Investigating outdoor education in Finland and Australia: positioning outdoor education as curriculum

Abstract

Outdoor education is often missing in formal curriculum, especially in primary education. With our experience living and working in Finland and Australia, we investigated this situation, revealing important similarities and differences relevant to understanding outdoor education. We highlight some of the differences between the two education systems that impact outdoor education, having learned more about these differences by interviewing primary school teachers involved with teaching and organising outdoor education in both Finland and Victoria, Australia. The different approaches to outdoor education in primary schools in each country illuminate the local and situated character of outdoor ..