An innovative digital mapping project designed to revolutionise outdoor learning has been unveiled across Scotland, offering students and teachers a groundbreaking approach to exploring and understanding their natural environment.
The Nature Discovery Map Scotland, developed by NatureScot in partnership with the Scottish Government, represents a significant advancement in environmental education, combining modern technology with hands-on outdoor exploration.
Young learners will have access to sophisticated yet user-friendly mobile applications designed to collect data about various environmental features, from hedgerows and trees to bird boxes and solar panels, creating an interactive learning experience that bridges the digital and natural worlds.
This cutting-edge educational tool enables schools to display their environmental findings on interactive dashboards, fostering healthy competition and collaboration between institutions while stimulating meaningful classroom discussions about local biodiversity.
The initiative comprises six distinct map-based tools specifically crafted to nurture future environmental leaders, helping reduce eco-anxiety among young people while strengthening their connection to the natural world.
NatureScot Greenspaces Officer Sue Munro emphasises the project’s role in empowering Scotland’s youth to actively participate in addressing biodiversity loss and tackling the nature crisis through hands-on learning and exploration.
Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills Jenny Gilruth highlights the vital role of outdoor learning in Scotland’s curriculum, praising the Nature Discovery Map as an innovative approach to fostering environmental awareness and connection among students.
The development of this educational resource stems from the UK Nature Park commitment made at COP 26 in Glasgow, designed to enhance students’ understanding of their school grounds’ contribution to biodiversity and climate change adaptation.
Extensive pilot testing with primary, secondary and ASN teachers and pupils throughout 2022 and 2023 has refined the toolkit into a comprehensive national resource ready for deployment across Scottish schools.
The project aligns perfectly with the Learning for Sustainability Action Plan, supporting schools in their journey to become Sustainable Learning Settings by 2030 through practical engagement with environmental issues.
Students will develop crucial digital and STEM skills through the geospatial mapping components, while regular outdoor exploration enhances physical and mental wellbeing, particularly benefiting socially excluded young people.
This nationwide initiative represents a significant step forward in environmental education, combining technological innovation with practical outdoor learning to create a more engaging and effective approach to nature studies.
Schools across Scotland can now access the Nature Discovery Map Scotland Hub to begin their journey of environmental exploration and discovery, with full nationwide implementation planned over the coming months.
