Fostering and outdoor learning in nursery practice

Increased connection with nature, the local environment and the community

Stephen James Midgley, deputy head and outdoor learning teacher at Hamravellir Nursery School, is leading two projects that received a grant from the Hafnarfjörður Education Fund in the spring. The projects focus, on the one hand, on cultivation and collaboration between homes and the nursery school, and on the other, on outdoor learning at Ástjörn in collaboration with six nursery schools in the vicinity of this natural gem. He says both projects are based on connecting children more closely with nature, their local environment and their community.

Cooperation is always the key

Stephen says the idea for the cultivation originally came from his colleague Emil at Hamravöllar, but when applications were invited for a grant from the education fund, they decided to get serious about developing the project. „We got other staff involved with us in this, because that is, of course, always best for the collaboration. We are going to use flowerbeds or planters that are already on the nursery grounds and haven't been used for a long time. We'll start by clearing them up and getting them ready for use.“ He will then make a connection between the children and the pots, so that each class looks after one pot. The children's parents will also be informed of all this and will be allowed to follow it. 

The grant from the education fund will be a great help in renovating the flower beds, buying soil, seeds and flowers, and anything else needed for this task. „The parent collaboration will then begin in the summer of 2027, once everything is properly ready. It's best to take everything step by step. Perhaps put a little something in the beds that are ready this summer. The idea is that this will then always be a part of the curriculum here at the school, going forward. And then we can experiment with root vegetables that could be harvested in the autumn and used as part of the food here, so that the children can experience the feeling of the harvest,“says Stephen optimistically. 

Ástjörn and its surroundings: an ideal setting for learning

The other project is Ástjörn Outdoor Learning – a collaboration of 6 nurseries and is an idea from Stephen himself. He is a qualified outdoor education teacher, and both his final projects at the BSc and M.Ed. level in early childhood education focused on outdoor learning. He is a member of staff at Hafnarfjörður's nurseries who used a scholarship from the town to study in this field, graduating in 2024. He has worked in the town's nurseries since 2019. 

„Since I started working here at Hamravöllar, I have established outdoor learning as part of our curriculum. I created a platform a long time ago to connect the nurseries in Hafnarfjörður. to to share ideas, experience and information about the outdoor learning work that the schools are already undertaking. A bank of ideas was created for outdoor learning projects related to Ástjörn, and teachers at the six nearby schools are the contacts.“ When applications for a grant from the education fund were invited, six nurseries applied for one jointly. „Each person has a theme, e.g. water, flowers, birds, trees, footpaths and views – and creates a project related to it. The funding will be used to buy the equipment needed for each project and to lend between nurseries. Also to create a Love Festival which will be held at the end of May, featuring barbecue food, singing and fun.“ When asked why outdoor learning is so appealing, Stephen replies that children generally feel best outdoors in the fresh air and nature, and that the aim is to teach them more in that environment. „We want to show that this is possible and get the other nurseries in town involved, because they all have some beautiful natural area nearby. We can help each other; you don't always have to reinvent the wheel,“ he says with a smile.  

Male nursery school teachers enjoy the outdoors

Stephen himself has always been fond of the outdoors and he says it is well-known and researched that male nursery school teachers are more inclined to be outside with the children, engaging in rough and tumble and active play. „I've spent a lot of time outdoors in my life. I lived in a tent for a few years when I was younger, worked in the mountains in Argentina, for the Environmental Agency for a time at Landmannalaugar and Vatnsskarðar, and on the Hornstrandir, to name but a few places. I enjoy a lot of outdoor activities and have four children of my own, whom I often take out into the great outdoors. I think it's fantastic of the City of Hafnarfjörður to do this and trust us to come up with ideas. That's how collaboration is created.“

In the coming weeks, interviews with grantee from the Hafnarfjörður Education Fund be published on the City of Hafnarfjörður's channels. This gives residents and others interested an opportunity to gain a deeper insight into the excellent projects and creative school and leisure activities.  The journey begins with María Baldursdóttir, Project Manager for Education and Nursery School Enrolment at Hafnarfjörður Municipality.