Social Skills & Communication
Madeira Outdoor - Social Skills & Communication in Action
6 days
A practical course developing the social and communication skills at the heart of effective teaching: collaboration, leadership, storytelling, group dynamics and positive education, all experienced through Madeira's diverse landscapes.
Participants experience firsthand how outdoor and experiential contexts naturally develop these competencies, and return to school with a toolkit of methods applicable from primary to secondary level.
Learning Outcomes
Participants to the course will learn to:
Apply positive education principles to classroom management and student relationships
Facilitate collaboration and leadership development through group challenges
Use storytelling and narrative as cross-curricular pedagogical tools
Design social skills programmes rooted in outdoor and experiential methods
Build a school culture that values communication, empathy and collective growth
Programme
Madeira Outdoor - Social Skills & Communication in Action
Monday - Introduction to Collaboration, Leadership & Social Skills
Workshop on collaboration, group dynamics, and leadership in educational settings.
Activities to assess communication styles and social competencies.
Reflection on positive education principles.
Tuesday - Team-Building in the Field
Team-building exercises along the coastal route.
Walk around the banana fields: cooperation, trust and observation.
Focus on trust-building, social skills, and group cohesion.
Journaling: how does nature change the way we communicate?
Wednesday - Leadership & Storytelling
Guided levada walk: leadership in motion.
Visit to Santana: storytelling exercises using cultural heritage as inspiration.
Outdoor activities emphasising leadership, cooperation, and problem-solving.
Reflection on applying experiential learning to classroom social skills development.
Thursday - Communication & Group Dynamics
Group challenges and collaborative workshops at Porto Moniz natural pools.
Communication activities: active listening, assertiveness, conflict resolution.
Activities on social awareness and emotional intelligence.
Reflection: what communication patterns emerge under challenge?
Friday
🌊 PLAN A — SPRING / SUMMER
(March – September) · Catamaran · Parque de Santa Catarina, Funchal
Dolphin Watching, Teamwork & Wellbeing at Sea
Sailing along Madeira's coast: team-based activities on board.
Group reflection and discussion on effective communication, leadership, and collaboration.
Mindfulness and positive education exercises in a unique outdoor environment.
🏫 PLAN B — AUTUMN / WINTER
(October – February) · Indoor · Escola do Louro, Funchal
Integration Workshop: Social Skills in the Classroom
Workshop: designing a social skills programme for your school.
Roleplay and simulation: practising the communication tools from the week.
Group challenge: build a Positive Education classroom protocol.
Reflection: from outdoor group dynamics to everyday teaching practice.
Saturday - Reflection, Project Sharing & Certificate Ceremony
Presentation of participants' mini-projects or group exercises.
Reflection on implementing social skills, communication, and leadership strategies in schools.
Outdoor certificate ceremony and networking.
Materials, digital tools & other learning resources
Course participants will receive training and engage in exercises designed to develop their skills as trainers. The provision of additional materials or resources will be determined based on the course structure and the instructor’s approach to meeting the learning objectives
Course package content:
Services and activities included in the course package are those described above. Please note that accommodation, transport, and meals are not provided.
Cancellation & changes:
Common sense prevails when it comes to cancellations, which are analyzed on a case-by-case basis.