National Outdoor Learning Award

Dr Roger Hopper designed and first used the concepts of the NOLA award while working at a Pupil Referral Unit (Horizons, 2008). The NOLA award is based upon long standing research into Outdoor learning’s impact on personal development and continued to be developed by trialling it in practice within a Special Needs School (Horizon, 2011). One of the main aims of the NOLA award is to capture and celebrate the personal and social change created by outdoor learning, in a measurable manner. The desire to quantify a primarily qualitative change was born out of countless times of not being able to evidence developments. In comparison to mainstream curricula Outdoor learning therefore appeared ineffective.

The current format of the NOLA award and resources, were developed by Dr Hopper, with support from Heatree Activity Centre. A national steering group was formed in 2014 to further the direction of the award and a link with IOL created which has led to NOLA being available as a FREE resource from 2018 for all involved in outdoor learning.

Yes, a partnership between IOL and the creators of NOLA (Dr. Roger Hopper and Heatree Activity Centre) have ensured NOLA is a FREE resource.

Trialling the award with other providers has shown that administration and use of the award is easily understood and implemented. However, if required, initial support and CPD development can be provided.

Use of the National Outdoor Learning Award as part of your organisation supports marketing. It also helps develop local and national social capital. Furthermore, using an IOL supported award links your provision to national recognition.

The National Outdoor Learning Award is particularly useful for any organisation (including sole providers) that is passionate about capturing and celebrating outdoor learning in a very non-intrusive way. Whilst assessment is inevitable with any award, with the NOLA award the focus is on personalised learning and self-assessment through reflective practice. Developing reflective practice in learners supports a lifelong skill at the heart of outdoor learning.

Achieving the NOLA award is not a series of hoops to jump through but a model for change and a model of change. As a model for change it has the capacity to help us develop our outdoor professional practice and as a model of change it has the possibility to evidence (capture) and celebrate the impact of outdoor learning.

References
Hopper, R. (2008) Excluded and Challenging but Able to Learn. Institute for Outdoor Learning. Horizons (44).
Hopper, R. (2012) Teaching Skills as a Core Part of a School Curriculum. Institute for Outdoor Learning. Horizons (58).

NOLA is currently a free resource from its creators Dr. Roger Hopper and Heatree Activity Centre, supported by IOL. The Institute is particularly interested to hear from funding partners to enable development of an APP and wider sharing of this valued resource.