Teach & Thrive: Outdoor Learning for Wellbeing

ASEFClassNet EmpowerEd project 2025
Teach & Thrive: Outdoor Learning for Wellbeing

In today’s high-pressure, screen-heavy classrooms, stress and burnout affect both students and teachers. Teach & Thrive: Outdoor Learning for Wellbeing is a four-week professional development journey that empowers educators to step beyond the traditional classroom and reconnect with the world around them. Rooted in research and wellbeing science, the online course explores how outdoor learning—whether in nature, urban spaces or informal environments—can boost creativity, mental health and teaching effectiveness. Participants will discover practical strategies to reduce stress, cultivate happiness and design engaging outdoor lessons that align with their curriculum. Through hands-on activities, mindfulness practices and collaborative planning, teachers will develop sustainable approaches to foster a balanced and inspiring learning environment. This training is an invitation to rediscover the joy of teaching and create meaningful, wellbeing-centered experiences for both educators and their students.

Goals

1. Understand the benefits of learning outside the classroom and explore the link between outdoor activities and wellbeing and happiness. Explore the connection between nature, stress management and wellbeing.
2. Explore practical strategies for integrating outdoor learning into different subjects and learn how to design simple but effective outdoor lessons that support student engagement and emotional wellbeing.
3. Learn stress management techniques using nature and outdoor activities and understand the role of movement, mindfulness and positive psychology in promoting happiness.
4. Reflect on the impact of outdoor learning and stress management strategies and develop a long-term plan for integrating outdoor learning and happiness practices into the school environment.