupils were in the age of 16-19. Three of the five schools had only girls participating, the Greek partner (which is a girls’ school), the Spanish and the Slovenian school. The Icelandic and Swedish partners had more or less equal number of boys and girls participating. The profiles of the pupils were very diverse but they had in common the motivation for experiencing different environment and cultures, hosting guests and introducing their own regions to them.

Description of undertaken activities
Each partner selected regions and hiking routes of interest in their region. Study kits were made, in which the objectives, target group, proceedings and processing of the activities were described. The activities were very diverse and with different emphasis regarding contents, but they all had in common to be outdoors or in the field. The activities included short and long hiking routes, skiing and orientation where students worked in groups, along the way or as a follow up, on subjects like geography, geology, fauna and flora, conservation, cultural heritage etc. These activities also included preparing a back pack with the proper nutrition and clothing as well as some survival strategies in case of mishaps or bad weather. Among activities were a visit to a natural and a regenerative farm where the groups had the opportunity to do some agricultural work and learn about sustainable farming. Also there were some guided visits, e.g. mines, power plants and national parks. As a follow up there were workshops in groups with discussions and conclusions.

One of the activities of the project was a logo competition. Pupils of all the partner schools participated and in some schools this was integrated in the graphic arts lessons.

Results and impact attained
The results attained can be divided into three categories.
A) The products of the learning activities. This category includes the learning material created by teachers and represented in standardized study kits and the routes recorded and described on the GPS application Wikiloc.
B) Acquisition of students’ skills and competencies as well as increased awareness of environmental and health issues. In addition to the vast new knowledge acquired in subjects like geology, history, geography and biology, pupils got the opportunity to practice in the field their previously acquired skills in these subjects as well as in languages through written and oral communication. For many of the pupils the activities were a “first time” experience. Not only were they coming to new places but were hiking in rural areas for the first time, skiing for the first time, experiencing snow for the first time, smelling Sulphur from a hot spring for the first time and being exposed to both the beauty and the harshness of nature for the first time.
C) Influence of school policy, development of teaching methods and international cooperation
The project has raised discussions in the schools and pointed the attention to the necessity of action to be a health promoting school. The project has enhanced personal and professional relations between teachers of different subjects. The nature of the project is such that it welcomes all subjects. Thus, one of the most important type of results is the inspiration and motivation for teachers to share experience, learn from others and develop their personal and professional skills.

Longer term benefits
The longer term benefits of the project concerns category C) above; the progress in school policy. Also regarding changes in awareness, lifestyle and social skills.

EU Grant (Eur)

Funding of the project from EU: 157202,24 Eur

Project Coordinator

Menntaskólinn í Reykjavík & Country: IS

Project Partners

• Hersby gymnasium
• Gimnazija Jurija Vege Idrija
• IES TORRELLANO
• RALLEIO GENIKO LYKEIO THILEON PEIRAIA