Teachers in Reykjanes Call for Increased Support for Outdoor Education

GeoCamp Iceland has - as coordinator for educational development in Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark - completed a needs assessment on outdoor education within the geopark. The survey was carried out as part of the Nordplus project Empowering Educators, which aims to map opportunities for outdoor learning in Nordic geoparks. It was conducted in close cooperation with teachers across Reykjanes and highlights both the strengths and the challenges related to outdoor learning in local schools. The results confirm that teachers at all school levels are keen to use outdoor environments in their teaching and make extensive use of the surrounding nature, but require more support to fully realise the potential that outdoor learning offers.

According to the assessment, teachers in the Reykjanes Geopark actively draw on the rich natural diversity of the area—including lava fields, geothermal sites, rocky coastlines and moss-covered landscapes—to strengthen students’ scientific literacy, creativity, reading skills and social development. Outdoor learning has become a regular part of school activities in many schools, with strong emphasis on connecting learning to students’ lived experience and encouraging curiosity and exploration in nature.

The results also reveal several obstacles that limit the scope of outdoor teaching. Lack of time and tightly structured timetables are among the most common challenges, along with weather conditions and the fact that many students are not dressed appropriately for outdoor activities. Teachers also expressed a need for greater confidence in outdoor pedagogy, including methods, planning, and using natural environments as learning spaces. In addition, many noted a lack of accessible teaching materials such as ready-made tasks and curriculum-aligned resources for outdoor learning.

Nordic Geoparks Emphasise Outdoor Learning

Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark leads the two-year Nordplus project, launched in autumn 2025, which aims to connect the region’s natural environment, geology, history and sustainability with education and teaching. Through the project, the geopark will develop new teaching materials, strengthen field-based learning and outdoor education, offer workshops for teachers and support schools wishing to make more active use of the geopark.  

The geopark will also host a shared Nordic database compiling outdoor learning resources for geoparks, including simple activities, exemplary practice and safety guidelines. The goal is to enable teachers to take students outdoors more frequently, supported by better tools and stronger alignment with the national curriculum. The project will furthermore prepare and deliver a series of professional development courses for teachers, focusing on outdoor education, teaching methods and field-based learning across Nordic geoparks.

Teachers Call for Stronger Collaboration with International Colleagues

One of the clearest findings from the survey is that teachers in Reykjanes are highly interested in expanding international cooperation and strengthening their professional networks with teachers facing similar challenges in other countries.

They see opportunities for inspiration from colleagues abroad—particularly through the exchange of good practice, lesson ideas and teaching methods related to sustainability, climate education, nature and environmental awareness. Participation in the Nordplus project, along with other international development initiatives, will create new opportunities for collaboration, joint planning of professional development courses, and teacher exchanges between Nordic geoparks.

Schools Already Implementing Outdoor Learning in Meaningful Ways

The assessment reveals numerous examples of successful outdoor learning among schools in the Reykjanes Geopark. Many teachers already use the geopark as a living classroom, guiding students through field-based investigations and creative activities connected to the surrounding environment and cultural history. Some teachers use outdoor settings deliberately to strengthen scientific understanding and creativity, for example through story walks or creative writing linked to natural features. There are also many cases of shorter outings, where students complete focused tasks on school grounds or in the immediate neighbourhood.

The findings emphasise the importance of better supporting teachers in using the geopark’s unique environment for science communication and outdoor learning. Over the course of the project, Reykjanes UNESCO Global Geopark will work closely with schools, municipalities and Nordic partners to develop user-friendly teaching materials and strengthen teachers’ professional skills in outdoor education within geoparks.

Empowering Educators is part of Nordplus Horizontal and runs until 2027. The results of the needs assessment will be used to guide teacher training, resource development and collaborative projects among Nordic geoparks in the coming years.