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Take learning beyond the classroom

Where children develop resilience, wellbeing, and a deep connection with nature.

Every child dreams of a day in the forest. Beyond Outdoor Learning takes learning beyond the classroom, where children develop resilience, wellbeing, and a deep connection with nature. Rooted in forest school principles, nature play, and risky play, our award winning program fosters creativity, confidence, and hands-on skills through exploration and immersive outdoor experiences.

Our Story

The Beyond program was created to address a decline in learner wellbeing and engagement. Watching our learners thrive in unstructured outdoor play, full of curiosity and joy, we asked ourselves: How can we bring that same energy into learning? Instead of bringing nature inside, we took the classroom outside.

By incorporating forest skills such as woodcraft, fire-making, knot-tying, knife work, and environmental awareness, we developed a curriculum that fosters persistence, risk-taking, mindfulness, and stewardship. Every learning experience is designed to empower learners, helping them grow in confidence and develop a deep respect for the natural world.

Our Belief & Approach

Messy outdoor play

Outdoor Learning is Essential

We believe outdoor learning cultivates curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity, while supporting physical, emotional, and cognitive development. The ever-changing natural environment provides a dynamic classroom, encouraging learners to observe, question, and interact in ways traditional education cannot.

Risk assessment

Forest Skills & Risky Play

Healthy risk taking is essential for growth. Engaging in shelter building, fire lighting, and forest tools helps children develop confidence, problem solving abilities, and ownership over their learning. These challenges foster resilience and perseverance, equipping learners with practical life skills.

Nature play

Honouring Nature Play & Stewardship

At the heart of our program is nature play – unstructured exploration where children imagine, create, and collaborate. Through these experiences, we nurture a generation of thoughtful, environmentally conscious individuals who learn to respect and protect the world around them.

Our Team

Steph and Jack are award winning leaders who are passionate about best practice pedagogy, wellbeing, and encouraging learners to take risks and get outside. Steph is a Principal, and Jack is a Wellbeing leader. Their innovative program has received awards for its excellence and has been visited as an exemplar of best practice in education. They are dedicated to fostering environments where learners can thrive, both academically and holistically, through the integration of nature play and forest skills.

Our Program

Our Program School-Based Outdoor Learning (Primary)

Our Australian curriculum-aligned program immerses students in real-world problem solving, teamwork, and environmental stewardship. Sessions integrate forest skills, sustainability practices, and wellbeing strategies, ensuring learning is both meaningful and memorable.

Each session follows a structured approach. These structured yet flexible experiences equip students with skills that extend far beyond the classroom.

Grounding ladybird

Grounding

Connecting with nature and self

skill building, cooking marshmallows

Skill Building

Explicit teaching of essential skills and dispositions

Applied learning

Applied Learning

Hands-on practice guided by educators

Nature play leaves

Unstructured Play

Time for exploration, problem-solving, and discovery

Reflection

Reflection

Journaling experiences, challenges, and successes

Culminating Challenge

Culminating Challenge

Applying all learned skills in a real-world scenario

mushrooms and healthy foods

Forest Skills

Our Beyond Outdoor Learning Program is built around seven key skills

Wood

Wood

Safe knife handling, carving, and construction

key skills for shelter

Build

Shelter-building, teamwork, and structural design

tying knots

Knots

Precision, problem-solving, and patience

Fire

Fire

Fire safety, selection, and maintenance

Environment bees nature pollen

Environment

Stewardship, ecosystems, and conservation

clay making

Clay

Creative and functional clay work, mindfulness in practice

Wellbeing nature trees connection

Wellbeing

Emotional resilience, mindfulness, and self-awareness

Workshops

We offer professional development for educators, homeschool families, and outdoor leaders. Workshops include:

  • Risk assessment & safety in outdoor learning environments.
  • Building resilience & wellbeing through nature-based education.
  • Hands-on training in forest school principles.

Custom Outdoor Learning Experiences

Every learning journey is unique. We collaborate with schools, organisations, and community groups to create tailored nature based experiences that align with specific goals. From hour long inspiration sessions to one day intensives to long term outdoor education, we design PD that brings learning to life.

group interaction

Start your own outdoor learning program using our helpful guide

In the Press

Our Blog - Insights & Inspirations

Outdoor Learning

From Screen to Green

a call to action - to unplug & rewild Once upon a time, childhood was measured in scraped knees, muddy boots, and the number of…
Outdoor Learning

Beyond the Classroom – A Journey into Outdoor Learning

The Beyond Outdoor Learning program began with a question - "How could we bring the joy, energy, and engagement of outdoor play into our classrooms?"…
When children are playing children are learning
Outdoor Learning

Not Just Play

Through Beyond Outdoor Learning, we ensure that nature play remains central to children's development at Lobethal Lutheran School. Nature provides the perfect environment for children to…

Contact Us

All  enquiries welcome

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Visit us

Lobethal Lutheran School

48 Main Street
Lobethal SA 5241

www.lls.sa.edu.au

Phone 08 8389 6131

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