Emociones, procesos de aprendizaje y cultura emocional transformadora en contextos escolares de educación al aire libre

The paper explores how, in recent years, Outdoor Education (OE) has gained increasing attention in educational research for its role in social emotional education, proving to be an innovative approach that integrates experiential learning with immersion in nature. Rooted primarily in the educational traditions of Northern Europe, OE recognizes that contact with the natural environment not only enhances physical and psychological well-being but also fosters the development of emotional and relational skills. Through outdoor activities, students are encouraged to express and regulate their emotions, facilitating deeper and more mindful learning. This approach stimulates empathy, improves social relationships, and promotes self-awareness and awareness of others, creating an inclusive and participatory educational environment. Research shows that OE uses emotions as an essential educational resource, contributing to the development of self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relational skills, and responsible decision-making. These social-emotional skills, crucial for personal growth and social interaction, find in OE an ideal context to flourish, thanks to the hands-on and immersive nature of outdoor learning. Direct contact with nature amplifies emotional experiences, allowing students to concretely engage with emotional and social dynamics that facilitate learning and help over come obstacles in the acquisition process. The paper aims to highlight that, by emphasizing the interconnection between emotions and learning, OE proves to be a powerful tool for fostering a healthy and supportive educational environment for social-emotional development, creating learning opportunities that place emotions at the center of the educational process, thus promoting both the acquisition of specific social skills and the development of positive interpersonal relationships. Keywords: Outdoor Education (OE), Social-emotional learning, Experiential learning, Emotional regulation, Relational skills.