Connecting with the community
Outdoor Journeys offers young people in the North East locality of Edinburgh the opportunity to learn about their surroundings, and connect with nature and the place they live. The project aims to improve access to learning activities for young people at risk of becoming disengaged through short journeys to the local area. By moving learning outside, we can further support those who find the classroom setting challenging, increasing their confidence and wellbeing.
The project addresses the following issues:
Read our research briefing for more information about underlying evidence to underpin the implementation of the Outdoor Journeys programme with children and young people.
Alongside our ongoing Positive Transitions outings, we have run a series of Outdoor Journeys with local primary schools. All of these journeys complement our other Positive Transitions projects, using the occupational therapy approach to support children with emotional difficulties.
Watch our video below about Loganlea Park. In partnership with the City of Edinburgh, we consulted Craigentinny Primary School children and young people about their local park using the Outdoor Journeys approach.
Outdoor Journeys encourages children and young people to:
Question
Journeying outside the classroom generates questions about the socio-culture, physical and environmental nature of their school grounds and local surroundings. The young people take photos and make notes about what they want to know more about.
Research
Young people search for answers to their questions on the internet, books, historical documents, museum catalogues and photographs. Local experts may be invited to provide first-hand knowledge. Quite often, young people may need to go on another journey to answer their questions.
Share
Young people share what they have learnt in a variety of creative ways including drama, dance, song, art, poetry, podcasts, presentations and posters. They can share with their peers, whole-school or local community.
Young people are empowered to take ownership of what they want to learn and to lead on the Outdoor Journeys, with our support.
In developing the project, we have had expert guidance from the University of Edinburgh and the department of Simon Beames who has pioneered the Outdoor Journeys concept.
