Integrating outdoor and adventure education in school physical education. Insights from European physical educators

• Outdoor and Adventure Education (OAE) is explored as a vehicle for promoting adolescents’ holistic development , including physical, emotional, and social growth. • The study examines barriers relevant to OAE integration in school Physical Education (PE), by adopting a cross-country and context perspective. • Findings emphasize the alignment of OAE with Sustainable Development Goals , particularly in fostering youth well-being, meaningful education and environmental awareness. • Thematic analysis was conducted by adopting a contextualist epistemology paradigm, bridging both essentialist and constructionist perspectives to the process of data analysis. • Policy recommendations concerning the integration of experiential and outdoor pedagogies into teacher education programs and curriculum design , support the advancement of SDGs within PE. Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) has been increasingly recognized for its potential to foster adolescents’ social, emotional, and physical development within physical education (PE). Ιn many European contexts, OAE has only recently begun to receive greater attention as schools and policymakers explore its integration into formal PE curricula as an approach towards sustainable educational development. This qualitative study explores how PE teachers and teacher educators from six European countries conceptualize the meaning, perceived benefits, challenges, and potential integration of OAE into school PE curricula. Data were collected through written interviews and analyzed using thematic analysis in alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) framework. Three interrelated themes were produced from the analysis: (a) OAE as a catalyst for youth holistic development, (b) Systemic and structural barriers, and (c) Cultural and contextual diversities. Findings reveal that while educators in Europe recognize OAE’s pedagogical value, its implementation is often hindered by systemic constraints, lack of resources, and insufficient policy support. Erasmus+ and similar European initiatives can act as catalysts towards advancing innovation in PE, sharing best practices, and promoting OAE as part of the broader efforts focusing on education for sustainable development.