What are the current trends and innovations in outdoor and experiential learning for environmental education?

An example of place-based OEL is an environmental and cultural history education program presented by NPS, James River Association and Hampton City Schools: https://www.hampton.k12.va.us/news/Aug2022/EduProScienceAward.html

I totally resonate with this thought. Places based OLE are very effective for the learners. For instance it's quite easy, effective and simple for a participant to understand the river, it's origin, its meandering, depth and flow of water when the participants study rivers trekking along an actual river. Similarly studying rocks while caving will be so effective.

I would create a competition with young people, children, adults and the elderly so that they can gain experience and experience as biologists in conservation units.

Digital can have its place in oel, especially to link and engage people with the outdoors. For example Plantnet or various ID apps, can allow people to learn more about the place they are in and in gaining knowledge can develop a sense of place.

Feedback will be provided through spaces for including ideas from each local citizen, suggestions, discussion groups, applications for monitoring the implementation of each objective and goal, as well as hiring more people in each phase of the process of implementing the social project; therefore, the community would have opportunities for social improvement and employability in maintaining the project in the long term with the aim of causing a positive impact on local society.

An example would be Coyote Teaching with children, for example conducting a nature exploration activity in the woods. Instead of simply conveying facts about the trees and animals, they could be invited to explore the forest using all their senses. They might be encouraged to feel the different textures of tree bark, listen to the sounds of birds, observe the various colors and shapes of leaves, and even smell the surrounding plants. Through this experiential approach, children can develop a deeper connection to nature while also acquiring knowledge in a way that is personally meaningful to them.

An example of adventure play is the National Park Service’s Junior Ranger Program. https://www.nps.gov/shen/learn/kidsyouth/beajuniorranger.htm

National Park Service created a set of Civil War to Civil Rights Trading Cards that are learning tools to be collected visiting many national parks - including Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad National Historical Park. https://www.flickr.com/photos/tradingcardsnpsyahoocom/sets/72157632769467862/with/8474610146/

Great example is the National Building Museum’s CityVision program. CityVision uses design as a framework to teach D.C. public school students how to investigate the built world and value their role in shaping it for the future. https://www.nbm.org/learn/schools-teachers/cityvision/

The above pointers are quite relevant but to share more examples these OLE can also be done grade wise and focus on skills according to the age of the participants. These interventions are also planned according to the lesson plan where participants travel to different geographies to experience different cultures, experience and activities.