Sustainability Education Handbook 1: Social-Emotional Learning and Social Inclusion through Outdoor Learning and Nature-Based Activities

Aims of the tool

The Handbook supports teachers and youth workers in strengthening learners’ emotional wellbeing through nature‑based learning. It provides practical guidance to help young people recognise and regulate emotions, reduce climate‑related and school‑related stress, and develop healthier social connections. Through its three sections — theory, global good practices, and ready‑to‑use outdoor lesson plans — the Handbook helps educators integrate simple, low‑threshold wellbeing practices into everyday teaching.

Description of the tool

This Handbook is designed to help teachers and youth workers support the emotional wellbeing of their learners through simple, nature‑based activities. It is structured into three sections: a clear theoretical overview of emotions and stress in young people; a collection of international good practices showing how nature supports wellbeing; and a set of ready‑to‑use outdoor lesson plans that educators can apply directly in their daily work.
The activities encourage movement, sensory exploration, and calm interaction with natural spaces, helping learners reduce anxiety, build emotional awareness, and strengthen social connection.
The lesson are easy to adapt across subjects and age groups.
The learning outcomes include:
- improved emotional awareness and vocabulary
- reduced stress through outdoor sensory experiences
- stronger social connection and group cohesion
- increased resilience and coping strategies
- greater sense of safety, calm, and belonging in learning environments
- practical understanding of how nature supports wellbeing

All four Handbooks are available in English, French, Greek, Hungarian and Lithuanian, and can be viewed and downloaded from the CONNECT project website:

https://aksantys.com/cultivating-outdoor-nature-based-education-launch-of-connect-project/