Nearly 26,000 pupils to take part in 9th Outdoor Lesson Day
On Thursday, 25,735 pupils from 129 Flemish schools will swap their classrooms for the outdoors as part of the ninth edition of Outdoor Lesson Day. The initiative aims to highlight the many benefits of outdoor learning for both students and teachers.
Organised by MOS – sustainable schools, strong schools – a partnership between the Flemish Department of Environment, the five Flemish provinces and the Flemish Community Commission, the event encourages schools to use nature as an educational environment.
Benefits of outdoor learning
Teaching in nature is said to boost concentration, creativity and students’ connection with the environment. Lessons are often better remembered, and students benefit from a more active, energy-releasing experience. For teachers, the shift outside is also rewarding, with many reporting greater job satisfaction and resilience. More educators are now discovering the value of nature as a source of inspiration.
To support this shift, the organisation has launched a new online inspiration page filled with outdoor lesson ideas. The resources are tailored to nursery, primary and secondary education and offer activities across various subjects.
“Learning outdoors broadens the perspective of children and young people"
Flemish minister of environment Jo Brouns supports the initiative, emphasising how it enhances children’s connection to the world around them. “Learning outdoors broadens the perspective of children and young people,” he said. “It not only helps them to experience learning material in a different way, it also strengthens their involvement with their environment. Children who are introduced to the wonders of nature in an educational way will later also treat nature and the environment with more care.”
Nature observation
As in previous years, Outdoor Lesson Day includes the Outdoor Lesson Day Challenge, supported by the free ObsIdentify app, which helps students identify plants and animals. Between 21 April and 2 May, 2025, pupils will be encouraged to record as many wild species as possible near their school. These observations contribute to a national database used by scientists to monitor biodiversity and track the health of ecosystems.
#FlandersNewsService | © PHOTO JOHN THYS / AFP
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