HELLO,
We’re Love Outdoor Learning, and we help schools integrate outdoor learning into the curriculum and embed it into their culture. While we’re based in Scotland, we’ve worked with schools from all over the world.
Founded in 2018, by Carol Murdoch, we believe that outdoor learning doesn’t take away from anything that is done in the classroom; far from it. It magnifies the work that’s done there; supports it, bolsters it and nourishes it. There are stacks and stacks of research that back that up, too. It’s all rooted in learning. And boy, does nature have a lot to teach.
We love seeing children develop a love of the outdoors. It is a real privilege to see them grow and develop confidence and resilience. We enjoy helping teachers develop their confidence, skills, and knowledge, too.
OUR FOUNDER
One of the country’s leading education consultants with over twenty years experience of teaching under her belt, Carol Murdoch is the award-winning founder of Love Outdoor Learning. She’s also the author of “Breaking Into The Playground” and the host of a podcast with the same name.
Carol’s innovative use of technology has helped thousands of teachers to feel more confident in taking learning outside. In supporting schools by providing training, advice, and hundreds of lesson plans, tens of thousands of children are working their way through the curriculum, outdoors. During 2023 alone, 29,170 educators accessed resources, resulting in 875,100 outdoor experiences for young people.
With a Masters in Learning for Sustainability and a plethora of other outdoor-related qualifications under her belt, Carol Murdoch doesn’t just talk the talk, she walks the walk.
When she’s not lecturing on outdoor learning at Queen Margaret’s University, she’s at schools right in the thick of it. When she’s not writing about it as a columnist for Scotland 4 Kids (Teacher Magazine), she’s recording podcast episodes about it. When she’s not reading about it, she’s coming up with new resources to help schools with it. When she’s not working in and on it, she’s out there loving and learning from it.
Articles By Us
Summer 2025, Institute of Outdoor Learning Horizons, The Magic of Sustainable Story Telling
August 2025, S4K Teachers Edition, Start As You Mean To Go On Outdoors
April 2025, Scotland 4 Kids Teacher Magazine, https://scotland4kids.com/teacher-magazine/
November 2023, Buttercup Learning, Curious About Taking Learning Outdoors
October 2020, For the Love of Trees: A Celebration of People and Trees by Deacon and Allan
Articles About Us
March 2025, BBC Radio 4, You and Yours, https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m00298tb
February 2025, The Guardian, https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/feb/15/how-fast-homewares-became-the-new-fast-fashion
August 2024, Scottish Financial News, Finalists announced for Scotland Women’s Business Conference & Awards
June 2024, Daily Record, West Lothian firms shortlisted in ‘Grammys of business awards’
November 2023, BBC, How forest schools boost children’s immune systems
October 2023, Daily Record, Inspirational West Lothian educator is in running for global award
September 2023, Happiful Magazine, Why a library card could be your most valuable wellbeing investment yet
June 2023, The Sun, SLEIGH WHAT? Gardening expert reveals exact date you should start growing your Christmas veg – and it’s sooner than you might think
June 2023, The Sun, I’m a gardening expert – here’s 5 ways to use 29p household item in your garden, from weeding to slug repellent
January 2022, BBC, The Adventure Show
November 2021, Daily Record, Teaching our children outdoors will help win the fight against climate change
January 2021, The Telegraph, Virtual tech can never replace the sheer joy of a school outing for kids
Recognition
On the 15th of June 2021, the Scottish Parliament passed a motion in recognition of Carol and the difference she makes to children’s education.
On the 15th of November 2021, Theo Paphitis selected us to be highlighted as one of his Small Business Sunday companies.
Awards
Prestige Awards, 2022/23, Scottish Education Support Service of the Year
Women Who Achieves, 2021, Award for Women in Digital
Shortlisted
Great British Entrepreneur Awards, 2024, Purpose Entrepreneur of the Year
The National Sustainability Awards, 2024, Education, Training and Communication Award – International
Women’s Business Club, 2024, Sustainable Business
Biz Bubble Awards, 2024, Best in Service
She Inspires Awards, 2023, Women in Digital award
Women’s Business Awards, 2022, Women in STEM
Women’s Business Awards, 2022, Women in Sustainability
The Inspire, Grow, Launch awards, 2022, ran by the University of Edinburgh
Rural Business Awards, 2021/22, shortlisted us as a finalist for their Sustainability and Environmental Impact Award
SME News Business Elite Awards, 2026, Best Outdoor Learning Education Consultancy
I’m over the moon to be speaking, exhibiting and signing books at the Childcare & Education Expo in London, this March!
Taking place at Olympia London on 20–21 March 2026, it’s a wonderful place to connect with the early education community, pick up new ideas and hear what’s shaping the future of our sector.
It would be great to see you there. You can register here: https://invt.io/1fxb5k6ysrd
Better Outdoors? An event on the advantages of outdoor learning both at primary and secondary school level, and how local authorities and The Scottish Government might be persuaded to systematically roll it out or integrate it into the Scottish education system. An informal discussion with some of Scotland’s top practitioners and educationalists.
- Wednesday 29th April 2026: in person 5-8pm, online 5:30-7:30pm
- Augustine United Church, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh
- Free to attend