Why Outdoor Education Matters

 

Why Outdoor Education Matters

As a developmental paediatrician, I see the challenges our young people face every day - anxiety, pressure from social media, and a sense of disconnection from the world around them. That’s why I’m so concerned about the proposal to remove outdoor education from New Zealand’s senior school general subject list. This wouldn’t be just a curriculum change; it would be removing a subject that helps young people flourish.

I know this space professionally, but also personally. My daughters changed high schools so they could take outdoor education, and they thrived because of it. It wasn’t about earning easy credits - it was about doing something they absolutely loved. They built confidence and resilience, made close friends, and deepened their core values. Outdoor education informed their future study choices - one is studying law and environmental science, and the other tertiary-level outdoor education. Both work as outdoor guides during the summer, using skills they honed in high school.

But this isn’t just about my kids. It's about all our kids. Outdoor education is a game-changer. It’s a subject that doesn’t just teach you about the world; it helps you experience it. It brings the classroom to life. Students learn leadership, teamwork, and critical thinking - skills that aren’t just nice-to-haves, they’re must-haves.

Outdoor education is about so much more than biking down hills and sleeping under the stars. It’s about learning to assess risk and solve problems in real time. It teaches young people to be adaptable, flexible, and ready for whatever life throws at them. It instils mātauranga Māori and kaitiakitanga, and fosters students' relationships with the environment. Without it, fewer young people will care about our whenua, and the wild places that define us as a nation.

Research shows that kids who spend time outdoors perform better academically. They’re more focused and more engaged. They’re also likely to be healthier, both physically and mentally. Being outside is good for us. We have a youth mental health crisis, and are struggling to address it. Outdoor education is an affordable yet powerful tool in that effort.

Many students don’t have access to outdoor experiences outside of school. High school outdoor education fills that gap, enabling more young people to get outside, move their bodies, interact with their peers, and get off their phones.

Let’s not take outdoor education away. Let’s ensure that as many students as possible continue to benefit from it. Let’s request that the government retain outdoor education on the senior school general subject list. Our young people deserve it.

Consultation closes at 5pm on the 15^th September 2025. Please send your submissions to nceaconsultation@education.govt.nz.