Young People - Learning Outdoors and Developing Skills

Our website can tell you vast amounts about Scotland’s plants and animals, landforms and geology, and habitats and ecosystems. Another big focus is climate change. For leaflets, posters and in-depth reports on varied topics, you can search our publications.

Free activities and resources for use with early years, primary and secondary students will interest and inspire learners both outdoors and in the classroom. We also list areas of our work that connect with Curriculum for Excellence and which could serve as the focus of secondary school projects.

Keen to develop your skills in outdoor learning? Teachers and other educators can take part in our career-long professional learning programme.

You can use any of Scotland’s National Nature Reserves for outdoor learning – and some of them offer their own educational activities. Travel grants can help with the cost of getting to either of Scotland’s National Parks.

Visit the Gaelic version of our website to access education resources in Gaelic

For the full range of outdoor learning ideas, search Scotland’s Outdoor Learning Directory a portal to services supporting outdoor learning which are provided by Scottish organisations.

Find out more

• Outdoor education in Scotland - A summary of recent research
• Teaching in Nature report - working with young people
• NatureScot Commissioned Report 225: Young people's interaction with natural heritage through outdoor learning
• NatureScot Commissioned Report 779: Teaching, learning and play in the outdoors: a survey of school and pre-school provision in Scotland
• NatureScot Commissioned Report 476: Teaching in nature
• Enhancing biodiversity in your grounds