Outdoor learning is a cornerstone of Finnish education, where nature serves as an extension of the classroom throughout the year. Finnish schools regularly incorporate forest excursions, seasonal activities, and environmental exploration into their curriculum. This approach reflects Finland’s cultural connection to nature and supports the national curriculum’s emphasis on experiential learning. From forest schools to winter snow activities and summer nature studies, outdoor education in Finland provides students with authentic learning experiences while developing physical health, cognitive abilities, and environmental awareness.
What is outdoor learning in Finnish education?
Outdoor learning in Finnish education is an integrated pedagogical approach that uses natural environments as extensions of the classroom, where learning occurs through direct experience with nature. Rather than being an occasional activity, it’s a fundamental element of Finland’s educational philosophy that connects to the core values of sustainability, well-being, and holistic development embedded in the national curriculum.
The Finnish approach to outdoor learning stems from the cultural concept of friluftsliv (outdoor life) and the belief that connection with nature supports cognitive, physical, and emotional development. Unlike more rigid educational systems, Finnish outdoor pedagogy emphasizes exploration, play-based learning, and student autonomy within natural settings.
Finnish outdoor education doesn’t separate academic subjects from nature experiences. Instead, teachers integrate mathematics through measuring natural objects, science through observing ecosystems, language arts through nature-inspired storytelling, and arts through using natural materials. This integration reflects the Finnish curriculum’s emphasis on phenomenon-based learning, where real-world contexts make abstract concepts concrete.
The approach also builds on Finland’s “every person’s right” (jokamiehenoikeus) – the traditional freedom to roam natural areas – creating a cultural foundation that makes outdoor learning a natural extension of Finnish identity and educational practice.
How do Finnish schools incorporate forest schools into their curriculum?
Finnish schools incorporate forest schools (Metsäkoulu) through regular, scheduled visits to nearby woodland areas, typically once a week or biweekly, making them a consistent part of the educational experience rather than a special event. This systematic approach ensures outdoor learning becomes a natural extension of classroom education across all grade levels.
In early childhood education (ages 1-6), forest school sessions often last 2-4 hours and focus on exploratory play, sensory experiences, and developing a comfort with natural environments. As children progress to primary school (ages 7-12), these sessions evolve to include more structured learning activities while maintaining the emphasis on exploration.
Forest school activities are deliberately integrated with academic subjects. For example:
- Mathematics: Measuring trees, calculating areas, collecting and counting natural objects
- Science: Identifying plants and animals, observing seasonal changes, studying ecosystems
- Language arts: Nature-inspired creative writing, storytelling, expanding vocabulary
- Arts: Creating with natural materials, drawing landscapes, nature photography
- Physical education: Developing motor skills through natural terrain navigation
Finnish teachers receive specific training in outdoor pedagogy and have considerable autonomy in designing forest school activities that align with curriculum objectives. Rather than following rigid lesson plans, they adapt to seasonal conditions and student interests while ensuring core learning goals are met through these authentic experiences.
What seasonal outdoor activities do Finnish schools practice throughout the year?
Finnish schools embrace the changing seasons as valuable learning opportunities, adapting outdoor activities to leverage each season’s unique characteristics. This seasonal approach reflects the Finnish educational philosophy that there is no bad weather, only inappropriate clothing – a mindset that ensures outdoor learning continues year-round.
In winter (December-March), when temperatures often drop well below freezing, Finnish schools engage students in:
- Snow science investigations (measuring depth, studying crystal formations)
- Ice fishing expeditions that combine biology and traditional skills
- Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing as both physical education and transportation
- Building snow structures that incorporate mathematical concepts
- Tracking animal footprints in snow to study wildlife behavior
Spring activities (April-May) focus on awakening nature:
- Monitoring and documenting plant growth and returning migratory birds
- Collecting and identifying early wildflowers and spring plants
- Stream and pond studies as ice melts
- Planting school gardens that will be harvested in autumn
Summer term (May-June) takes full advantage of extended daylight:
- Overnight camping trips combining multiple subject areas
- Forest biodiversity studies at peak growing season
- Water ecology in lakes and coastal areas
- Traditional outdoor games and sports
Autumn (August-November) activities include:
- Harvesting and preparing food from school gardens
- Collecting and identifying mushrooms and berries (with proper safety guidance)
- Studying decomposition and the life cycle of plants
- Creating art with colorful fallen leaves and other autumn materials
Teachers adapt these seasonal activities to align with curriculum objectives while responding to each year’s specific weather patterns and natural phenomena.
