Swiss Elementary School Teachers’ Attitudes Toward Forest Education

Abstract

This article investigates benefits and challenges of forest education in view of 257 Swiss elementary school teachers (1st–3rd grade), by means of a written questionnaire and 15 in-depth interviews. Two thirds of the teachers carried out forest education during normal lesson hours (mean visits = eight per year). Forests were clearly considered as an educational setting, and especially suitable for the enhancement of personal and social skills. Setting rules was seen as indispensable for successful forest education and a must to communicate to “novice” teachers. Moreover, the didactic of forest education should be implemented in teacher education curricula.

Keywords:

• benefits
• challenges
• conceptions
• elementary schools
• forest education
• interviews
• survey

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

We thank all teachers and their students for their participation. Thanks also to Barbara Gugerli-Dolder for valuable comments on the survey.

Notes

1. http://www.waldwissen.net/themen/inventur_monitoring/waldinventur/wsl_lfi3_erste_ergebnisse_EN

2. In the canton of Zurich, various subjects, such as introduction to natural sciences, geography and history are taught as part of the single subject “people and the environment.” More information (in English) at: http://www.educa.ch/dyn/152307.asp