This project had the following key needs and goals: 1-work collaboratively on a local and regional scale and participate jointly across authorities in professional development opportunities in line with governmental guidelines 2-develop Global Citizenship Skills amongst participating staff and pupils from all schools 3-prepare our young learners for a healthier, more active future, encouraging them to develop a love for their environment and a passion for exploring the world 4-develop a secure understanding of outdoor learning and environmental studies through training provided by experts in this field 5-raise awareness and understanding amongst participating teachers of other countries and, importantly, cultures 6-encourage all participating staff from all schools to develop learning networks with colleagues in other countries and develop their own sense of European citizenship and identity 7-embed the knowledge and experiences gained by working with colleagues in other areas within Europe and promote understanding and intercultural awareness The main areas of work were: - Environment and climate change - Natural sciences - New innovative curricula/educational methods/development of training courses
Outdoor Learning and understanding our relationship with the environment is an increasing priority for schools in Wales, however, we detected that effective delivery was still waiting to be fully embedded and in need of further training. One of the European priorities that directly applies to this project was: "to foster quality improvements, innovation excellence and internationalisation at the level of education and training institutions, in particular through enhanced transnational cooperation between education and training providers and other stakeholders". Building on the successful experiences of practitioners following visits to European countries, we wanted to offer training and practical opportunities for staff across Wales who have not previously benefited in this way.