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What Is The Future Of Outdoor Learning?
- richeddins
- Sep 22
- 7 min read
And Why Has It Caught The Government's Attention?
Currently, the government is conducting a review of school curricula, including the role of outdoor learning. We caught up with David Eddins, CEO of Mendip Adventure, to find out his thoughts on the future of outdoor learning and why the government should care. With over 20 years of experience in outdoor education and as a Director of Activities Industry Mutual (AIM), an organisation responsible for promoting best practice in the activities industry, David is well-placed to discuss the future of outdoor learning.
Table Of Contents
What Does Outdoor Learning Mean To Mendip?
At Mendip, outdoor learning means far more than just activities in the fresh air. It’s about building resilience, confidence and connection. I see every session as a chance to unlock young people’s potential in ways the classroom simply cannot replicate.
According to the Institute for Outdoor Learning, outdoor learning encompasses a range of inclusive, facilitated approaches that primarily utilise outdoor activities and experiences to foster learning, health, wellbeing and environmental awareness. Outdoor learning is delivered by leaders, like teachers or instructors, who create intentional experiences that benefit young people.
At Mendip Activity Centre, we’ve been providing activity days, residential programs, and Duke of Edinburgh Awards for decades. We’ve witnessed first-hand the long-lasting impact of outdoor learning on children and young people, shaping informed future citizens with a robust sense of wellbeing, resilience and respect for nature. Schools that partner with us consistently report that students carry the benefits of their residential experiences well beyond the school year. It’s a powerful way to consolidate classroom learning and build interpersonal relationships outside of a structured environment, in a different, dynamic setting.
6 Benefits Of Outdoor Learning
In my experience, the benefits of outdoor learning are extensive and multifaceted. These can include:
Personal and social development: The levelling nature of outdoor activities encourages children to learn to respect choice and develop a healthy relationship with risk, which helps build their interpersonal skills and awareness.
Health and wellbeing: Exposure to various activities beyond traditional team sports helps promote physical activity and mental health, allowing young people the opportunity to discover passions they can carry beyond their school years.
Environmental action: Respect for nature is a key value for us at Mendip, and both ourselves and educators have found that exposure to the outdoors helps foster a lasting sense of responsibility towards the environment.
Organisational skills: Young people benefit from testing and developing their planning and teamwork abilities in different environments, and the dynamic nature of outdoor learning provides excellent opportunities for them to grow together.
Academic achievement: Subjects that may be difficult to understand in the classroom can gain a new dimension outdoors. We often hear how outdoor learning has helped students engage with the curriculum on a deeper level, which supports improved learning outcomes.
Community development: Outdoor learning facilitates connection by encouraging young people to expand their awareness and develop their abilities to build strong relationships with both peers and teachers through shared experiences.
These benefits collectively help young people develop confidence in their abilities. As future leaders, young people today need to be equipped with the skills that will enable them to support themselves and their communities.
Why Does The Government Care About Outdoor Learning?
Outdoor learning is integral to youth development policy and education reform, and the demand for experiences that connect young people with nature has never been higher. The benefits to children are widely recognised, but at the same time, barriers to outdoor education access have also grown. These take many forms, but the most pressing challenges for schools are cost and limited time.
Over the years, the government has incorporated outdoor learning into various policies impacting children and young people. Over the past 20 years, I’ve also seen schools and families recognise the huge benefits of outdoor education; not only for physical health, but also for wellbeing, teamwork and problem-solving. Past government initiatives that supported outdoor learning include Every Child Matters and the National Citizen Service (NCS); at Mendip Adventure, we successfully delivered NCS programs for many years and witnessed tremendous benefits for the young people who participated.
In 2024, the government introduced the Adventures Away From Home Fund to assist youth organisations in delivering outdoor activities and overnight stays for disadvantaged children. However, this still falls short in ensuring every child has access to outdoor learning.
Currently, there is a review of youth programs and school curricula underway. MP Tim Farron has proposed that every child in the UK should have access to a week of outdoor learning at residential centres during both primary and secondary school. Recently, we had a visit with our local MP, Tessa Munt, who also supports this initiative which aims to ensure that funding is available for children from all backgrounds.
What We’re Seeing At Mendip
Today, more and more teachers are requesting outdoor learning experiences that focus on climate education, curriculum-linked trips, inclusivity and team-building activities. The upcoming Natural History GCSE is a prime example of opportunities for students to engage with outdoor learning within the curriculum, with added benefits that go far beyond the classroom.
