For most primary school children a school residential outdoor education trip is much more than a fun activity; it is a real opportunity for them to experience new things, acquire some new knowledge and develop important lifelong skills. At Arete Centre, the centre of North Wales, children are experienced with activities such as mountain walking in Snowdonia, which provide an authentic, and exciting environment to bring children together and connect as a team while also challenging themselves, risk taking, and spending time in nature. Below we outline 5 ways these trips can help enhance a child’s confidence and teamwork skills:
1. Obtaining the Ability to Face Challenges Generates Self Confidence
When children experience activities such as mountain walking in Snowdonia, children are frequently placed in situations outside their comfort zone. Reaching a hilltop, or working your way through a rough route gives them a feeling of fulfillment. Every little win adds to their confidence and shows them they are more capable than they realise.
2. Working Together through Shared Experiences
Outdoor activities have an unparalleled ability to bring people together. Crossing a stream with a friend, or collectively pitching a tent shows children that the value of working together should never be underestimated. Outdoor shared experiences create bonds and teach the importance of a commitment to each other.
3. Communication Skills also Develop in Nature
When children are outside of a classroom or screen, they learn to communicate practically. When they are hiking, for example, students need to give directions, listen carefully, and divide the work. Activities such as walking in Snowdonia involve constant collaboration, which creates more confident communicators.
4. Resilience through Adventure
Outdoor adventure is difficult work; the weather changes, still the children keep going up a steep slope or completing a long endurance walk. They learn persistence (as it is not easy) and that failure is part of the process of learning to deal with the unknown and their own decisions. An awareness of resilience increases not only an individual’s confidence but a groups confidence in each other.
5. Leadership and Responsibility
When children are engaged with group work, they often rotate forward or in charge to contribute ‘something’ towards the overall outcome. During any outdoor experience, and especially walking and camping, children will build a resilience towards taking leadership and responsibility. Leading a group along a very unfamiliar trail or handling the responsibilities of a camp, builds independence and working together.
In Conclusion
Outdoor residential trips, and in particular mountain walking in Snowdonia, gives a child more than just fresh air and exercise. Children develop resilience, teamwork and life skills that will support in learning in a classroom and wider world. For parents and schools outdoor experiences can be an essential and valuable part of a child’s education.