Spotlight on Dr Roger Hopper

Spotlight on Dr Roger Hopper – speaker at our conference – National Outdoor Learning Award

Dr Roger J Hopper is Development Manager at Heatree Activity Centre in Devon. He has over 25 years' experience working in the outdoors as a multi-activity instructor, trainer, centre Manager, qualified teacher and University lecturer. His passion is to support and enable the outdoors to be used in a professionally recognised, sustainable manner for personal transformation.

Why are you supporting SOLD with our Learning Beyond the Classroom conference this year?

SOLD's vision is to provide high quality outdoor learning experiences beyond the classroom. For over twenty five years working in outdoor education as an instructor, outdoor centre manager, teacher and lecturer, I too have aspired to the same vision. It is therefore a privilege to be involved with this conference and thus support those with a similar vision.

Why do you feel young people should be learning in the outdoors?

All evidence indicates that outdoor learning equips young people with essential skills, knowledge, behaviours and esteem some of which cannot be acquired inside the classroom. Therefore, in my opinion a school cannot meet the aims of its curriculum without outdoor learning. My aspiration is to support schools achieve their aims and thus provide the essential outcomes that young people deserve.

What will teachers learn from you at our conference?

I have developed the National Outdoor Learning Award (NOLA). NOLA is a free resource that helps schools to celebrate, capture and evidence outdoor learning. NOLA supports personalised learning, can be used in any outdoor context and is a teaching tool that supports the delivery of the curriculum. You will develop an understanding of how you could use NOLA in your school to help meet the aims of your curriculum.

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