2026 Outdoor Learning Conference – It’s Back (and It’s Bigger Than Ever!)

Outdoors NSW & ACT
2 days ago
3 min read

What began as a bold idea from the Outdoor Learning Committee has well and truly come of age.

After several successful years as the Outdoor Learning Mini Conference, we’ve been hearing the same feedback: “It’s not so mini anymore!”.

So in 2026, our 3rd year, we are proud to officially announce the Outdoor Learning Conference.

📍 Event Details

Friday 17 July & Saturday 18 July 2026📌

Trinity Grammar School – Woolamia Campus, Jervis Bay

And to make the week even more special…

🌟 The Outdoor Industry Awards will be held on the evening of Thursday 16 July 2026, also in Jervis Bay. We would love to see outdoor education professionals recognised for their impact — whether by entering or coming along to celebrate with colleagues from across the Outdoor Industry. More on this soon...

Why This Conference Matters

Designed specifically for educators, practitioners and outdoor learning professionals, this conference is about one thing:

Strengthening our practice to better engage students outdoors.

We all understand the evidence and experience behind outdoor learning — improved wellbeing, deeper engagement, resilience, teamwork, connection to place and Country, and richer experiential learning outcomes.

But knowing why we teach outdoors is only part of the equation. The Outdoor Learning Conference focuses on how we do it better.

It’s about building practical capability — adding more tools to your professional tool-belt. Whether that’s facilitation techniques, curriculum integration strategies, risk-benefit thinking, cultural connection, inclusion practices, or innovative program design, this is a space to share real, hands-on approaches.

Call for Presenters – Share Your Practice

Have you developed a technique that works brilliantly with students? Created a program others could adapt? Refined a process that improves engagement or safety?

We want to hear from you.

We are now calling for Expressions of Interest to present at the 2026 Outdoor Learning Conference. We strongly encourage interactive workshop-style sessions — practical, engaging, and transferable. Sessions that allow participants to experience the method, not just hear about it.

🗓 EOI submissions close: Midday, 16 March 2026

This is your opportunity to contribute to the collective strength of the Outdoor Industry’s education sector and help shape the professional practice of colleagues across NSW, ACT and beyond.

Why Jervis Bay?

There’s something powerful about gathering in place.

The Woolamia Campus at Trinity Grammar offers the perfect setting — coastal environment, natural learning spaces, and plenty of room to practise what we teach. Being immersed in nature while discussing outdoor pedagogy reinforces exactly why this work matters.

Make It a Full Industry Week

With the Outdoor Industry MasterClass on the Wednesday & Thursday, the Outdoor Industry Awards on the Thursday evening and two full days of professional learning to follow, this is shaping up to be a landmark week for our Outdoor Industry — particularly for those working within the outdoor education sector.