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HKOLA2025

6th - 7th December 2025

Hong Kong

HKOLA2025 returns for another unique and inspiring experience.

Join educators, school leaders and activity providers to collaborate, connect and transform

learning outside the classroom in Hong Kong.​ 

 

Through interactive workshops and inspiring keynotes, participants will leave up-skilled and empowered to take the small actions in their work that result in big impacts for our students!

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small actions,

BIG IMPACTS

2025 theme

No 'sage on the stage' lectures, no sales pitches, no pressure.

Just a stimulating environment for guided discussions,

asking questions and sharing ideas. Together we learn more!

See the sessions below.

Interactive Inspiring action-focused

Main sessions

Speaker

Michael Hoskins

Outdoor Education Coordinator, Dalton School Hong Kong

The Mindful Explorer: Using Nature Journaling to Cultivate Curiosity & Calm

Go beyond a simple walk! Discover how nature journaling cultivates student curiosity, mindfulness, and interdisciplinary learning. 


This hands-on session provides a flexible framework for blending scientific observation, creative writing, and digital storytelling, empowering students to deeply engage with any outdoor space. 

Speaker Bio

Michael is an educator of over 15 years, whose teaching journey from the UK to Abu Dhabi and Hong Kong has been enriched by expeditions to Madagascar, Brazil, Borneo, and Malaysia. These experiences fuel his passion for outdoor learning in his dual role as a Middle School PBL Facilitator and Outdoor Education Coordinator. 

Speaker

Fiona Merrill

Outdoor Learning Teacher, Japanese International School

The Ripple Effect: How Nervous System Science Elevates Outdoor Learning

 This workshop moves beyond theory to focus on the application of simple, effective somatic practices. 


Educators will learn techniques to help students:

  • Reset their focus when overstimulated.

  • Regulate their energy levels through structured breath and movement.

  • Engage their senses to connect deeply with nature-based lessons.

Speaker Bio

Fiona is an outdoor learning leader and educator at Japanese International School whose practice synthesises her experience in classroom teaching, mind-body integration techniques, and martial arts.

Speaker

Emma Kent Jones

Head of +1 Centre, ICHK Secondary

Neurodiversity in the outdoors

Emma will lead an enlightening session on neurodiversity in an outdoor education setting.


In this session, we will discuss practical strategies for engaging neurodiverse young people in outdoor settings, highlighting techniques that empower and inspire. Additionally, we will examine the dynamics of working with neurodiverse colleagues, fostering collaboration and innovation within teams. 


Together, we can create vibrant, inclusive outdoor education programs that celebrate the strengths of every individual.

Speaker Bio

Before joining ICHK as the Head of +1 Centre, she worked in two other international schools in Hong Kong within the SEN departments, teaching students from early years to secondary school. 


Emma strongly believes in a holistic and skills-based approach to teaching students, emphasising real-life situations. Outside of school, Emma captains her hockey team and is part of the Valley Committee.

Speaker

Dr David Marsden

Principal Consultant for the AAAS, Outdoor Council of Australia

From Standards to Practice: Navigating Risk & Learning in a Complex World

How can standards meaningfully support outdoor learning in a rapidly changing world? This session explores how outdoor professionals and organisations can move beyond compliance to use standards as dynamic tools for designing safe, purposeful, and context-sensitive programs. 


Framed through a systems risk perspective, the session examines how standards apply—or may be absent—in diverse outdoor learning contexts, and how emergent tools like Benefit–Risk Assessment, variation frameworks, and assurance strategies can strengthen practice when thoughtfully integrated. 

Speaker Bio

Dr David Marsden specialises in outdoor learning, workforce development, and safety and risk management across the outdoor recreation, education, and adventure sports sectors. With more than 30 years of experience, he brings a unique combination of strategic leadership, operational expertise, and evidence-based practice.


David is leading the 2025–26 national review of the Australian Adventure Activity Standards (AAAS), commissioned by the Outdoor Council of Australia. In this role, he oversees the review methodology, stakeholder engagement strategy, and technical drafting of the standards framework that underpins risk management practices for outdoor and adventure-based activities across the country.

Speaker

William Tsang

Founder, Nature Bathing

A Whole-School Approach to Nature Play: Transforming Childhood in Hong Kong Urban Setting

Strengthening “Family-School-Community Cooperation” by fostering a shared commitment among principals, teachers, and families toward holistic education. Through Nature Bathing’s approach, children’s well-being can be enhanced with healthy family relationship, school engagement and community connection.

