Why do we need Real World Learning?
‘Kids noo don’t know how tae play, they really don’t. In the summer holidays, first thing in the morning ye’d be oot and at eleven o’clock yer mother wid be shoutin ye tae come in. Ye’d never be in.’
Royston Resident
Over three generations there has been a significant decline in the way children are able to explore, play and discover in their local environment. As a result, most young people can identify more corporate logos than plants, animals and birds in their own neighbourhood and often don't know where their drinking water or food comes from.
Outdoor learning increases levels of physical activity and can play an important role in improving public health and wellbeing by combating the likelihood of future generations of Scots becoming inactive and obese adults.
Why aren't Scottish children going outside to learn?
Recent research commissioned by Scottish Natural Heritage has identified many reasons.
These include:-
- School Culture
- Legitimacy of Outdoor Learning
- Risk/Litigation
- Health and Safety bureaucracy
- Staff confidence and competence
- Access to suitable outdoor venues
- Resources – cost, transport, ratios, weather
The SNH report also highlighted the importance of :
- training opportunities
- the provision of high quality local resources
- the inclusion of outdoor learning in HMIe inspection criteria.
Outdoor Learning in Scotland
 Whether in school grounds, local greenspace or in wilder landscapes; Scotland’s unique natural and cultural environment make it an ideal place to learn outdoors.
However, the provision of outdoor learning in Scotland is not a planned national policy feature but is the result of individual organisations locating themselves in the market place and individual teachers and schools having a real commitment to outdoor learning. As a result not all pupils are given the chance to learn outdoors. Critically there are a substantial number of young people particularly in secondary schools that get no outdoor learning at all.
Outdoor Learning and a Curriculum for Excellence
 Making learning relevant and meaningful to young people underpins a Curriculum for Excellence. Outdoor Learning provides active, hands-on experiential learning that helps deliver all aspects of an excellent curriculum.
‘The classroom of the future should not be limited to a classroom at all – an excellent curriculum should go beyond the traditional boundaries and offer real world learning experiences outdoors.’ Taking Learning Outdoors : Partnerships for Excellence - Scottish Executive:2007
  
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