Outdoor Education across Formal and Non-formal Sectors: Searching for Common Ground and Collaboration Opportunities
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.14712/18023061.716Keywords:
nature-based education, outdoor learning, formal education, non-formal education, environmental education, leisure pedagogy, experiential education, experiential learningAbstract
Nature-based education represents an important pedagogical approach that integrates environmental, personal, and social dimensions of learning and is implemented in both formal and non-formal education. Although Czech scholarly literature has extensively addressed individual areas such as nature-based education, outdoor learning, experiential education, and leisure pedagogy, less attention has been paid to their interconnections and to the systematic cooperation between formal and non-formal education. The aim of this study is to analyse the intersections, differences, and opportunities for cooperation between formal and non-formal approaches to nature-based education in the Czech educational context. The study is designed as a theoretical-analytical review based on the thematic analysis of scholarly literature, strategic policy documents, and methodological materials. The analysis indicates that both educational sectors share a common emphasis on authentic experience, the development of key competences, environmental sensitivity, and personal development, while differing primarily in their curricular framework, organisational context, and pedagogical approaches. A key finding is that effective models of cooperation between schools and non-formal education organisations already exist in the Czech Republic; however, their further development is constrained by legislative, organisational, and methodological barriers. The study highlights the potential of systematically linking formal and non-formal education and offers recommendations for educational practice as well as future research.
Downloads
References
Beames, S., Higgins, P., & Nicol, R. (2012). Learning Outside the Classroom: Theory and Guidelines for Practice. New York, NY: Routledge.
Brown, M. (2008). Reconceptualising outdoor adventure education: Activity in search of an appropriate theory. Australian Journal of Outdoor Education, 13(2), 3-13, https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03400882
Brown, M., & Beames, S. (2017). Adventure education: Redux. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 17(4), 294-306. https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2016.1246257
Cuker, I., & Hájek, M. (2024). Negotiating common goals among diverse stakeholders: An ethnography of the Czech environmental education’s organisational field. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 40(4), 706-721. https://doi.org/10.1017/aee.2024.35
Činčera, J. (2022). Environmentální výchova v neformálním vzdělávání [Video]. YouTube. Dostupné z https://youtu.be/532Hs5yeaew
Činčera, J., Goldman, D., & Válková, T. (2026). Social learning in teacher professional development for environmental and sustainability education. Teacher Development, 30(1), 1-21. https://doi.org/10.1080/13664530.2025.2490735
Daniš, P. (2018). Tajemství školy za školou: Proč učení venku v přírodě zlepšuje vzdělávací výsledky, motivaci a chování žáků. Praha: Ministerstvo životního prostředí.
Drápela, V. (1997). Přehled teorií osobnosti. Praha: Portál.
Evans, H. (2015). Learning in the landscape. In P. Chiles, L. Care, H. Evans, A. Holder, & C. Kemp (Eds.), Building schools: Key issues for contemporary design (pp. 156–171). Birkhäuser.
Hanuš, R, & kol. (2021). Společné plánování, realizace a vyhodnocení vzdělávacích aktivit. Praha: NPI ČR.
Higgins, P. (2009). Into the big wide world: Sustainable experiential education for the 21st century. Journal of Experiential Education, 32(1), 44-60. https://doi.org/10.1177/105382590903200105
Jirásek, I., & Turčová, I. (2017). The Czech approach to outdoor adventure and experiential education: the influence of Jaroslav Foglarʼs work. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 17(4), 321-337. Dostupné z https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2017.1344557
Kalous, Z., & Obst, O. (2002). Školní didaktika. Praha: Portál.
Kaplánek, M. (2013). Animace: studijní text pro přípravu animátorů mládeže. Brno: CMTF UP.
Learning and Teaching Scotland. (2010). Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning. Livingston: Learning and Teaching Scotland.
Louv, R. (2008). Last Child in the Woods. Algonquin Books.
MacEachren, Z. (2018). First Nation pedagogical emphasis on imitation and making the stuff of life: Canadian lessons for indigenizing Forest Schools. Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education, 21(1), 89–102. Dostupné z https://doi.org/10.1007/s42322-017-0003-4
MacEachren, Z. (2022). Reflections on campfire experiences as wild pedagogy. Canadian Journal of Environmental Education, 25, 102–119. Dostupné z https://cjee.lakeheadu.ca/article/view/1706
Martin, A. J. (2011). The dramaturgy approach to education in nature: Reflections of a decade of International Vacation School Lipnice courses, Czech Republic, 1997–2007. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 11(1), 67-82. Dostupné z https://doi.org/10.1080/14729679.2011.575691
Martin, A. J., Turčová, I., & Neuman, J. (2007). The Czech outdoor experience: Turistika and connections to Friluftsliv. Nature first: Outdoor life the Friluftsliv way, 197-208.
