At Love Outdoor Learning, we know that learning isn’t limited to classrooms. Real growth happens when learners are outside, immersed in the outdoor environment, and encouraged to take control of their actions. This is where self-management comes into play: a key set of skills that help us manage ourselves, from staying motivated to adapting when things don’t go to plan.
Self-management is one of those life skills we use every day, whether we’re working on a school project, managing a team at work, or simply trying to get through the day. That being said, it can be a tricky set of skills to master, especially for those who are neuro-spicy (yup, referring to myself here!).
The beauty of outdoor learning is that it provides the perfect space to nurture these skills in a natural, engaging way. Let’s explore how outdoor activities can help build self-management meta-skills and share some fun, practical activities that make it all come to life.
Taking Initiative: Leading from the Front
Outdoors, there’s no shortage of opportunities to take the lead. Whether it’s a child deciding to help with a task or a group stepping up to tackle a problem, outdoor learning is all about developing initiative. Learners are given the freedom to make decisions, experiment, and take charge of their own learning. My experience outdoors shows that it is often the children who struggle indoors that suddenly become confident, focused leaders outdoors.
A great example of this in practice is den building. Because, when we think about it, how often are we actually teaching children to build dens? More often than not, we are using den building to explore meta skills.
Imagine you’re out in the woods, and there’s a challenge to build a shelter using only natural materials. The task requires everyone to take the lead in some way—deciding where to build, what materials to use, and how to put it all together. This isn’t just about staying dry; it’s about learning to take responsibility, think ahead, and see a project through from start to finish. Of course, while everyone plays a part, you will often see one child leading the way.
This is a great activity as you only need natural materials. If your woodland is small consider building mini dens rather than dens the kids can fit inside. This activity is simple but it works as it encourages decision-making, independent thinking, and creative problem-solving. There’s no perfect way to build a shelter, so everyone has the chance to step up, try something new, and learn from it.
Adaptability: Flexibility in the Face of Change
One thing we all know about nature is that it’s unpredictable, espcially here in Scotland where we can easily have four seasons in a day. Rain, wind, unexpected obstacles—outdoor learning teaches us to go with the flow and adapt to whatever comes our way. This flexibility is a key part of self-management, allowing us to stay calm, adjust plans, and move forward.
We’ve all been there—planning a great lesson or even a full day outside only to find the weather has other ideas. Instead of heading indoors, we adapt! Whether it’s changing the activity or figuring out how to work around the rain, these weather-based challenges build resilience and adaptability.
You will notice I am not sharing a specific activity here, that’s because it is not always activity specific. Heading outdoors in inclement weather can be challenge enough. All you need is a flexible attitude, appropriate clothing, and a willingness to get creative with activities.
We also need to remember that children and young people will often replicate our behaviours. If we are stood there looking miserable and grumbling about the rain then they will too. If we get involved and get on with it then they are most likely going to do the same.
Nature doesn’t always play by our rules, and that’s okay! It helps us practice staying flexible, thinking on our feet, and finding new ways to enjoy the day, no matter the circumstances.
Building Resilience: Bouncing Back from Challenges
Resilience is the ability to keep going, even when things get tough. In the outdoors, there’s always something that doesn’t go to plan. Maybe it’s a steep hill, a confusing map, or a tricky task, but each challenge is an opportunity to practice bouncing back and pushing through. For me, teaching poetry was often a tricky subject and I had to develop my own confidence and resilience to do so. This took time, but building resilience takes time.
I see many schools undertaking orienteering. It is all about finding your way through a course using a map and compass and can even be undertaken within school grounds. (This pack from British Orienteering is fantastic, even for those who have never done any) But it’s not just about navigation—it’s about overcoming the frustration of getting lost, finding your way again, and completing the course despite setbacks.
Orienteering is also a great way to develop curricular skills in a real life way. All you need is maps, compasses. Lots of schools have architecture drawings of the playground and these can work well for a map. Of course, you can also combine maths lessons by measuring and creating an accurate map.
It works well as every wrong turn is a chance to learn and grow. Resilience isn’t just about finishing the course—it’s about learning to keep calm, problem-solve, and push through frustration.
Focusing in Nature: Finding Calm and Concentration
Nature provides the perfect environment for practicing focus. Whether it’s sitting quietly and observing the world around you or concentrating on a specific task, outdoor learning helps improve attention and mindfulness.
Give learners a chance to slow down, sit quietly, and take in the natural world around them. With a clipboard, paper and pencil in hand, they can jot down observations using words, icons, whatever works for them. This simple exercise encourages mindfulness and helps build concentration.
I also love doing sound maps to support literacy. Can the children complete this simple exercise outdoors and then head indoors to create a descriptive setting only focused on sound? I also used this often if it were a wet playground day. We all know classes can be more challenging on these days but nipping outside even just for five minutes helped the children feel calm and focused – which in turn meant they were ready to learn.
This is so simple but it works. It’s a calming way to practice focus, develop observation skills, and appreciate the details of nature. Plus, it’s an activity anyone can do, anywhere!
Organisation: Managing Time and Resources
Managing resources, planning tasks, and staying organised are vital life skills. Outdoor learning gives plenty of opportunities to practice these skills, whether through preparing a meal, organising equipment, or planning an activity.
For this, the activity that jumps to mind is making ball runs – like the old game where you aimed to build a path to get a marble from one area to another going through a number of obstacles. For this, I use loose materials already in the outdoor space/ playground. I do not tell the children how to share out the resources but simply tell them that they need to do so fairly. Perhaps surprisingly, this approach has not failed me yet. Though possibly the threat of me taking away materials from any group that is greedy also works.
The one thing that I often notice with this activity is how much more creative younger children are than older. But, that would be a whole different blog to explore that.
This activity uses what you have. I once delivered it on the beach using what was there and it worked really well. It’s hands-on and teaches learners to think ahead, manage their time, and use resources in a very meaninful way.
Emotional Regulation: Staying Calm and Balanced
The outdoors is a great place to practice managing emotions. Whether it’s frustration from a tricky task or excitement from a fun experience, outdoor learning helps learners recognise and regulate their feelings.
One fun way to do this is teaching fire building with a flint and steel. There is no denying this is tricky. I often start off with a cotton wool ball dipped into Vaseline and then have the children use the flint and steel. As they grow more confident, I can then ask them to use what they find in the woodland. Bark from birch trees works really well, as does dry pine needles, grass etc.
I can deliver this to a whole class by providing small mental containers, that keet their fire contained. This may be a metal colander or the like. Of course, if I am having a fire it is to serve a purpose. It could be for teaching resilience or for warmth or even for cooking.
Learning to use a flint and steel is hard, but if children stay calm they are more likely to achieve it. It teaches learners to manage their emotions in a healthy way and that it is ok to find things hard.
Self-management isn’t just something we’re born with—it’s something we learn through experience. Outdoor learning provides the perfect environment to build these skills, whether it’s through taking initiative, adapting to challenges, or simply sitting quietly and focusing on the present.
At Love Outdoor Learning, we’ve seen time and again how powerful these experiences can be. Whether it’s a group of children building a shelter or a family enjoying a mindful walk together, the skills they take away go far beyond the day’s activities. It’s about building a foundation for lifelong learning and resilience, one adventure at a time.