The fjord – a source for education and development

We present emerging results from a Danish development project called: OPHAV Limfjorden (2022-2026) including all schools and daycare institutions on the island Mors (Ophav.laering.dk 2022). The project’s intention is to promote children and young people's education, knowledge and motivation in using and maintaining the fjord and island’s resources sustainably.

This project is a unique example of how schools and preschools can use nearby nature, and local partnerships to qualify outdoor education and motivate children and young people's interest and curiosity towards natural science and sustainability. In the project, all schools and daycare institutions educate local resource persons called ‘Fjordrangers’, and commit themselves to use the beach, fjordlands and maritime surroundings for educational purposes. The project is anchored in a cooperation between schools, pre-schools, local partnerships, museums and the school-education center on the island and builds upon principles from place-based education (Gruenewald 2003, Leather & Thorsteinsson 2021).
Initial results from the project evaluation, conducted through the Planning and Evaluation Framework model: RE-AIM, With the markers: Reach, Effectiveness, Adaption, Implementation and Maintenance (Glasgow, Vogt & Boles, 1999; Glasgow et al., 2019) is presented.