Learning in Nature

<< Background >>The main goal of the project was to increase cultural knowledge and co-operation between schools, increase outdoor learning activities in order to gain a sustainable way of life and a better quality of education, and to combat failure and to improve students' resilience to better endure hardships. Secondly, we aimed for reducing negative effects of the Covid pandemic and to raise the level of health, motivation and performance of the students. Another priority was to strengthen the teachers' professional skills, so they would be able to promote motivating practical lessons, with various resources that make classes more attractive and profitable.<< Objectives >>The activities in the project were signed to help the students to become more integrated and successful in their studies and to achieve their goals in quality education. The students were also to - acquire social, cultural, linguistic and green skills, and to be more concentrated on lessons and to overcome disadvantages of their everyday life more successfully. One aim was also to have the students to enjoy physical activities outside classrooms and have opportunities to express themselves and to enhance their awareness on nature.For the teachers the project aimed to offer new teaching learning methods involving outdoor activities, and to enhance their knowledge of sustainability and learning by doing methods. Furthermore, one of the objectives was to integrate new teaching and learning methods into various school subjects and to provide teachers the opportunity to interact with colleagues and learn their best practices.<< Implementation >>Please find the programmes for the LTTAs attached. There were minor changes in the programme in Greece due to the following reasons: Snorkeling and underwater exploration had to be changed, because the weather wasn't good enough for swimming. For the same reason, the boat and fishing trips had to be replaced with other activities. In Latvia, the trip to the waste recycling facility had to be dropped from the programme for problems with the schedule. The teachers' visit to the municipality hall were cancelled by the city and it was replaced with the trip to the museum and community center. Moreover, professionally recording the song Dance in Nature (music and lyrics by the school's music teacher) in the AUSS studeo was not in the original programme but was implemented and later on released as well. In Finland the ice fishing had to be cancelled due to the cold weather (-28 degrees Celcius). In Portugal, river cleaning campaign was implemented with Portuguese students before the actual LTTA week due to the weather. Other than that, the rest of the activities were implemented as planned.<< Results >>The results of the project were mostly immaterial as planned. Part of the activities were planned to raise awareness and to develop key competences to fight against the climate change. Students' awareness for the nature protection was increased. Enhanced quality of activities education by inclusive materials and activities helped students to stay motivated. The time spent outdoors encouraged students to gain more green skills even after the project. Through our activities, we also aimed to fight against muscular diseases, obesity, social isolation, academic failure and addiction to technology. The participants shared experiences of different activities carried out either in LTTAs and at schools after them in order to improve the educational service they provide to their communities. Students, families and teachers gained experience in practical pedagogical activities in nature.