Wednesday I was at
Merrylands School working with small groups of Year 5 children doing a mapping task. Using pacing alone they managed to plot landmarks on their site with a
high degree of accuracy. In the afternoon it was environmental work in the schools wild nature garden, the pupils had to find evidence of life........they found loads! They found evidence of everything from ants, snails, frogs, spiders, birds, wasps to cats and foxes. The pupils were also able to identify many of the plants that were growing there.
Today was a very early start, I arrived at Hilltop Junior School at 6.40am!! It was open morning at their school so I helped
BJH convert a gazebo into a
camouflaged outdoor learning area with 'Fred' asleep in a hammock out of the sun, we finished setting it up just as the first parents arrived at 9.30am. Throughout the morning we chatted to parents, children and staff about the outdoor learning programme which is based on survival skills and hearing how well it has been
received by all. Well done
BJH!
I've been back to KJS, chatted with old colleagues - good to see you all. Today, and for this week I'm with Barry Howard, from Hunter Outdoor Training. First Year 6 transition day. They were soooo quiet to start with but by lunch after making shelters, stretchers, navigating their way through a ground web plus the gutter challenge, you would think they had known each other throughout their primary years, friendships made. They learnt that listening, carrying out instructions were key to successfully completing the tasks. On Tuesday I went to West Hordon where Y3/4 and Y5/6 engaged in their regular weekly outdoor learning activities, they were all kitted out and up for the task. It was so refreshing to see the wonderment in young children as they discovered mini beasts in their natural habitats.
Hello! Yesterday I visited Salem International College (Harlen and Spetzgart), both very different to the Schoss and Hohenfels, however the school ethos is very evident. I was able to gain a full overview of all the clubs, challenges and expeditions that they provide their students, very interesting. At lunch I met with several students who are very keen outdoors people, most of whom are doing the International Award Programme (D of E) to discuss their experiences.
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