The main goal of this course is to highlight outdoor education as both a teaching resource and a key element in addressing global challenges. Participants will explore how outdoor learning environments—particularly the Botanical Garden of the University of Valencia—can foster climate change literacy, engagement, and critical thinking.

A significant emphasis will be placed on biodiversity conservation, particularly plant diversity, as a fundamental ally in climate change mitigation and adaptation. Participants will examine how Nature-Based Solutions (NBS) can contribute to tackling the climate emergency, while also enhancing public health and well-being.

Another important objective is to encourage higher education teachers to integrate outdoor learning into their teaching practices, an approach that should widely be promoted in preschool, primary, and secondary education as well as at university level. Research has shown that outdoor environments enhance cognitive engagement and motivation which can significantly improve learning experiences.

The course will provide structured learning sequences and didactic strategies tailored for university-level outdoor education, allowing participants to adapt and implement these approaches in their own academic contexts. Additionally, debate and discussion will be incorporated to deepen understanding and encourage critical reflection on the role of biodiversity NBS in climate action.

1

Critical analysis

2

Systemic reflection

3

Collaborative decision-making

4

Sense of responsibility towards present and future generations

5

Providing strategies to work on scientific competences