Northern Ireland

Teachers find out about benefits of outdoor learning

Dwyer Coleman pictured with pupils and Dr Sue Christie and Dr Ian Humphreys from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful
Dwyer Coleman pictured with pupils and Dr Sue Christie and Dr Ian Humphreys from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful Dwyer Coleman pictured with pupils and Dr Sue Christie and Dr Ian Humphreys from Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful

TEACHERS from across the north have gathered to find out about the benefits of outdoor learning.

Research has shown that teaching young people in and about the natural environment improves their physical and mental health and also their learning potential.

Instilling knowledge and a love for the environment in children from a young age is also likely to increase their desire to protect it as they grow older.

Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful's Eco-Schools Teachers Conference was hosted at Stranmillis University College.

The event also featured Eco-Teacher of the Year Awards. In first place was Dwyer Coleman from St Francis' PS in Lurgan.

Cumran PS in Clough, Mill Strand Integrated PS in Portrush and St Colm's High School in Draperstown received Ambassador Eco-School status for outstanding environmental outreach work.

"Teachers want our young people to be the best that they can be so the challenge now, despite any barriers, is for all teachers to devise ways to teach more hours more often outside the four walls of the classroom," Dr Ian Humphreys, chief executive of Keep Northern Ireland Beautiful said.