2025/04/22 by Tomás Aylward, Maura Coulter, Tom Farrelly · 1 voice
Psychology · Agricultural and Biological Sciences · #Outdoor and Experiential Education #Recreation, Leisure, Wilderness Management #Diverse Educational Innovations Studies
paper · pdf · doi:10.1080/14729679.2025.2494033
openalex publication_date 2025/04/22 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/21
Outdoor Learning (OL) programmes are a small but impactful part of the Irish educational landscape. This paper presents an overview of the sector through a systematic review of the literature published between 2012 and 2023. The research had three aims: to 1) map the strands of practice where OL-related research is happening; 2) synthesise the reported outcomes and 3) indicate gaps in the research. Of the 157 papers screened, 13 met the criteria for inclusion. A hybrid method of review based on reflexive and meta-aggregative synthesis was utilised. Eleven lines-of-action findings were identified across four areas-of-action. These areas were: the role and function of schools and organisations; the professional educator; the flourishing of learners in the outdoors; and challenges to and development of the field. Research reported from post-primary and further education sectors presented a significant gap. Undertaking a large-scale quantitative study of the OL sector would complement existing research.