Reimagining Outdoor Learning in the AURORA Project

In June 2025, partners from across Europe came together in Turku, Finland, for the final Transnational Partner Meeting of the Erasmus+ AURORA project. Hosted in the historic Vanha Suurtori district, the meeting marked the conclusion of the project which focused on strengthening outdoor learning through technology, inclusion, and youth engagement.

AURORA – Advancing Understanding and Respect of Outdoor and Rural Areas – has brought together organisations from Ireland, Finland, Türkiye, and Iceland to co-create new methods and tools that help young people reconnect with nature in meaningful ways. From the very beginning, the project has aimed to make outdoor learning more accessible—particularly for youth who may face social, economic, or geographic barriers.

GeoCamp Iceland hosted the first Learning, Teaching and Training Activity (LTTA) in Reykjanes and led the development of educational content on climate change and nature-based learning. Working alongside partners and young participants, we helped shape two major outputs: the AURORA Guidebook and the AURORA Platform. Both resources bring together practical experience, youth input, and innovative technology, including AR and VR tools designed to enhance environmental education.

While the project may be formally ending, we believe the outcomes will have lasting value, both within Iceland and for our international network of educators and students. The guidebook provides us with a solid framework: guidelines, checklists, and structured approaches we can draw from when planning outdoor learning activities or supporting schools and university groups. The digital platform, once fully launched, will offer engaging ways to prepare students before field trips and extend learning beyond the landscape itself.

As an organisation grounded in place-based education and international exchange, GeoCamp Iceland sees great potential in applying what we’ve gained through AURORA. Whether it’s a group of Icelandic students exploring the Reykjanes Geopark, or a visiting university cohort engaging with Icelandic nature and sustainability themes, the tools developed in this project will help us deliver deeper, more inclusive, and more thoughtful learning experiences.

We’re grateful to our partners for their collaboration and to the young people whose perspectives helped shape the project’s direction. AURORA has shown that by combining outdoor learning with meaningful participation and digital innovation, we can create something both practical and inspiring. We look forward to sharing the results, and continuing the work in new ways.