GIVING Scottish children a week of learning outdoors will help tackle growing anxiety in young people, the boss of a group of outdoor education centres has said, after the Scottish Government U-turned to back key legislation.
Jamie Miller, chief executive of Scottish Outdoor Education Centres, said he “couldn’t be happier” the Scottish Government allowed the Schools (Residential Outdoor Education) (Scotland) Bill – which will give all schoolkids a week of residential outdoor education – to move to the next stage of debate after it looked as though ministers may thwart its progress.
The legislation – tabled by Scottish Conservative MSP and former teacher Liz Smith – was voted through at Stage One by a majority of MSPs six months ago but there had been concerns the Government would block its passage by not tabling a financial resolution.
Children’s minister Natalie Don-Innes had originally said the proposals were unaffordable.
If ministers had not tabled a financial resolution by the end of last week the bill would have fallen, but at the 11th hour this was submitted, with Don-Innes saying she would accept the will of the Parliament.
Miller said the process up to that stage had felt “rather undemocratic”, given it seemed as though the Government “kill off” any bill that comes across “through inaction”.
He said it was vital the legislation progressed because it can help tackle fundamental concerns people have about young people’s development.
He told The National: “What that means is that [if it passes] every young person will have the opportunity for a five-day educational outdoor residential experience.
“The educational part is important. Organisations like mine and others are there to use the outdoors as a vehicle for learning. We’re not activity providers per se, and I think some MSPs didn’t see that differentiation at all.
“Post-Covid, young people tend to lead quite an insular level of existence, so the bill will give them the opportunity to go outside, engage with nature and learn from that experience.
“If you look at the press at the moment, other factors that are affecting young people might be fitness or obesity. A lot of it is to do with mental health, people are becoming more anxious and less able to go and play and socialise like we would normally do as human beings. That’s the way we are programmed to learn and grow, and outdoor education is a vehicle for that.
“There’s also a lot of concern about climate change and looking after our natural environment. If young people aren’t given the chance to engage in that natural environment, then it’s highly unlikely they’ll be able to look after it or develop it.”
Scottish Outdoor Education Centres runs three outdoor centres in West Linton, Meigle and Aberfoyle.
Miller (above) added the legislation would help address a “postcode lottery” that exists in Scotland, where some children get access to residential outdoor education while others do not, depending on where they live.
Earlier this month, a study by the University of Stirling highlighted a significant shortfall in outdoor educational opportunities in Scotland compared to other countries.
Research indicated that in 2022, Scottish primary school students were receiving an average of just seven minutes of outdoor learning per week, excluding physical education despite outdoor learning forming a part of the formal curriculum for three to 18-year-olds.
Asked how he felt about the Government appearing to be resistant to the legislation, he said: “For something that Parliament wanted, and then without the financial resolution the bill would have fallen, this felt rather undemocratic.
“It had a wider implication I think, [because] what’s the point in anyone other private member’s bill for a sitting government if a vote goes through to be accepted at stage one, then all the sitting government has to do is not produce a financial resolution for that?
“It seemed to be a very unusual thing to take place in Parliament, that Parliament said yes and then the sitting government could, through inaction, kill it off.”
Don-Innes said amendments would be required to target the children who would benefit the most and to provide time for the outdoor education sector to prepare.
The education committee previously estimated that the bill could cost up to £40m to implement and Don-Innes said concerns around affordability still needed to be addressed.
Miller said there have been some suggestions that outdoor day visits can provide the similar benefits to residential education at a cheaper cost, but he would dispute this.
“There’s a suggestion that day outdoor experiences might be a way to deliver similar goals but more cheaply,” he said.
“I would level against that as the residential experience is one of immersion.
“It’s also the first time young people tend to be away from home and that has a resilient effect for young people. The shared experience is important.”
He added: “It provides a formative experience for Scotland’s young people.
“I think if you ask people to reflect back on their time at school, they often can’t remember many specifics, but if they took part in a residential outdoor experience, then they will almost certainly be able to recall all sorts of experiences.
"I would move heaven and earth to try and see this bill come to fruition."
