Layers explained
It is not always obvious what outdoor clothing is needed to best support effective outdoor play and learning. In this guide we look at the various elements of clothing required, with a focus on layering.
Layering video
Layering is crucial when dressing for the outdoors - this video shows you how.
Outdoor Hub
All Activities
What's New
Art & Creating
mud, clay & sand
pine cones & conkers
leaves, sticks & petals
weaving & wool
wooden discs
campfire craft
sun print
inks, dyes & perfume
pebbles
ice & snow
with tools
Tool use & Traditional Crafts
tool guides
weaving
felting
pewter
hammers
knives
secateurs & saws
palm drills & rotary hand drills
fire craft
Outdoor Play
mud kitchen book
mud kitchen case studies
den building
Other outdoor play ideas
Curriculum Outdoors
numeracy
literacy
science
Inspirations
Festivals & celebrations
Fire, Shelters & Bushcraft
fire
knots & cordage
shelters
Food Outdoors
foraging
campfire cooking
campfire recipes
Nature
Growing & Gardens
Health & Wellbeing
Activity Downloads
Product Information
All Events
Courses, Training and Workshops
Forest School Training
Forest School Leader Training (Level 3)
Forest School Assistant Training (Level 2)
Other Forest School Related Training
Outdoor Learning Courses
CPD
Conferences and Lectures
Annual/Special Days/Weeks/Months
Festivals, Camps and Residentials
Study visit
All Forest School
Benefits of Forest School
Forest School activities & ideas
Forest School articles & blogs
Forest School Day
Forest School guides & books
Forest School history
Forest School kit lists
Forest School principles
Forest School qualifications
Forest School training
Forest School videos
FS research & reports
Key Forest School organisations
Muddy Faces & Forest School
Tools
What is Forest School?
Why forests & woods?
All Health & wellbeing
Connecting to nature
Going to the loo & hygiene outside
Hand washing
Health & wellbeing articles
Health & wellbeing books
Health & wellbeing videos
Introduction
Mental health & being outdoors
Pandemic & COVID-19
Ready for any weather
Reasons to be Outside
Research, reports: health, wellbeing
Shop for Health & Wellbeing kit
Sit spots
Useful websites: health, wellbeing
All Fire, foraging & food
Books on fire
Campfire recipes
Dragons Sneeze
Dragons Sneeze stories
Fire guides & activities
Fire guides & articles
Foraging & food articles
Foraging & food useful websites
Foraging books
Foraging guides
Foraging tips, recipes & ideas
Introduction to foraging
Reclaiming snack time:
Dressing for winter - the art of layering
Demonstrating the art of layering outdoor clothing to ensure your time outside is comfortable and warm - crucial to enable sustained periods of rich play, exploration and learning outdoors.
Thank you to Jackie from OutLET in Scotland and her daughter Alexis for giving us permission to share their video on the Muddy Faces Outdoor Hub.
OutLET website
Follow OutLET on Facebook, Twitter or LinkedIn
See also
How to get ready
For many group leaders, putting outdoor clothing on, particularly with young groups, can be quite an arduous task. This section offers some suggestions on how to get your group organised and outside more easily and speedily.
Read More about How to get ready
Outdoor clothing
Waterproof ratings explained; buyers guide, care guide and a guide to layering; how to get your group ready for warm dry times outdoors.
Appropriate and effective outdoor clothing is crucial to support rich and satisfying outdoor play and learning. The only thing as important is the attitudes of the adult supervisors and the setting.