How far have we got with outdoor activities at school? Interview with Charlotte Blot, wellness coach and sports teacher
Hello Charlotte! Could you tell us a bit about your background?
What is the place of the outdoor in today's schools?
Charlotte: I'm a great believer in the virtues of the outdoors. I've seen the benefits for myself, but I've also read in numerous recent neuroscience studies that being in contact with nature improves a child's cerebral and psychic development, particularly memory, language learning, reading, writing and reasoning. More and more teachers are initiating their pupils, including some teachers of other disciplines, who find that taking classes outside works superbly!
But unfortunately, we're not all equal in this respect. Schools in mountainous, rural areas obviously have easier access. Personally, I teach in a middle school in a relatively working-class district of Lille.
So I use whatever means I can get my hands on, because I firmly believe that sport should be accessible to all, whatever their level of ability or financial means.
For these reasons, I use orienteering a lot. It's an exercise I really enjoy, because it allows students to get out of the school or gym easily, and into the forest. The aim is to test their orientation skills and landmarks, in town or elsewhere. It also makes them responsible and independent, and develops team spirit. These skills are indispensable throughout our lives.
You also offer climbing to your students: why?
Is cycling also taught?
What can be done to enable all children and teenagers to discover the outdoors?
Charlotte: I realize every day that young people aren't necessarily aware of everything that exists. I think we need to communicate more **about the benefits and accessibility of outdoor activities. By using the networks that this generation favors, like Tiktok.
And then we need to organize initiation days. I'm thinking ofrowing, for example. Bringing them along for a day is a great way to give them a taste of the experience. And on the spot, it's an opportunity to talk about all the other water sports, such as canoeing, kayaking and paddling, which can sometimes be found in the same place, in the** nautical bases.**.
What advice would you give parents to help their children get started?
Charlotte: Go to nearby nature areas as often as possible. On weekends, on vacation. A picnic in the park, playing games in the great outdoors, exploring what's going on around the house, that's an adventure in itself.
You can also tryclimbing, which is available everywhere, including in urban areas, and now, thanks to the gyms, there are preferential rates for children or people on low incomes.
Above all, the most important thing: get your kids out! As I said earlier, scientific studies have shown that it's by being exposed to the outdoors that we develop our neurons... If you see them chatting with their buddies, suggest they join you for a canyoning course, rent a surfboard, or just go for a walk.
