Outdoor Week of Learning by The Ernest Cook Trust

by PlanMySchoolTrip
published 13 October 2026

5 mins read

Taking learning outdoors: the Ernest Cook Trust's Outdoor Week of Learning

A week outside the classroom can give pupils more than a change of scenery. It can help them be more in tune with the natural world, ask better questions about their environment and learn by getting outside and doing. The Ernest Cook Trust's Outdoor Week of Learning (OWL) is designed to help schools make that kind of experience possible for their children.

Want to know more and how you can take part: where does it happen, which pupils can attend, and what will they do?

What is the Outdoor Week of Learning?

The Outdoor Week of Learning is an opportunity for schools to take part in outdoor education with the support of the Ernest Cook Trust, who are an educational charity that promotes learning through the natural environment. The OWL initiative gives children a structured chance to explore and learn outdoors, with activities shaped around the setting and the pupils who are taking part.

Rather than a reward or a break from lessons, the OWL programme makes the outdoors part of the learning, not simply a change of pace from classroom lessons. Whether pupils are in a woodland, field or garden, over the course of a week they can observe their surroundings, investigate questions, collaborate and see how classroom ideas relate to the world around them.

Who is it for?

The initiative is intended for school-aged children and young people, especially those who are deemed disadvantaged or vulnerable, with activities adapted to the age group and setting. Teachers and support staff are an important part of the experience - they can help pupils make links to their learning and carry ideas back into the classroom.

The programme will be especially valuable for pupils who have limited access to green space or fewer opportunities to take part in outdoor learning.

When is the Outdoor Week of Learning

The Ernest Cook Trust's Outdoor Week of Learning does not actually take place on a fixed calendar week. Instead, school groups are run throughout the academic year and across different seasons.

Where can schools access it?

The Ernest Cook Trust is based in England and works with schools and communities in different parts of the country. The locations, host venues and delivery arrangements for a particular Outdoor Week of Learning may vary from year to year.

Teachers should check the Trust's current website or contact its education team for the latest information on participating areas, available dates and whether sessions take place at a Trust site, a partner venue or a school's own grounds. It is best not to assume that every region has a local session in a given year.

What happens during the Outdoor Week of Learning?

Activities depend on the location and the needs of the group, but outdoor learning might include exploring habitats, observing plants and wildlife, investigating soil or water, helping to map a site, or taking part in practical conservation and nature tasks.

The emphasis of the week is on active participation. Pupils are encouraged to look closely, ask questions, share ideas and learn through their own first hand experiences. Teachers can help prepare pupils beforehand and follow up afterwards, linking what they have seen and done to classroom work.

A successful outdoor session will build confidence, curiosity, communication and cooperation, qualities that support learning across the curriculum.

Outdoor learning can bring a range of curriculum areas to life. Pupils might explore science by examining habitats, identifying plants and animals, noticing seasonal changes and considering how living things depend on one another. Geography can take shape through observing the landscape, discussing weather and land use, and thinking about how people interact with their local environment.

There are opportunities to develop English too: children can describe what they see, learn new vocabulary, discuss their observations and record them in notes or short pieces of writing. Maths can be practised through counting, measuring, estimating, collecting information and looking for patterns in the results.

Working outdoors can also strengthen personal and social skills. Shared activities encourage pupils to communicate and cooperate, while unfamiliar tasks can help them build independence, persistence and confidence in solving problems.

Just as importantly, pupils can develop a stronger sense of connection to nature. First-hand experiences, finding evidence of wildlife, noticing seasonal change or caring for a place, can make environmental issues feel relevant and understandable.

Why does the Trust offer this?

The Ernest Cook Trust's work is founded on the idea that young people benefit from learning about the natural world and spending time in it. Outdoor experiences can make lessons more memorable, support wellbeing and help pupils understand the value of the places and ecosystems around them.

The initiative also helps address a common barrier: many teachers value outdoor learning but may need support to plan it, find a suitable site or make the case for taking pupils beyond the classroom. A structured programme can give schools a starting point and practical inspiration for continuing outdoor learning throughout the year.

How many schools take part?

The number of participating schools can change between years and depends on the programme’s locations but usually around 30 schools are involved with over 600 pupils.

How can teachers get involved?

Teachers interested in taking part should:

1. Check the Ernest Cook Trust's current Outdoor Week of Learning information for dates, locations and eligibility.
2. Contact the education team to ask about availability, group size, costs (if any), transport and accessibility.
3. If you are able to get a place, discuss the visit with colleagues, including how it fits the curriculum and your school's outdoor learning plans.
4. Prepare pupils with relevant questions, vocabulary or classroom topics, while leaving room for discovery on the day.
5. Plan a follow up activity so pupils can reflect on what they learned and apply it back at school.

A starting point for learning outside the classroom

The Outdoor Week of Learning offers schools a way to give pupils purposeful time in nature, not just to learn about the environment, but to learn through direct experience of it. For teachers, it can provide fresh ideas, memorable curriculum links and a practical reminder that some of the most engaging lessons begin when the class steps outside. We have tonnes of ideas and opportunities for funding and outdoor learning. Get in touch if you need help with any aspects of your school trip planning.