Develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to facilitate activities that promote the wellbeing benefits of the outdoors.
Join Field Studies Ireland for a practical Leading Nature Wellbeing course, designed for those wishing to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence to use Outdoor Education activities and methodologies to support wellbeing.
This fully outdoor course explores the wellbeing and therapeutic benefits of spending time in nature, focusing on how meaningful outdoor experiences can help people slow down, engage their senses and connect with place.
Participants will explore a range of practical and accessible activities that encourage people to take notice of their local outdoor places and spaces, and gain a ‘sense of place’.
These include sensory activities, observation, nature connection, creative reflection and simple group activities that encourage curiosity, exploration, and discovery of the natural environment.
The course considers how Outdoor Education can provide opportunities for relaxation, reflection, personal development and positive social and emotional experiences. We will explore how to plan, adapt and facilitate activities for different groups, creating inclusive experiences that encourage participation.
Particular emphasis will be placed on helping participants develop their own ideas and approaches to connecting people with place, using local landscapes, wildlife, and seasonal changes as opportunities for meaningful engagement and wellbeing.
Field Studies Ireland is a not-for-profit organisation specialising in Outdoor Education. Our expertise lies in using Outdoor Education as a methodology across a wide range of subjects, settings and environments, placing us in a unique position to deliver practical, meaningful training. We exist to empower access to Outdoor Education, helping people and organisations bring what they do outdoors, for the benefit of education, development and wellbeing.
Who is this course for?
This course is suitable for adults wishing to develop their ability to facilitate outdoor activities that promote wellbeing, or those wishing to build on their existing knowledge and experience.
It is particularly relevant to teachers, educators, youth workers, community workers, volunteers, outdoor leaders, wellbeing practitioners, environmental professionals and others interested in using Outdoor Education to support wellbeing and meaningful connections with nature.
Participants are advised to have some previous experience of Outdoor Education or nature-based activities, although this is not essential for attendance.
What to expect
Expect a friendly, practical and engaging learning experience, delivered entirely outdoors by Mark O’Connor, founder of Field Studies Ireland.
Participants will experience and practise a variety of sensory and nature-based activities, with opportunities to develop, facilitate and reflect on approaches that promote wellbeing and a sense of place.
The emphasis is on simple, accessible activities requiring little or no specialist equipment, which can be replicated in participants’ own local outdoor environments.
This is a certified course. Participants who have completed suitable introductory training, such as ‘Intro: Outdoor Education & Learning’, alongside this course, will be eligible for certification. Those attending without suitable introductory training can still participate and develop their skills, with certification available following completion of the required training.
As this course takes place outdoors, participants should expect uneven terrain and variable weather conditions. Suitable outdoor clothing and footwear are required.
Group Training
Field Studies Ireland regularly delivers this training directly to organisations, teams and community groups, often within their own local outdoor environments. The courses advertised here are intended for individuals or small groups wishing to join scheduled training.
If you would like to arrange training for your own group, please contact Field Studies Ireland to discuss your requirements.
bookings@fieldstudies.ie
