The Aim

Working in partnership with Nature Scot, Jupiter Artland launched the Outdoor Learning in Nature (OLiN) Project in 2019. This outreach project seeks to establish outdoor learning as a regular, structured and integrated part of the schools established learning curriculum. The OLiN project is an opportunity to build teachers confidence and extend learners engagement with outdoor pedagogy. Through this project Jupiter Artland seeks to transform community green spaces into sustainable spaces for learning, and reignite schools relationship with their wider community.

The Structure

Eight schools throughout Central Scotland, identified as working within areas of disadvantage, were invited to be part of the OLiN project. Drawn from the Primary, Secondary and SEN sectors, this project targeted schools that had the vision but required the support to embed outdoor learning within their practice. Head teachers, class teachers and teaching assistants worked in collaboration with an assigned member of the Jupiter Artland Learning Team to prepare and deliver a range of progressive, creative outdoor learning activities. Delivered within their identified green space and then enhanced further through visits to Jupiter Artland, these sessions were designed to form an engaging and comprehensive creative project.


The OLiN project will conclude with a CPD event hosted by Jupiter Artland that offers teachers the space to reflect, share and consolidate their outdoor learning journey. A resource portal will be established to enable a sustained, growing commitment to learning in the outdoors.

Mairi Gougeon MSP at Jupiter Artland
Jupiter Artland is one of 16 projects which will benefit from the new Outdoor Learning in Nature Fund, which is administered by Scottish Natural Heritage and will run for two years. Young people aged 3-26 from the most deprived areas and disadvantaged backgrounds in Scotland can experience the wellbeing and learning benefits that come with outdoor learning and play in local parks and greenspace; with opportunities to visit nearby countryside, forest or coast. All 16 of the projects involve working with schools and nurseries to help children from deprived areas spend time in nature.

On her visit to Jupiter Artland the Minister said: “Outdoor learning connects children and young people with nature, the physical environment and our communities. It is a key component in the delivery of the Curriculum for Excellence, and helps to develop the many skills necessary for our children and young people to meet the social, economic and environmental challenges of life in the 21st century.

To hear more of what Ms. Gougeon had to say, you can watch Scottish Natural Heritage’s video below:

Watch Here

To read the full Press Release, you can visit Nature Scot page below:
Nature Scot