We loved meeting everyone at the ExCel in London for the BETT conference on 25 and 26 January 2017.

It was a hugely inspiring event and we had a great time hosting the Outdoor Classroom Day area, which was bustling with people signing up for this year’s campaign. One of the highlights for us was hearing Sir Ken Robinson encourage everyone to participate  on 18 May! #starstruck [skip to 39 minutes]

We heard from primary and secondary school teachers, leaders and principals about the importance of outdoor learning and play and how they plan to celebrate this year. The conference was a brilliant opportunity for us to have conversations with educators not just in the UK, but from around the world.

We met teachers from Sweden, Mexico, Nigeria and Italy and talked about the different ways their schools get outdoors. We even met a teacher from Panama who signed up her whole school to Outdoor Classroom Day and is the first school in the country to participate!

A school leader from Boughton Heath School in the UK told us how his school got involved in Outdoor Classroom Day last year. We were bowled over to hear that the children loved it so much they have started having regular outdoor sessions since then! And of course, they are planning to get involved again this year.

One of our highlights was hearing Matt Warney, Computing and IT and Forest School leader at CAS Worcester Computing Hub, talk about how he balances tech and outdoor learning with his students. Find out more in his post-BETT blog, ‘Technology and the outdoor classroom’!

Many who visited our stand were inspired by the idea of celebrating outdoor learning and play around the world on the same day! They also loved the fun and easy-to-use Outdoor Classroom Day lesson ideas and resources. In fact, it was a lovely surprise when Helen Steer, author of our ‘Explore Outside the Classroom’ book visited our stand!

We hope to see you again next year. In the meantime, be part of the movement by signing up your school or celebrating outdoor learning and play on Thursday, 18 May 2017 with schools around the world!