What if this was the turning point?

In early July, while most people were chasing summer, we had visitors chasing answers.

BBC Scotland came to film, Liz Smith MSP came to listen, and our Loch Eil Centre played host not just to a politician or a broadcast crew, but to a conversation that could shape the future of education in Scotland.

The backdrop? Outward Bound Summer Adventures.
The cast? Young people from our Scotland’s Next Generation programme - many of whom had received charitable funding to be there.
The message? That outdoor education isn’t a luxury, it’s a lifeline. 

This week, their stories hit the airwaves... just as the Scottish Parliament prepares to debate Liz Smith’s Outdoor Education Bill that could make outdoor residentials a guaranteed part of every young Scot’s education.

But back to that day in July...

Speaking truth to power

It started with a conversation between Liz and our CEO, Martin Davidson, in the heart of our new Clan Village - a learning space designed to bring young people together, build community and reflect after a day of adventures.

She then welcomed back a group of participants returning from an expedition. Tired, proud, and still buzzing with adrenaline. Liz even slung on a rucksack, curious to feel the weight they’d carried - not just physically, but emotionally too.

Later, Liz sat in one of our iconic pink deckchairs, laughing with instructors, chatting to young people around picnic tables, and hearing directly what this week had meant to them. For Evie, who bravely shared her story on camera, the week wasn’t just fun, it was a reset. A reminder that she’s stronger than she thought.

Throughout the day, BBC Scotland captured the mood - filming interviews, spontaneous singing, the quiet pride of a team returning from their first wild camp.

From lived experience to national debate

With a fair breeze, Liz Smith’s Residential Outdoor Education Bill is set to be debated in Holyrood imminently. If succesful, this would ensure every young person gets the chance to experience a residential course during their schooling - regardless of income, postcode, or circumstance.

At Outward Bound, we support this Bill and firlmy believe that outdoor residentials should not be a luxury. They’re a leveller. A life-changer. And when done well, they leave a mark far deeper than muddy boots or sore legs.

The young people Liz met made the case better than any white paper could.

They spoke about trust, friendship, and independence. They talked about feeling like themselves for the first time in ages. That’s the stuff you don’t measure in grades, but it’s what helps young people thrive.

This is bigger than us

The debate is scheduled for this Tuesday (9 September 2025) with the Minister for Children, Young People and The Promise , Natalie Don-Innes, set to appear before the Education Children and Young People Committee the next day. With any luck, what she’ll have in mind is what she saw in BBC Scotland's report:

Young people laughing in deckchairs fresh from an adventure.
Telling their stories and reflecting with friends.
Carrying confidence on their backs like a well-worn pack.

This isn’t just about funding outdoor centres. It’s about rethinking what we mean by education.

What if the best classrooms have midges and mountains?
What if some of the most important lessons can’t be found in textbooks?

What if this really is the turning point?