Feedback from D&G OWL’s Dock Park event (2015)
Give an example of outdoor learning you or your organisation have done, or are doing.
Pond dipping sessions – in outdoors, using equipment, observing, identifying, describing and grouping our findings. We can talk about food chains, adaptations, quality of the water, sustainability… We work both individually and in groups. (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust)
Using sweep nets to look for bugs in the meadow. Finding butterflies, dragonflies etc. Identifying them, looking at their habitats, what they need to survive etc. (Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust)
The RSPB News Mission is to get half a million more children outside. At Mersehead we do pond dipping, minibeast hunts, bird watching. We run family friendly events, John Muir Award, and work with groups such as Babes in the Woods and local Guides and Scouts. (RSPB)
We went on a walk to Annan Mote and took a parachute. The children found leaves and put them on the parachute. We looked at size and colour. We also spoke a little bit about the trees they came from. We then played parachute games – such as trying to keep the leaves on. Also done mud kitchens and created a butterfly garden. (Sparklers Private Nursery, Annan)
We have an eco-champion to promote eco and outdoor play. Children and parents involved. Mud kitchens and eco walks. (Sparklers Private Nursery, Gretna)
Junior Rangers – practical conservation work. Adventure Club – outdoor activities for families, such as wild nature, treasure trails. (Borders Forest Trust)
We only do outdoor learning. Last session included planting bulbs in pots for Mothers’ Day; making cards from petals; building bridge over stream. (Babes in the Woods, under 5s group)
Showing families how simple it is to get outdoors and how much fun it can be- by organising meets with a few basic activities (e.g. making bird feeders; twig identification; pond dipping) mixed with free play. (Babes in the Woods, under 5s group)
Forest School in the local environment. Daily minimum of two hours outdoor play for children. Weekly trips to outdoor environment to allow children the opportunity to independently expand their learning. (Kids Ahoy Nursery)
Forest School with FCS. Expanded upon this taking children and parents back on numerous occasions. Many visits to various destinations in our local community - i.e. forest, beach, nature reserves. (Kids Ahoy Nursery)
Planting veg and fruit crops, and trees and hedges. Identifying trees and plants from twigs and leaves. Making fat balls for the birds. (Crichton Carbon Centre)
One day a week we take pre-school children to the woods – outdoor classroom. (Dunscore pre-school group)
Trips to Mabie Forest, the beach, local parks. Treasure hunts, mountain biking, pond dipping, campfires, bread making (Aberlour Family Outreach)
Working with Duke of Edinburgh Award groups to carry out estate maintenance or habitat management tasks. (National Trust for Scotland)
In Dock Park we have hosted bird and bat box building sessions with the Countryside Rangers and bat walks with the local Bat Group. (D&G Council)
Sowing, nurturing and harvesting garlic bulbs.
Share something you have seen someone else doing; which you think is a good example of outdoor learning.
Local schools (e.g. St Michaels Primary) regularly use Dock Park for outdoor learning, including orienteering and maths.
The idea of outdoor learning being offered to high school students for subjects such as trigonometry etc. From seeing the benefits to pre-school children I can see how it will help older children also.
A biochemistry photosynthesis game with different coloured ping pong balls, and a “leaf” made of a board with holes for the balls to pass through. Used in Wales.
Shelter building, pond dipping.
Well thought out outdoor learning spaces – it’s nice to see other people’s outdoor learning areas.
Making bug hotels (both big and small), bird boxes, greenhouses.
The idea of outdoor learning being brought into primary and secondary schools. I feel this is vitally important and feel very passionate about this.
RSPB Mersehead sessions are always great for young children as even if they’re not old enough to take in some of the educational info they can still lift stones and dig for insects.
Caterpillar walk at Mersehead.
Nature scavenger hunt clock.
Today’s activities were very interesting and I got some good ideas for my children from it.
Today’s activities have been great.
Butterfly growing and butterfly garden done by partner nursery in Gretna.
Elizabeth’s stick activities.
I like the ethos of Forest Schools and doing everything outdoors.
Bush craft. Being aware of what’s around us, and how we can use resources to create a waterproof shelter or forage for food.
Using outdoor objects for sorting into different areas depending on the learning outcome (e.g. sort pics of birds into colour; where they live; whether they migrate).
How would you like to develop outdoor learning? What are your barriers? What support do you need? What could you offer others?
Develop other learning outcomes into our current activities – e.g. maths, literacy.
Should happen more often - not only a one day visit. We could have learning sessions throughout several visits. Transport is a barrier.
Barriers – time, budget, policies.
I could offer training, showing people outdoor education stuff and what I do.
More people would support delivery.
We need to develop our outdoor area – money is a barrier, grants would be useful to support work.
To invite someone to nursery to get the children engaged and provide ideas to staff to get the process of outdoor learning going. Barrier – money!
We would like to develop more opportunities for sessions at Corehead Farm.
I would like support to gain experience in leading bushcraft activities (e.g. fire lighting).
I could offer wildflower and fungi ID, as well as foraging.
Our biggest barrier is time – everthing is done on a voluntary basis and we have our own young children to take care of. We take turns to run sessions but can be hard to commit. Developing our HQ and diary and looking into training areas to concentrate on. Also, a barrier is encouraging families who aren’t as keen on the outdoors.
We are a volunteer paret-led group and our own outdoor knowledge and education needs improved (e.g. bird and tree ID, practical skills, fire lighting).
To take more learning outdoors – full sessions more often to allow all learning styles to be covered at all times. Barriers – staffing and safety (risk assessment). Support – full staff team training would be useful. Could offer – a keen and enthusiastic approach and attitude to outdoor learning with a willingness to learn more.
The schools often need plenty of notice before going outdoors, stopping spontaneous activities if weather is good (etc.) If schools can be more prepared (e.g. outdoor clothing / shoes) much more can be done more often.
To improve the learning experience. Introduce resources. Barrier – money and parent co-ordination; parents to understand that children are learning and safe; tiny outdoor space.
Barriers – transport; lack of engagement, Scottish weather. Support – more of this type of educational workshops.
More bike rides to forest, and forest activities.
Barrier – lack of family engagement.
Offer outdoor learning to a larger range of age groups (i.e. more opportunities for under 3s), explore a larger variety of areas with support from suppliers of outdoor learning (i.e. rangers) to give us a greater knowledge and understanding. WE could be held back by staff ratios.
Closer links with our local schools to use NTS properties regularly. Barrier – time to progress this.
I would like to organise a program of regular outdoor learning activities in Dock Park – having more ideas would help but today has given me some ideas.