DESIGNING INCLUSIVE OUTDOOR SPACES: AN ADVANCED UNIVERSITY TRAINING COURSE

Outdoor education has become increasingly relevant in Italy over the last 15 years, as evidenced by the growth in scientific publications, professional interest, and training initiatives. This trend has spurred the organization of conferences, the development of university specialization courses, and in-service training programs across the country. Outdoor environments, seen as the "third educator" alongside teachers and peers, provide rich and meaningful learning contexts. They offer less structured settings that foster early cognitive, emotional, and social development. However, international research highlights that outdoor spaces are still underutilized in education despite their potential to enhance children’s well-being and lifelong learning. In 2023, the University Advanced Training Course “Designing Inclusive Outdoor Spaces” was launched and co-financed by ARPAE, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Municipality of Bologna. The course consisted of a participatory workshop that focused on Thinking Routines to promote collaboration and innovation and involved 46 professionals from different sectors from environmental educators and urban planners to pedagogical coordinators. Through interdisciplinary approaches, participants co-designed projects aimed to create inclusive and equitable educational spaces, from school gardens to urban parks, focusing on children’s rights and well-being.