By Kirsten Campbell

Copyright bbc

One of the biggest problems facing the bill is that the experience does not come cheap.

Smith estimates the policy would cost between £25m and £40m a year.

The minister for children previously told MSPs that ringfencing cash for outdoor education could be to the detriment of other activities.

Don-Innes added: “Where would you seek to cut funding from in education? Would it be our teachers, our schools, would it be nurseries or our colleges?”

The Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (Cosla) also raised concerns over the practicalities of the policy.

It questioned the impact on staffing, the costs of transport and what it would mean for schools’ ability to take part in other trips relating to geography, history or the arts.