Outward Bound’s School Adventures brings the power of outdoor learning to your school grounds. No coaches, no travel, no extra cost. Just high-quality, high-impact experiences that help your pupils grow in confidence, resilience and self-belief.
Led by our expert instructors, every session is packed with challenge, reflection and purposeful fun—connecting what pupils do outside to who they are in class, and who they could be in the future.
Read on to discover the impact School Adventures is already having in schools like yours.
Growing Self Awareness, Confidence and Resilience
One of the strongest early findings from the programme is its impact on pupils’ self understanding and problem solving mindset:
of participants say they now understand what they’re good at and where they could improve.
report feeling more confident in themselves.
feel more confident handling difficult situations.
say they don’t give up easily when faced with setbacks.
can stick with tasks they find challenging.
feel calmer when things don’t go according to plan.
These results show more than just new skills; they reflect real shifts in attitude, motivation and self-belief. The kind of change that lasts, in school and in life.
I learnt to show resilience and not get annoyed when things went wrong. I also learnt to trust my team to help me with advice, especially when I found it hard to start a fire.
I learnt to stay calm when I get annoyed.
I learnt to be patient even if someone is taking a long time to do something.
I learnt to be resilient and patient by listening to other people.
Stronger Social Skills and Teamwork
School Adventures doesn’t just support individual growth, it strengthens relationships and communication too. Pupils report meaningful gains in how they relate to others:
say they understand how to communicate effectively with others.
listen more carefully to others’ ideas and feelings.
understand how their behaviour affects those around them.
see why it’s important to support and include others.
recognise qualities that make a good leader.
These outcomes show the power of collaboration and empathy. Qualities teachers tell us matter most for a thriving classroom and a strong school community.
What I learnt is to let everybody have a turn instead of just me, and to help when they need help.
I see this helping me in the future when working as a good pair and learning how to listen carefully.
Reconnecting with the Outdoors
The programme also nurtures a positive relationship with the natural world, a key intention of Outward Bound’s outdoor learning approach.
enjoyed spending time outdoors.
felt calm and peaceful while outdoors.
felt happy outdoors.
are open to future outdoor experiences and challenges.
plan to spend more time outdoors after the programme.
As pupils grow more connected to nature, and more open to new challenges, they’re building wellbeing, curiosity and confidence that stretches far beyond the school gates.
I enjoyed building the boats and doing the obstacle course the most. I enjoyed the challenge, and it made me laugh.
I enjoyed when we were making the fire because it was a skill [you can use] if you are lost or stranded, and even though I found it hard, it was a fun experience.
Teacher Reflections: One Week On
The impact of School Adventures extends into school life, with teachers noticing tangible changes in pupils even a week after the experience:
5 out of 6 teachers observed that pupils are more aware of their strengths and capabilities.
5 out of 6 teachers strongly agreed that pupils are more willing to collaborate.
All teachers agreed that pupils are more open to outdoor opportunities.
Teachers saw pupils coming back with fresh confidence, stronger communication and new friendships that continued back in the classroom.
A number of students have mentioned they have been on walks during the weekends.
Children seem more confident, there has definitely been an improvement in communication and resilience! We have seen some new friendships too!
Enabling the pupils to have a taster will give them an understanding of what adventures there may be in the outdoor environment.
MORE TO DISCOVER
Adventure starts in the playground
Why belonging matters in schools
School Adventures
