A1 Level – Elementary
1. Do you like spending time outside?
2. What is your favorite season for outdoor activities?
3. What is a common outdoor game?
4. What do you do in a public park?
5. Do you like walking in the forest?
6. What makes the fresh air good for you?
7. Do you have a garden?
8. What is the difference between a city and the countryside?
9. What makes a good picnic?
10. Do you like looking at the stars?
11. What animal do you often see outdoors?
12. What makes you feel calm outside?
13. Do you think children need to play outside?
14. What are some different types of plants?
15. What is the opposite of a sunny day?
A2 Level – Pre-Intermediate
1. What are the key differences between planned outdoor activity and spontaneous outdoor time?
2. Describe one memorable experience you had in a completely wild, natural setting.
3. What are the pros and cons of using technology (e.g., GPS, apps) while hiking or camping?
4. What role does public funding play in maintaining parks and national forests?
5. Have you ever tried an unusual outdoor activity (e.g., rock climbing, kayaking)?
6. What specific safety precautions should people take when exploring remote outdoor areas?
7. What is the difference between an urban park and a designated wilderness area?
8. What are common ways people unintentionally harm the outdoor environment?
9. How does exposure to sunlight and fresh air benefit your physical and mental health?
10. What are the biggest challenges of encouraging city residents to spend more time outdoors?
11. What is the importance of teaching “Leave No Trace” principles to outdoor enthusiasts?
12. Do you think all people should have equal access to beautiful natural areas?
13. What are the challenges of managing large crowds of tourists in sensitive natural habitats?
14. What are the best ways to prepare for bad weather when planning an outdoor excursion?
15. What is the difference between gardening and farming?
B1 Level – Intermediate
1. Discuss the conflict between using natural areas for recreation and the need for ecological preservation.
2. How can urban planners design cities to maximize residents’ access to green and blue spaces?
3. What are the ethical issues surrounding the commercialization of national parks and natural landmarks?
4. Do you agree that disconnecting from technology is essential for truly appreciating the outdoors?
5. Describe a time when a challenge encountered outdoors taught you a valuable life lesson.
6. To what extent should individuals be responsible for monitoring and reporting pollution in natural areas?
7. What role do volunteer organizations play in maintaining trails and protecting local wildlife?
8. How do cultural norms around leisure and recreation influence the types of outdoor activities a person chooses?
9. Discuss the psychological phenomenon of “biophilia”—the innate human need to connect with nature.
10. What are the challenges of balancing the desire for solitude in nature with the practical need for safety and communication?
11. How does the architecture of a public park subtly influence how people use the space?
12. Should public funding prioritize conservation efforts or the development of accessible outdoor infrastructure?
13. What is the difference between physical resilience and mental resilience developed through outdoor challenge?
14. Discuss the concept of “ecotourism” and whether it is truly sustainable.
15. What is the long-term impact of consistent time spent outdoors on a person’s stress levels and creativity?
B2 Level – Upper-Intermediate
1. How does economic inequality influence which types of outdoor activities (e.g., hiking, yachting) are accessible to different social groups?
2. What are the ethical arguments about using land for private recreation (e.g., golf courses) versus public conservation?
3. Should governments restrict the use of motorized vehicles (e.g., snowmobiles) in sensitive outdoor wilderness areas?
4. What are the psychological reasons why people feel a sense of freedom and emotional release when surrounded by nature?
5. How has the visual nature of social media driven people to visit certain “Insta-famous” outdoor locations, causing overcrowding?
6. Discuss the idea that a high-quality outdoor experience requires some degree of physical challenge or perceived risk.
7. What is the role of technology (e.g., drones, satellite imaging) in monitoring and protecting large natural environments?
8. How do cultural beliefs about “wilderness” (e.g., as hostile vs. as spiritual) influence how people treat the outdoors?
9. What are the challenges of mitigating the effects of light and noise pollution on nocturnal wildlife?
10. Discuss the concept of “rewilding”—restoring damaged ecosystems to their natural, unmanaged state.
11. What is the difference between a conservation area and a fully protected nature reserve?
12. Should there be stricter rules about the development of private homes near national park boundaries?
13. What is the impact of climate change (e.g., wildfire risk, heatwaves) on the safety and enjoyment of outdoor recreation?
14. How does the history of land ownership and public access influence who feels entitled to use certain outdoor spaces?
15. Discuss the idea that connecting with nature is a necessary counterbalance to the artificiality of modern life.
C1 Level – Advanced
1. Analyze the socioeconomic factors that correlate with low engagement in outdoor activities (e.g., lack of transportation, working hours).
2. To what degree should the legal system protect the right of citizens to access nature (e.g., “freedom to roam” laws)?
3. Discuss the philosophical concept of “deep ecology” and its challenge to anthropocentric (human-centered) views of the outdoors.
4. Evaluate the impact of increasing commercial satellite internet coverage on the subjective experience of wilderness solitude.
5. How does the strategic use of landscape architecture and public art influence the perceived “naturalness” of an urban park?
6. Examine the legal challenges of regulating noise and pollution generated by recreational vehicles (e.g., ATVs) in public lands.
7. What ethical guidelines should govern the use of AI and tracking devices to monitor endangered species and prevent poaching?
8. Discuss the concept of “environmental literacy” and why a basic understanding of ecology is essential for all citizens.
9. How do different national policies on land use affect the balance between agricultural development and wilderness preservation?
10. Analyze the interplay between global climate change and the migration patterns of animals and birds that use protected outdoor areas.
11. What ethical challenges arise when new outdoor recreational infrastructure (e.g., zip lines) is built on culturally sensitive indigenous land?
12. Debate whether a system that charges high entrance fees to national parks is justifiable if the revenue supports conservation.
13. How does the architecture of outdoor education centers encourage experiential learning and connection with the environment?
14. Discuss the concept of “nature deficit disorder” and its alleged impact on human psychological and cognitive health.
15. To what extent does the emotional attachment to the outdoors motivate people to become lifelong environmental activists?
C2 Level – Proficiency
1. How do you analyze the idea that access to high-quality outdoor spaces is fundamentally a political and economic right?
2. Formulate a critique of global conservation models that rely on external funding rather than empowering local communities as stewards.
3. Analyze the intersection of property law, public trust doctrine, and the legal definition of which outdoor spaces are universally shared.
4. Discuss the philosophical distinction between “experiencing” nature (sensory) and “knowing” nature (scientific understanding).
5. Critically evaluate the effectiveness of “carbon offset” programs that fund conservation in remote outdoor regions.
6. Propose a system for managing urban green spaces that prioritizes mental health benefits and ecological function over aesthetic design.
7. Examine the psychological function of awe and wonder when confronted with the immense scale and complexity of the natural world.
8. How does the semiotics of outdoor gear and clothing communicate information about a person’s skill, wealth, and identity?
9. Discuss the ethical responsibilities of media outlets in ensuring that their coverage of environmental issues does not cause despair or panic.
10. Analyze the historical relationship between the closing of the frontier and the subsequent development of national park systems.
11. Articulate the inherent tension between the scientist’s need for controlled study and the public’s right to access and enjoy outdoor spaces.
12. Debate whether future virtual reality technologies will remove the psychological need for physical interaction with the actual outdoors.
13. Assess the long-term societal effects of decreased physical literacy and increased indoor leisure on national preparedness for natural disaster.
14. Discuss the philosophical definition of ‘beauty’ and how it applies to the complexity and imperfection of the natural world.
15. How might the principles of ecological succession be used to model processes of organizational change and institutional evolution?