Speaker Bio

A seasoned outdoor education instructor and registered social worker with over 20 years of experience in experiential nature connection in Hong Kong. 


William founded Nature Bathing, a social enterprise, in 2017 in order to offer preventive solutions to the stressed communities using nature-based intervention to enhance holistic wellbeing, social inclusion and community resilience. 

Speaker

Matt Machell-Cox

Program Director, International Schools Surf Camp

The Power of the Ocean - Marine Activities, Safety & Conservation-Based Learning

The ocean is a powerful force—both a playground for adventure and a classroom for life. 


We’ll explore how marine activities can inspire deeper connections with nature while promoting safety, leadership, and conservation. 

Speaker Bio

Matt is a passionate environmental educator, seasoned outdoor leader, and dedicated conservationist. With over a 15 year experience designing and delivering immersive outdoor education programs across Africa, Asia, and the Middle East, he specializes in fostering environmental stewardship and social responsibility. 


As the Program Director at ISSC since 2019, Matthew continues to develop transformative outdoor learning experiences inspired by the ocean, guiding thousands of students through surf camps, wilderness expeditions, and conservation-based learning experiences. His expertise lies in integrating sustainability, risk management, and leadership development into experiential learning, Matt continues to inspire the next generation of adventurers and environmental champions.

Speaker

Ho Mei Chau

Outdoor Learning Leader, ICHK Hong Lok Yuen

Developing an Outdoor Learning Programme in a Primary Setting

Learn about our primary school’s journey in developing our own outdoor learning programme, including our unique award-winning Miyawaki mini-forest, the development of our outdoor spaces, the challenges we’ve faced and the benefits for our students aged 5-11.

Speaker Bio

Ho Mei has extensive experience as a primary school teacher, and is also a forest schools educator and leads outdoor trips. He has pioneered ICHK Hong Lok Yuen’s outdoor learning programme, including the establishment of the school’s mini-forest which recently won the International Schools Awards for Sustainability in 2023.

7x7 sessions

7 minutes, 7 slides!

Short and sweet!

Perfect for introducing tools, research, projects and ideas ​

See the sessions below.

1. Gavin Scott-Coates

Senior Lecturer, HKU

"Planting Knowledge" with the Digital Arboretum

How teaching trees grew into planting knowledge and branched into a quest to heal our nature deficit disorder!

2. David Addis

Head of Outdoor and Experiential Learning, ICHK Secondary

Bringing the learning home

As teachers, how can we make changes in the school environment to maximise the benefits of our outdoor education camps? This session present findings from a school-based research project on the topic.

3. Jeffrey Chang

PhD Candidate / CEO & Co-Founder of GeogSTEM

Hiker Safety and Heat Sensors

The project aims to rethink and develop solutions for enhancing hiking safety in Hong Kong. Our idea will include an experimental mountain-side weather observation network and electronic info board along Maclehose Trail (Section 4) as a trial test to provide the safety information and latest forecast in thermal comfort for hikers.

4. Aaron Funnell

Executive Director, Outward Bound Hong Kong

7 Slides on Impact

There are many approaches your program can adopt to communicate program impact.   This short session  will outline 7  different ways your program can measure and communicate impact. It will use 7 real world examples from Hong Kong of different tools that your program could adopt. These may be useful for communicating impact with parents, students, school faculty, funders, or the wider community.

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Who is HKOLA for?

  • Outdoor and experiential education teachers, coordinators and instructors

  • Environmental education specialists

  • School heads, principals and senior leadership members

  • Teachers interested in learning outside the classroom

  • Forest school teachers

  • CAS coordinators

  • Outdoor activity and education providers

  • Safety and risk management specialists

  • SEN teachers and coordinators

  • Outdoor and environmental education academics

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What to expect

  • Friendly, collaborative community

  • Interactive, discussion-based sessions

  • Solution-focused

  • Professional development

  • Previous sessions include facilitation skills, professionalisation, industry standards, strategies for risk management, outdoor learning pedagogy, academic studies, tree tour, reading corner, place-based approaches, forest school, experiential learning and more

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More information

Session leader

Lead a session

Are you interested in sharing your expertise?​

 

Can you lead an engaging and interactive discussion or workshop?

HKOLA 2024 Highlights

Special thanks to the support given by:

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Session collaborators:

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ABOUT US >

The HK Outdoor Learning Association is a non-profit organisation seeking to build the sector with professional, safety-conscious, environmentally-responsible and ethical individuals and organisations.

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