We are organizing a research symposium called Ihan villinä! (Going Out Wild!) at the ULOS-UT-OUT event on Tuesday, June 9, 2026. Come and present your research on this topic and hear about others’ research! We hope to see presentations from a wide range of fields. Presentations will be held outdoors and indoors.

In keeping with the spirit of the ULOS-UT-OUT event, by outdoor education research we mean research that in one way or another relates to teaching and learning that takes place outdoors, “under the open sky.” Outdoor education applies to all age groups, from early childhood education to old age. We also welcome research that promotes understanding and use of the outdoor learning environment and increases knowledge about the importance of outdoor teaching and learning for well-being and learning, for example. The research presented may be empirical or theoretical. We hope to receive presentations from a wide range of fields and perspectives.

Research symposium program Tue, June 9, 2026

Tuesday, June 9, 2026

9:00 a.m. Registration
9:30–9:50 a.m. Opening speeches for the research symposium
10:00–11:30 a.m. Presentations outdoors and indoors

Theme 1: Luontoyhteyden elinikäinen vahvistaminen (outdoor) FI

• Jenni Perttu: Kuvataidekasvatuksen menetelmien kehittäminen lasten luontosuhteen vahvistamiseksi 
• Arja Kaasinen, Ulla Myllyniemi, Jarkko Lampiselkä & Päivi Kinnunen: Ulkona opettamiseen liittyvät pedagogiset opinnäytetyöt suomalaisissa yliopistoissa 
• Timo Lepistö & Mari Korpela: Luonnosta työhön 
• Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori: Kansalaistutkijasta ympäristökansalaiseksi: Partiolaisten kokemuksia kansalaistieteestä rannalla 

Theme 2: Benefits of outdoor education in various educational settings (indoor) EN

• Merike Kesler, Arja Kaasinen, Anttoni Kervinen, University of Helsinki: Thoughts of Finnish Pre-Service Teachers at Different Educational Levels on Outdoor Teaching and Learning 
• Harald Høgseth & Vibeke Gilje Sanne: Hvordan kan en tradisjonsbåt og et lokalsamfunn åpne opp for elevens læring og danning?  
• Karen Barfod, Mads Bølling, Michelle Stahlhut & Ulrich Dettweiler: How much outdoors is enough? A missing question in Education Outside the Classroom research 
• Szymon Godawa: From Self-Regulation to Eco-Regulation: Outdoor Education and Forest-Based Therapy as a Supportive Environment for Children on the Autism Spectrum 

11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Park lunch
12:30-13:00 Opening speeches for the ULOS-UT-OUT event
13:00-13:45 Keynote: Kirsipauliina Kallio, University of Tampere
14:00–15:30 Presentations:

Theme 3: From elements to holistic views (outdoor) EN

• Maria Svens: Risk och resiliens: säkerhetsfrågor ur erfarna finländska utomhuspedagogers perspektiv  
• Arja Kaasinen & Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori: Elements of biodiversity education: How do experts in biodiversity and education define them? 
• Ayumu Ochi: Teachers’ Views on Climate Emotions in Finnish Nature Schools 

Theme 4: The benefits of outdoors in environmental and sustainability education (indoor) EN

• Anssi Huoponen, University of Eastern Finland; Annika Manni, Umeå University; Moritz Albrecht, University of Eastern Finland; Maija Halonen, University of Eastern Finland; Linda Lundmark, Umeå University: Self-sufficiency education in increasing youth climate change adaptation skills 
• Annika Manni, Umeå University, Sweden: Possibilities for sustainable encounters at different types of preschool playgrounds 
• Birgitte Theilmann & Hanne Værum Sørensen: Under the Open Sky: Water-Based Pedagogy in Nordic Nature Kindergartens 
• Anders Szczepanski: The Landscape as a Sourse of Knowledge – in the Context of Outdoor Education and Didactics (remotely) 

Theme 5: Näkökulmia kestävään ulkona opettamiseen (indoor) FI

• Niina Mykrä: Hankkeet ulkona oppimista edistämässä 
• Aleksi Paavilainen: Viihtymisestä välittämiseen: Ekofeministinen huolenpidon etiikka Luontopäiväkodissa 
• Maria Sulonen: Kriittinen biodiversiteettikasvatus osana kestävyysmurrosta  

15:30-17:00 Long Table Discussion – An interactive panel discussion: Teaching in times of crisis now and in the future. (EN)

The ULOS-UT-OUT event continues after the Ihan Villinä research symposium on June 9–11.

