Outdoor and nature education
In Hämeenlinna, nature is an integral part of children’s daily learning, growth, and well-being. Outdoor and nature education provides children with the opportunity to learn, move, and explore their surroundings in an authentic environment throughout the year.
Outdoor and nature education within Hämeenlinna’s early childhood and pre-primary education has deep roots and a long history. The first forest pre-primary group was established in 2005, and today, outdoor and nature education is a significant and valued part of the city’s early childhood and pre-primary education.
Outdoor and nature education is based on the idea that children learn best by doing, exploring, playing, and moving in authentic environments. In Hämeenlinna, forests, parks, and other local surroundings serve as diverse learning environments where children have the opportunity to observe, experiment, wonder, and learn as part of their daily lives.
In daycare centres and pre-primary education groups, nature is utilised pedagogically in various ways. Groups of children regularly go on excursions, making use of the daycare centre’s local environment and nearby forests. Learning in nature is part of goal-oriented education, combining children’s interests, phenomenon-based learning, and the objectives of early childhood and pre-primary education.
Outdoor and nature education supports children’s holistic growth, learning, and well-being. Engaging with nature strengthens, among other things, physical activity, creativity, imagination, problem-solving skills, and interaction competence. At the same time, children build a positive relationship with nature and learn environmental responsibility and a sustainable lifestyle together.
Forest and nature groups
Hämeenlinna has several early childhood and pre-primary education groups with an outdoor and nature focus, which spend their daily activity time outdoors, utilising nearby forests and environments, all year round. The forest groups have a campfire hut area near the daycare centre as their base, where the groups, for example, eat their meals.
Forest and nature groups operate in the following municipal daycare centres:
Forest and nature-focused groups also operate in the following private daycare centres: