Outdoor Learning

November 2nd, 2010: Success of the Outdoor Learning in the National Parks first annual conference.; ahammerton; Comments: none

Thursday saw the Outdoor Learning in the National Parks annual conference hosted at Carrochan, headquarters of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, which was very well received and over-subscribed. Many commented on the success of the day, with a very positive atmosphere and a wide variety of workshops being delivered by teachers and practitioners.

Introductions from Fiona Logan (Chief Executive of Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park Authority), Brian Wood (retired headteacher and new board member for Cairngorms National Park Authority) and Anne Jardine (Director of Learning and Communities at Learning and Teaching Scotland) were followed by a thoroughly inspiring and entertaining key note speech ‘My Journey through a Career in Outdoor Learning’ by Alan Smith, Outdoor Learning Officer for Cairngorms National Park. A mix of experts in their fields offered workshops in the morning based around overcoming some of the common perceived barriers to outdoor learning (see http://www.cairngorms.co.uk/learning/educationalresources/), with workshops entitled Access to Information, The Benefits of Risk, CPD and Developing Confidence, Practical Support, and Structured Educational Experiences. Teachers and practitioners from the local authorities involved in the project delivered workshops in the afternoon, sharing their experiences and expertise on partnership working and delivering forest schools activities at nursery and primary level; developing nursery gardens and grounds for outdoor learning; numeracy outdoors; the Cairngorms media project (http://www.cairngorms.co.uk/learning/schoolsvideoproject/); Making Connections, a whole year group ongoing initiative for interdisciplinary learning using outdoor learning and delivering the discovery and explorer awards of the John Muir Award for all pupils in S1 and S2; and on transitions, highlighting the values of partnership working and outdoor learning for transitions between primary and secondary, and secondary into senior phase choices and chances.

Following these workshops in the morning and afternoon, there were discussions in local authority groupings to explore ways in which to ensure the sustainability of the project and each local authority (as well as each delegate) made pledges as to how it would enhance their practice and how the key messages could be spread far and wide. We look forward now to hearing of these developments at next year’s conference at Glenmore Lodge, near Aviemore, on 28th October 2011!

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