-> Check out the full program for the ULOS-UT-OUT event!

Registration and participation fees:

Decisions on the acceptance of abstracts will be made in January 2026.

• Ihan Villinä research symposium, €130/1 day
  • Ticket type: research symposium -> Registration link
• Research symposium and entire ULOS-UT-OUT event, 3 days, €245
  • Ticket type: participation fee for 3 days -> Registration link
• Research symposium and entire ULOS-UT-OUT event for presenters €150
  • Ticket type: reduced participation fee for program organizers 3 days -> You will find the registration link in the acceptance letter.

More information about registering for the event

If enough high-quality scientific presentations are submitted to the symposium, we will promote a peer-reviewed conference publication specializing in the theme of outdoor teaching and learning.

The research symposium is organized in collaboration with the University of Tampere, the University of Helsinki, and ULOS-UT-OUT.

Abstracts:

Further information:

ULOS-UT-OUT event organizers: info@ulosutout.fi
Arja Kaasinen, University of Helsinki: arja.kaasinen@helsinki.fi
Merike Kesler, University of Helsinki: merike.kesler@helsinki.fi
Essi Aarnio-Linnanvuori, University of Tampere: essi.aarnio-linnanvuori@tuni.fi

UUO2023, Nurmes, summer 2023

UUO2021, ONLINE, summer 2021

UUO2017, Turku Castle, summer 2017

Lectures in English

Moments

All lectures (mainly Finnish or Swedish)

Published 7.6.2017

The health and well-being effects of Finnish nature for children and young people are undeniable. Nature is a dynamic learning environment that supports personal development, social interaction and participation, in contrast to a sedentary lifestyle. Versatile activities in nature also strengthen the immune system and promote mental health.

Our diverse nature is a source of numerous well-being effects that the Ulos-Ut-Out! international conference organisers encourage others to take advantage of from early childhood to adulthood. A good relationship with nature in childhood gives solid ground for a sustainable lifestyle.

The long-term wellbeing effects of Finnish nature can be utilised by moving teaching in pre-school and schools and youth work outdoors. Education, youth work and social work professionals however, need support and training in outdoor learning.

Ulos – Ut – Out! organisers emphasise that teacher training for all educators must include methods of outdoor learning. Those who are already in the profession need continuing professional development. Organisations that promote outdoor learning organise numerous training events, school visits and events and publish outdoor learning materials. In addition, the state administration must ensure that a national plan for education and training in sustainable development is drawn up.

The methods presented in Turku and Sauvo at Ulos – Ut – Out! in June 2017 should be available throughout Finland. The Out – Ut – Out! organisers would like to challenge all of Finland’s municipalities to promote outdoor learning and to support educators in this important work.

How can the diverse benefits of Finnish nature be utilised? Share your ideas on social media! #ulos2017

The international outdoor learning conference Ulos – Ut – Out! was organised in Turku 5.–6. June 2017. It was arranged collaboratively by FEE Suomi, Suomen luonto- ja ympäristökoulujen liitto ry, Suomen ympäristöopisto Sykli Oy, Suomen nuorisokeskusyhdistys ja Valtakunnallinen seikkailukasvatusverkosto, Suomen Metsäyhdistys, Finlands Svenska Idrott rf, WWF Suomi and Valonia.

For more information please contact:

Maija Ihantola
Conference co-ordinator
Ulos–Ut–Out!
Suomen luonto- ja ympäristökoulujen liitto ry
Tel: 041 536 8232
maija.ihantola@luontokoulut.fi
www.ulos2017.fi