The Ripples Are Growing: Mapping Outdoor Education Across the Reykjanes Peninsula

Across the Reykjanes Peninsula, a new initiative is taking shape—one that brings together educators, scientists, municipalities and students to explore the full potential of the landscapes that surround their schools. Under the name Gárur (Icelandic for “ripples”), a series of interconnected projects is now actively supporting the development of outdoor education through local mapping, curriculum development, and cross-border collaboration.

From Local Mapping to Regional Impact

The central aim of Gárur is simple but powerful: to understand what outdoor education looks like in each school’s local context, and to create practical tools that make it easier for teachers to use the outdoors in their daily teaching. By documenting accessible sites and co-developing lesson ideas with teachers, the project is building a shared foundation for place-based education rooted in the unique environment of Suðurnes.

With funding from four different sources, The Icelandic innovation fund for schools (Sprotasjóður), Nordplus Junior, the Curriculum Development Fund (Þróunarsjóður námsgagna), and the Suðurnes Development Fund, the Gárur initiative is working with all primary schools on the Reykjanes Peninsula to identify and map opportunities for field-based learning in their immediate surroundings. This region-wide approach is helping schools transform nearby beaches, lava fields, wetlands and urban spaces into natural extensions of the classroom.

The Future of Outdoor Learning

At its heart, Gárur is a project about making the most of what’s already around us: the nature at the edge of the playground, the trails behind the school, the coastline down the road. It is about giving educators the tools and confidence to use these spaces as part of everyday teaching—and giving students the chance to learn through curiosity, movement, and meaningful contact with their environment.

By focusing on local resources, community collaboration, and real-world science, Gárur is helping create a sustainable model for outdoor education that can serve as inspiration across Iceland and beyond.

What begins as a ripple may well become a wave.