| Summary: | Nature is in many ways considered a source to both physical and mental health among people. Trends in today’s society reveal that children become more distanced to nature. Seen from the perspective of sustainable development this trend is considered crucial: it is of importance that children in their early ages experience nature positively in order to develop a dedication towards environmental issues as adults. The purpose of this study is to investigate how teachers use outdoor learning as an educational tool. Research data were collected through a series of interviews. Teachers from two different primary schools were interviewed, and one of the schools is oriented towards outdoor education. The data were analyzed based on the teachers’ ideas of children’s attitudes towards, and possibilities to, spending time in their natural surroundings. The results show that all participating teachers are of the opinion that children today generally spend less time outdoors. This could partly be connected to the increased range of technical products that makes spending time indoors more appealing. The parents’ influence in terms of passing on their attitudes towards nature to their children is considered an important factor. The teachers use their understanding of the pupils’ needs of outdoor experiences as a starting point in their outdoor educational activities. All participating teachers emphasize health, outdoor activities, environmental education and both personal and social development as significant parts of outdoor education. Our conclusion based on this study emphasizes the ability to mediate sustainable approaches towards nature as an important part of teachers’ work in outdoor education. The teachers are committed to their work with passion and consequently they provide positive nature experiences to the pupils. Perhaps emotion and empathy for nature is the most significant part of what teachers pass on to their pupils through outdoor education with an aim for sustainable development.
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