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 inter-est, and training initiatives. This trend has spurred the organization of confer-ences, 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, emo-tional, and social development. However, international research highlights that outdoor spaces are still underutilized in education, despite their potential to enhance children’s overall well-being and lifelong learning. In 2023, the Uni-versity Advanced Training Course “Designing Inclusive Outdoor Spaces” was launched, co-financed by ARPAE, the Emilia-Romagna Region, and the Munici-pality of Bologna. The course brought together 46 professionals, including en-vironmental educators, urban planners, and pedagogical coordinators, in par-ticipatory workshops using Thinking Routines to foster collaboration and inno-vation. Through interdisciplinary approaches, participants co-designed projects aimed at creating inclusive and equitable educational spaces, from school gar-dens to urban parks, with a focus on children’s rights and well-being.