Martin, A. J., Watson, G., Neuman, J., Turčová, I., & Kalkusová, L. (2020). Czech education in nature traditions. History of Education Review, 49(1), 31–43. Dostupné z https://doi.org/10.1108/HER-04-2019-0008
Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy. (2017). Rámcový vzdělávací program pro základní vzdělávání. Praha: MŠMT
Ministerstvo školství, mládeže a tělovýchovy. (2020). Strategie vzdělávací politiky České republiky do roku 2030+. Praha: MŠMT
Němec, J., Kaplánek, M., Jirásek, I., Košatková, M., Macků, R., Klapko, D., ... Soják, P. (2023). Pedagogika volného času. Masarykova univerzita.
Nepraš, K., & Šikulová, R. (2021). Odkud a kam směřuje venkovní výuka? Historie, současnost a trendy ve venkovní výuce v kontextu vzdělávacích teorií. Pedagogická orientace, 31(2), 158–177. Dostupné z https://doi.org/10.5817/PedOr2021-2-158
Neuman, J. (2001). The Czech way of outdoor experiential education. In F. H. Paffrath & A. Ferstl (Eds.), Hemingsles erleben (s. 329–338). Augsburg: Ziel.
Neuman, J., Mytting, I., & Brtník, J. (1994). Outdoorové aktivity: Sborník z mezinárodního semináře Praha ‘94, Praha: Univerzita Karlova,
Nolte, C. E. (2002). The Sokol in the Czech Lands to 1914: Training for the Nation. New York, N.Y.: Palgrave Macmillan.
NPI ČR. (2020). Výstupy z kulatého stolu k uznávání výsledků neformálního vzdělávání ve formálním vzdělávání. Praha: NPI ČR.
OECD. (2019). OECD future of education and skills 2030: OECD learning compass 2030.
Průcha, J. (2013). Pedagogický slovník (8. vyd.). Portál.
Rogers, C. R. (1969). Freedom to Learn. Columbus, OH: Charles Merrill.
Rýdl, K. (1999). Eduard Štorch: ein tschechischer Wegbereiter der modernen Erlebnispädagogik. In H. Braun & K. Kloep (Eds.), Abenteuer, Erlebnis und Bildung: Beiträge zur Erlebnispädagogik (pp. 151–162). Schneider Verlag Hohengehren.
Scott, B. (2015). The environmentally educating teacher: Synthesis of an implementation theory for pre-service courses. Australian Journal of Environmental Education, 12, 53-60. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0814062600004183
Svobodová, H., Durna, R., Mísařová, D., & Hofmann, E. (2019). Komparace formálního ukotvení terénní výuky ve školních vzdělávacích programech a její pojetí v modelových základních školách. Orbis scholae, 13(2), 95–116. Dostupné z https://doi.org/10.14712/23363177.2019.9 .
Turčová, I., Martin, A., & Neuman, J. (2005). Diversity in language: Outdoor terminology in the Czech Republic and Britain. Journal of Adventure Education and Outdoor Learning, 5(2), 101-117. Dostupné z https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/epdf/10.1080/14729670585200641?needAccess=true
Tyrš, M. (1947). Náš úkol, směr a cíl. Praha: Nakladatelství Československé obce sokolské.
Waic, M., & Kössl, J. (1994). Původ a vývoj organizovaných outdoorových aktivit v českých zemích. In J. Neuman, I. Mytting, & J. Brtník (Eds.), Outdoorové aktivity: Sborník z mezinárodního semináře Praha ‘94 (s. 18–22). Praha: Univerzita Karlova, Verlag Edition Erlebnispädagogik.
Zajíc, J. (2021). Propojování formálního a neformálního vzdělávání: Přínosy, metody a formy spolupráce mezi školou a organizací neformálního vzdělávání. Národní pedagogický institut České republiky. https://www.npi.cz/images/FNV/propojovani_fv_a_nfv.pdf
Downloads
Published
Data Availability Statement
No primary research data was generated or analysed as part of this study. The study is based on an analysis of specialist literature, strategic documents and methodological materials.
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Kateřina Kutálková, Lucie Kozma
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The publication of the journal is carried out in accordance with Czech law, in particular the Press Act No. 46/2000 Coll., the Copyright Act No. 121/2000 Coll., and the laws of the European Union. In accordance with the relevant provisions of Act No. 121/2000 Coll., the Copyright Act, as amended, the rights to published texts are always held by their author. The journal has only the right to use the text in the sense of its distribution through its printed and electronic form, in accordance with the provisions of Article 12(4)(b) of the Copyright Act.
