Brinn för friluftsliv! : En kvalitativ studie om friluftsundervisning.

Sammanfattning: Aim The aim of this interview study was to examine how PE teachers related to factors (ramfaktorer) affecting the implementation of outdoor recreation in school. Method We conducted a qualitative interview study with six PE teachers in the Stockholm area. These were selected after all the PE teachers in Stockholm were contacted via e-mail. In the e-mail they declared the number of outdoordays (friluftsdagar) conducted at their school, for grades four, five and six. The selection was carried out in that we chose the PE teachers who declared the most and least number of outdoor days. After the transcription of the interviews we divided the teachers in to two groups, based on the width of outdoor activities in their teaching. To analyze the results, we have assumed the factors the PE teachers had to relate to in their outdoor education. Results The result of the survey showed that there are several factors affecting the performance of outdoor education in schools. But the decisive factor for outdoor activities conducted at the school included in the study was the PE teachers' personal attitude and commitment to outdoor recreation. The study showed that success factors for a wide outdoor education has been that the PE teachers, included in this study, had support from management and other personnel at their school, when they planned and performed outdoor activities. The study also showed that the schools that had the greatest variety of outdoor activities focused more on experience-based outdoor recreation, such as camping activities, canoeing and making campfires. This in contrast to the schools with a smaller width of outdoor activities, who put the activity in focus in their outdoor education, for example orientation, skating and skiing. Conclusion Although there are difficulties in the implementation of outdoor recreation in schools, particularly in inner city schools, we found that factors such as economics and geography play a subordinate role in relation to PE teachers’ commitment and attitude towards outdoor recreation. For a more equal outdoor education among Swedish schools, we believe that a possible solution might be to centrally control the content of outdoor activities, in terms of guidelines in the curricula for physical education and health.