Teachers from 19 countries gather in Tampere to explore outdoor education

Teachers and education professionals from 19 countries, including Brazil, Japan, Bangladesh, and Nepal, have gathered in Tampere for the Ulos-ut-out event, which promotes outdoor teaching methods, Yle reports.

The event, held for the first time in the city centre, aims to demonstrate that nature is abundant even in urban areas and to address growing concerns among children about their living environment. Research shows that nature provides an effective learning environment for all types of learners.

Maiju Salonen, a biology teacher at Vuores and Juhannuskylä schools, said the event inspired her to bring her students to the Vuohenoja stream near Kaleva hypermarket, where participants observed restored waterways and planted trout. “At first, I thought, ‘This is where I want to bring my students,’” she said.

Salonen emphasised the value of firsthand experience in nature. “Books are important, and we learn a lot from them. But when you can experience, feel, smell, and see things, it deepens your understanding and connection to nature,” she said.

Event coordinator Maija Ihantola said the decision to hold the event in the city centre was intentional. “We wanted to show that nature exists even where people live—in city centres, schoolyards, and even behind a hypermarket.” She noted that nature can be incorporated into daily learning, helping active students calm down and quieter ones engage.

Pyry Rinkinen, a project manager for the Pirkanmaa river restoration initiative, highlighted the difference between classroom and outdoor teaching. “It’s like night and day. Here, students can see and even touch what they’re learning about,” he said. Rinkinen added that today’s students often feel disconnected from nature, making outdoor education increasingly important.

The triennial event, first held in 2017, brings together hundreds of teachers, educators, researchers, and policymakers, including representatives from WWF, Tampere’s basic education sector, the Tampere parishes, and Metsähallitus. This year’s focus includes addressing children’s growing environmental concerns, with Ihantola stressing that a connection to nature, formed in childhood, fosters long-term appreciation and responsible decision-making.