Scotland Outdoors Life, Death and the Outdoors with Juliet Robertson
Sep 24, 2025
Juliet Robertson, a devoted advocate for outdoor learning and author facing a terminal illness, shares her profound insights. She discusses the transformative power of nature in education and its role in fostering curiosity among children. Juliet recounts her health journey, from her leukemia diagnosis to finding solace outdoors during treatment. Her book, Bloodlines, combines poetry and personal reflection, serving as a comforting resource. She poignantly explores how nature aids in confronting mortality, illustrating the beauty of life's cycles through her heartfelt poem, 'Let Me Be a Goose.'
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Gap Year Sparked Outdoor Career
- Juliet discovered her passion for outdoor learning during a university gap year working with children and in an urban environmental centre in Philadelphia.
- She saw disadvantaged teens grow in resilience and focus through outdoor activities which transformed her career direction.
Unplanned Learning Outdoors
- Outdoor settings create unplanned, rich conversations sparked by the environment rather than teacher prompts.
- Juliet argues this unpredictability often yields deeper learning than tightly planned classroom activities.
Learn From Existing Outdoor Nurseries
- Visit successful outdoor nurseries to see how Scotland adapts to wet, cold climates and learn practical approaches.
- Provide practitioners time and exposure to build confidence rather than assume the climate is a barrier.
