The primary objective of the OutAdvEd project was to develop and promote a structured and evidence-based Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) curriculum for Teacher Education (TED) across Europe, with a strong focus on fostering youth social and emotional learning (SEL). Through this project, we aimed to bridge gaps in initial, induction, and continuous professional development (CPD) for educators—especially those in Physical Education—by empowering them to implement innovative OAE practices. Key goals included: Developing a model curriculum framework and planning guide for OAE/SEL in PE, Supporting the certification of teaching competences in this field, Creating Open Educational Resources (OERs) for broader access, Enhancing the recognition and validation of competences acquired in formal, non-formal, and informal contexts, and Encouraging a transnational culture of collaboration and responsibility in teacher education. Our vision was to contribute to a flexible, inclusive, and innovation-driven approach to European teacher education—aligned with Erasmus+ priorities such as pedagogical renewal, mental well-being, and quality professional development.
We applied for this project to address the growing need for effective strategies to support students’ social and emotional learning (SEL) within schools. In light of increasing mental health concerns among young people (WHO, 2017, 2018), we identified Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) as an innovative and evidence-based approach to develop essential SEL skills—such as goal setting, emotional regulation, trust, and cooperation (Durlak et al., 2011; Peacock & Brymer, 2018). Research shows that OAE, through its combination of experiential and nature-based learning, enhances students’ self-awareness, communication, and resilience (Fox & Avramidis, 2003; Karppinen, 2012). Our goal was to empower educators across Europe to integrate OAE into their practice and promote students' well-being, especially post-COVID. This project responded to a clear pedagogical gap by fostering teacher competence in SEL and delivering inclusive, adventure-based learning experiences that are both impactful and transferable.