Integrating Outdoor and Adventure Education in School Physical Education. Insights from European Physical Educators

Outdoor Adventure Education (OAE) has been increasingly recognized for its potential to foster
adolescents’ social, emotional, and physical development within physical education (PE). Іn
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.