Outdoor adventure provides students with a welcome change and an opportunity to breathe in fresh air and be active. Even a short hike gets them away from their screens. Too much screen time can contribute to sleep issues, lower academic performance, decreased fitness levels, and mental health problems. There are extensive academic, emotional, mental, and physical benefits for students who participate in outdoor adventures.
Improve mental health
Stress levels are rising in students, yet various studies have found that exposure to nature and green spaces leads to a reduction in anxiety and stress. Combining physical activity and beautiful natural surroundings releases endorphins, plus they reduce levels of the stress hormone cortisol.
Anxiety can melt away during weekend nature walks or cycling on a trail through a forest. Nature has a restorative power and can significantly reduce the stress levels associated with being a student.
Students often feel stressed when they have to meet deadlines for project work and study for exams at the same time. Handling dual or multiple things at a time is taxing on mental and physical health.
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Enhance self-esteem and confidence
Outdoor adventures can test mental strength and physical endurance. Conquering a challenge like climbing a steep mountain can help students to feel a sense of accomplishment.
Challenging themselves like this can make them more self-aware. It can improve their self-esteem and make them feel more confident about their ability to tackle challenges and overcome them. They have more resilience which can translate into a positive attitude towards overcoming academic challenges.
Get exercise
Students who have sedentary lifestyles can benefit greatly from the physical exercise that comes with outdoor adventures. Exercise increases blood flow to their brains, strengthens their muscles, promotes cardiovascular health and stimulates their immune systems.
Getting exercise surrounded by nature tends to be easier. Beautiful surroundings can be a distraction from the effort of working out. As a result, there’s a chance of exercising for longer than when exercising indoors. In brain scans taken after exercise, participants had more focused activity in the prefrontal cortex than before. Exercise not only improves their physical condition but benefits them cognitively and mentally too.
Promote personal growth
A byproduct of adventure travel is that it takes students out of their comfort zones. They may have Europe travel plans and an overseas adventure like this will force them to grow. They will have to do many things they may never have done before.
- They may have to find transport in a foreign city where no one speaks their language.
- Managing their time carefully is essential if they need to coordinate flights, train trips, or bus trips.
- Managing their finances helps them to develop more awareness about budgeting.
- Keeping documentation such as plane tickets and identity documents safe challenges their organizational skills.
Stepping into the unknown will stretch their capacity and they will learn many new life skills.
Reduce mental fatigue
Natural environments have a way of engaging attention which allows students to be in the moment. This is crucial for over-stimulated brains. They can get the rest they need in nature. The benefits of problem-solving and concentration can be immense.
A fog of mental fatigue lifts when engaging in outdoor activities. When returning to their studies students will find their focus is sharper and they can retain more information. They feel a new enthusiasm for their studies again after a good outdoor adventure.
Create social connections
Many outdoor activities involve social interaction. Activities such as rock climbing, kayaking, hiking and cycling are usually more fun when done in a group. Participating in activities with others can provide students with a feeling of belonging.
This reduces a sense of isolation and means they have more emotional support. They have plenty of opportunities for laughter and sharing new experiences. Working together in groups helps them to develop teamwork skills. They learn how to collaborate with others and respect different perspectives.
Gain useful life skills
Education doesn’t just include book knowledge. There is a great deal students can learn from outdoor adventures. They have to think about challenges in a different way to solve them. This stimulates innovation and creativity. Some of the life skills they can develop include:
- Observation skills
- Problem-solving skills
- Teamwork skills
- Communication skills
- Leadership skills
Observation skills are essential on an outdoor adventure. Students have to be aware of different challenges and react to them accordingly. Many challenges can appear when hiking up a steep trail such as navigating over rocks. Finding a way to cross a stream may require some ingenuity.
The whole group working together could be critical to safety in certain situations. Close communication is important when doing certain activities together such as kayaking over rapids. Natural leaders often emerge when facing challenges outdoors.
Conclusion:
Students need to step out, explore, exercise, and enjoy nature. Outdoor adventures give them the opportunity to get away from screens, reduce stress, and deal with mental fatigue. This has major benefits for their physical, mental, and emotional well-being. It can give them the balance they need in their lives and improve their academic performance.