At Mendip, we place a strong emphasis on building resilience and providing high-quality, screen-free learning. We do this in two ways:
We draw on decades of experience to deliver outdoor education programs designed to give children the tools they need to thrive. Activities like team challenges, environmental education and adventure activities don’t just link with curricula, build confidence and develop relationships - they also help foster an important lifelong connection with nature and adventure.
We develop professional outdoor instructors through our apprenticeships and paid courses, and we aim to attract high-quality candidates from all backgrounds. We’re supporting this generation to step into our shoes when the time comes, to help the outdoor industry grow and continue to make a difference to young people’s lives.
High-quality outdoor learning delivered by knowledgeable, professional instructors is how we provide tangible results that contribute to the resilience, confidence and well-being of children and young people.
The Future of Outdoor Learning: Challenges And Opportunities
One of the biggest challenges we face is ensuring every child has access to high-quality outdoor learning, regardless of background. While there is support for this initiative and outdoor learning in general, there is still a long way to go, and one of the obstacles the industry currently faces is the lack of evidence supporting outdoor learning.
However, with the right support and recognition, the opportunities are enormous. We’re not just focused on better educational outcomes; we’re talking about creating healthier, happier young people and stronger, more resilient communities.
Still, there are significant barriers. Funding is often limited. Urban schools face logistical challenges. Staffing shortages, unpredictable funding schemes and transport costs all impact access. Plus, teachers work so hard throughout the year that finding time for overnight or longer excursions can be challenging.
But I am hopeful. We’re seeing more partnerships with trusts and local authorities. There’s a growing political appetite for outdoor learning initiatives, and public support for outdoor education has only gotten stronger in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, which highlighted the importance of mental health and wellbeing for children and young people, especially.
For them, the benefits of outdoor learning are countless and far-reaching. Ultimately, while the government has always recognised the value of outdoor learning, the current challenge lies in transforming that recognition into long-term investment and sustained support.
The Role Of Outdoor Centres In The Future Of Outdoor Learning
The government’s vision for climate-literate, resilient, and healthy young people can’t be realised without the involvement of outdoor centres. Plus, schools need support to deliver outdoor learning experiences. With growing concerns around mental health, environmental responsibility and curriculum pressure, outdoor activity providers like us can create the space for students to thrive in ways that classrooms simply can’t offer.
We are essential elements of the educational landscape, not just as providers, but as experts in designing day and residential programs that serve young people. Outdoor centres can provide important supporting evidence for the benefits of outdoor learning and provide key input on program delivery.
Collaboration is very important if we’re to expand access to outdoor learning for all young people. Our friends in the outdoor industry are similarly passionate about building evidence in support of outdoor learning, and we are all invested in creating a dynamic, diverse and resilient workforce of instructors who are experts in supporting children and young people.
Land and Wave, YHA, Outward Bound, Cumulus, Rockley are organisations experienced in developing session plans and training curricula that go above and beyond in supporting students, educators, and instructors. Individually and collectively, we have valuable insights into the benefits of outdoor learning, and believe it is important to help build the body of evidence in support of it.
Looking to the future, outdoor centres will play a crucial role in rebalancing young people’s lives, offering vital antidotes to screen time, academic pressures and the challenges of modern life. The government’s growing interest tells me that outdoor learning shouldn't be a ‘nice to have’; it should be a fundamental part of education for all children.
What Next?
At Mendip, we’ll continue to work with schools to deliver outstanding outdoor learning programs, and we wholeheartedly support efforts to make outdoor learning accessible to every child in the UK. It’s crucial to inspire everyone, including the next generation, to make time for adventure. Our experience as an outdoor learning provider has consistently demonstrated positive results, and we firmly believe that every child should have the opportunity to get outdoors and thrive.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the future of outdoor learning, so please feel free to get in touch. You can contact me at david.eddins@mendip.co.uk.
Get Involved
Do you value the role of outdoor learning in children’s education? You can email or call your local MP and add your voice to the movement, for the benefit of young people across the UK.
Discover Outdoor Learning At Mendip
We welcome schools to Mendip Activity Centre every year for school residentials and activity days, and have had the pleasure of working with many of the same teachers, heads, parents and children for years on end. Find out what makes a Mendip School Residential so special, and discover our excellent School Activity Days here.