How does outdoor learning benefit Finnish students’ development?
Outdoor learning in Finland delivers comprehensive benefits to student development, contributing to the country’s reputation for educational excellence. Research shows that regular nature-based education positively impacts physical health, cognitive abilities, social-emotional development, and academic performance.
Physically, Finnish students who participate in regular outdoor learning demonstrate improved motor skills, better balance and coordination, and higher overall physical activity levels. The varied terrain of forests and natural areas provides more diverse movement challenges than flat playgrounds, developing proprioception and spatial awareness. Finnish studies also show lower rates of myopia among children who spend more time outdoors.
Cognitively, outdoor education enhances attention spans and concentration abilities. The Finnish approach of combining academic content with natural environments helps students develop better observation skills, problem-solving abilities, and creative thinking. Research from the University of Helsinki indicates that natural environments reduce stress hormones and cognitive fatigue, creating optimal conditions for learning.
Socially and emotionally, outdoor learning fosters teamwork through shared exploration and challenges. Finnish educators report that nature settings reduce behavioral issues and provide natural opportunities to develop resilience and risk assessment. The calming effect of natural environments also supports emotional regulation, particularly beneficial for students with attention difficulties.
Academically, Finnish research shows that integrating outdoor learning with classroom instruction leads to better retention of information and application of concepts. Students develop stronger connections to curriculum content when experiencing it in authentic contexts rather than solely through abstract presentation.
Additionally, this approach nurtures environmental awareness and sustainability values from an early age, helping students develop a lifelong connection to nature that influences their future decision-making and citizenship.
What equipment and preparation are needed for outdoor learning in Finland?
Successful outdoor learning in Finland relies on proper preparation and equipment that enables comfortable participation in all weather conditions. The Finnish saying “There is no bad weather, only bad clothing” guides their practical approach to outdoor education logistics.
For students, essential gear includes:
- Layered, weather-appropriate clothing (wool or technical base layers, insulating mid-layers, and waterproof outer shells)
- Waterproof boots or shoes suitable for varied terrain
- Backpacks with water bottles, snacks, and personal items
- Season-specific items: sun protection in summer, insulated mittens and hats in winter
Finnish schools typically maintain equipment collections for families who cannot provide their own, ensuring all students can participate regardless of economic background. Many schools have drying rooms where wet clothing can be properly dried between outdoor sessions.
Teachers prepare for outdoor learning through specialized training in outdoor pedagogy, which includes safety protocols, curriculum integration techniques, and managing group dynamics in natural settings. They conduct pre-visit site assessments, prepare weather-appropriate lesson plans with backup options, and carry emergency supplies including first aid kits and communication devices.
Logistical preparations involve establishing clear routines for transitions between indoor and outdoor learning environments. Schools develop risk assessment procedures that balance safety with appropriate challenge, recognizing that calculated risk-taking is valuable for development. Parents receive clear communication about clothing requirements and the educational purpose of outdoor activities.
Finnish schools also establish partnerships with local environmental centers, nature guides, and traditional knowledge holders who can enhance outdoor learning experiences with specialized expertise. These collaborative relationships strengthen the educational value while sharing responsibility for student learning and safety.
Through our educational visits and job shadowing programs at VisitEDUfinn, international educators can observe firsthand how Finnish teachers prepare for and implement outdoor learning activities, gaining practical insights that can be adapted to their own educational contexts.
