Outdoor Activities for Mental and Physical Health (Easy English Course)

Description

If we ask you to close your eyes and think about a nice place where you would like to be now, we are pretty sure it would be somewhere in nature.

Maybe walking on the beach, or along a nice lake, maybe relaxing barefoot in a green garden, or admiring a majestic mountain, but somewhere in a natural setting.

This is not surprising; it just tells a lot about what in psychology is called “The restorative power of nature“. Nature has a comforting and calming effect on our nervous system, helps in regulating our emotions, and re-establishes a certain level of well-being, preventing and coping with stress.

Equipping school environments and lessons with tools and moments that can facilitate the connection with nature will foster individual well-being in students, promote social-emotional learning and inclusion, and foster concentration and academic performance.

During the course, participants will participate in wellbeing and mindfulness activities outdoors around city parks and gardens, engage in creative activities inspired by nature in the classes, and will be introduced to the use of Biophilic Design and technology to engage with nature when it is impossible to be outside the classroom.

The course explains every concept in clear, simple English and employs a variety of tools to ensure full comprehension. The trainer, experienced in supporting learners with limited English proficiency, provides additional assistance whenever necessary.

A mix of pictures, videos, step‑by‑step instructions, and collaborative activities guarantees that no participant is left behind. Participants remain engaged through group learning, with continuous support always available.

By the end of this course, participants will have learned simple and useful ways to bring nature into their classroom and school, even when they can’t be outside.

They will know how to use nature to help students feel calmer, more focused, and more connected to each other.

Finally, they will also take part in outdoor activities, mindfulness exercises, and creative tasks inspired by nature, which they can easily use with their students later. Participants will feel more confident using nature-based tools in their teaching and helping their students feel better, learn better, and work better together.

Note: Please remember to bring your own laptop, as it will be required during the course.

Learning outcomes

The course will help participants to:

• Increase awareness and knowledge about Ecological Psychology and the restorative effect of nature on the well-being of students and teachers;
• Build genuine eco-attitudes towards the importance of introducing nature and nature-oriented activities in the school;
• Explore tools and activities that they can use in their classes with students to facilitate connection with nature decrease/prevent stress, boost self-esteem and social skills, and increase academic performance;
• Reflect on and design a physical space and/or a program to introduce nature in lessons and the school setting.

Tentative schedule

Day 1 – Course introduction

• Introduction to the course, the school, and the external week activities;
• Icebreaker activities;
• Practice with translation tools
• Presentations of the participants’ schools;
• What is Eco Psychology?

Day 2 – The restorative power of nature

• Theoretical introduction to the effects of Nature on mental and physical health;
• Exploring Nature, exploring our needs and emotions;
• Outdoor activity on the beach – Strengths-based approach – My present moment.

Day 3 – Exposure to nature and social-emotional learning

• Can exposure to nature foster social skills? Building meaning in life and social skills in nature;
• Team building outdoors. Collaborative activities and outdoor mindfulness;
• Group activities in the forest – Exploring Values – From “me” to “us”.

Day 4 – Creativity, technology, and nature – hands-on activities

• Bringing nature into the classroom when it is not possible: ICT and guided visualization to recreate a safe natural space to cope with stressors;
• Creativity and nature: foster well-being and self-expression through creative activities inspired by the natural world;
• Activity in the garden – “Gratitude Installation”.

Day 5 – Bringing nature into school

• Introduction to Biophilic Design;
• Outdoor spaces and sustainable decorations in school;
• Create your project to bring Nature into school.

Day 6 – Course closure and cultural activities

• Course evaluation: round-up of acquired competencies, feedback, and discussion;
• Awarding of the course Certificate of Attendance;
• Excursion and other external cultural activities.

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