April 2011 Forest School Taster - North Berwick

These went very well. we had range of age ranges and some adult helpers. Some parents stayed and others left their children with us. We had a full programme that ranged from making nettle soup to making twizzlers on sticks, singing songs, playing games and making dens with two teams, the Celt's and the Pict's. The older children helped the younger ones and everyone had a great time.We will be running more of these holiday sessions in the summer holidays and hopefully if we are brave in the winter holidays.

                             

JUNE 2011

We have started our Wednesday morning group at Yellowcraigs and hope to continue these next term in September.We have Elisa joining us who is training in level 2 forest school. She has been a great help. So far the children have made felt, collected journey sticks, made cards, cooked on an open fire and eaten bread on sticks,made mini beasts out of clay and generally had a lovely time.Most parents stayed the first week but most left on the second week which was fine.

We still have three weeks and then we will start on our summer three day programme.

We welcome a story teller, Daniel on the 7th of July which should be a lot of fun.

Making clay mini beasts!

   

November 2010 - Prior Park First School

The work at Prior Park School in Berwick-upon-Tweed has been varied and productive. Among other things I have managed to get the kids to create ‘Miniature Lands’ – one square foot landscapes in the school grounds –as well as a live willow dome – there was even a bit of maths teaching in there somewhere.

The kids will be using the dome during their ‘harvest festival’ when they will decorate it with drawings of fruits and veg and will try to come up with interesting stories about the whole experience. Even went one better. I got the kids to construct a giant ‘dragon’ which they also used as a prop for storytelling.

Hands up anybody who would like to make a dragon.

Don't worry it will not fall down

October 2010 - Prior Park First School

Creative Partnerships - an English company who work in collaboration with schools, artists and educators on many different projects – asked me to lead a Forest School style workshop in Prior Park First School. I have already spent several weeks here helping the school to develop their grounds.

What's all this stuff for?

Oct 2010 - Play 4 Today – East Lothian Council

I was asked to lead a morning and afternoon workshop in Blinkbonny Woods close to Lammermuir Hills on ‘mini beasts’ for early years staff. As one can gather from the report shown below a nice day was had by one and all. 

A HUGE mini beast

A page from the report

September 2010 - Autumn Gathering

I led an “Arts Workshop in the Woods” in the East Lothian Forest School cluster group for local teachers. Nice.

Is this how it goes?

Oh dear!

October 2009 – Active Outdoors

I was honoured by an invite from East Lothian Council’s Physical Activity and Health to take a group of Cockenzie Nursery School pupils to their ‘Active Outdoors Day.’ It was held in Carbery Tower. I carried out a workshop demonstrating FS to teachers and other outdoor education staff using the kids as props! Several local councillors also took part and were duly impressed . . . I hope!

Two of my assistants helping to spread the word at the Carberry Conference

October 2009 - Cockenzie Nursery School – Cockenzie

Started ten weeks work on behalf of East Lothian Council leading a pilot urban Forest School with Cockenzie Nursery School. It went well.

Playing with fire

A Forest School style memory stick - who needs computers.

October 2009 – Active Outdoors

I was honoured by an invite from East Lothian Council’s Physical Activity and Health to take a group of Cockenzie Nursery School pupils to their ‘Active Outdoors Day.’ It was held in Carbery Tower. I carried out a workshop demonstrating FS to teachers and other outdoor education staff using the kids as props! Several local councillors also took part and were duly impressed . . . I hope!

Two of my assistants helping to spread the word at the Carberry Conference

October 2009 – Active Outdoors

I was honoured by an invite from East Lothian Council’s Physical Activity and Health to take a group of Cockenzie Nursery School pupils to their ‘Active Outdoors Day.’ It was held in Carbery Tower. I carried out a workshop demonstrating FS to teachers and other outdoor education staff using the kids as props! Several local councillors also took part and were duly impressed . . . I hope!

Two of my assistants helping to spread the word at the Carberry Conference

November 2008 – National Trust Rangers - Newhailes

Got an invite to run a two hour Forest School session open to local schools that wanted to know what’s available as regards environmental outdoor education. Quite a few teachers in attendance. Did most of the work in Newhailes House in Musselburgh. What a place!

And what a beautiful day!

October 2008 - Archimedes Forest School Training

That’s it. I am a fully qualified Level three Forest School leader. I will be getting my certificate in January next year.

Never mind my degree or post grad certs – this is the one.

May 2008 - Archimedes Forest School Training

Joined the West Lothian group at the Oatridge Agricultural College; more stately home than college though. It’s all very interesting and great fun to be part of.

But you need to get the hang of it.

Mar 2008 - Archimedes Forest School Training


Should really have done this before tackling Saltoun; but oh well, better late than never. Rather lucky to get on. This is the first year that they have ever run it in Edinburgh. Lucky me I was the last one in. I just happened to hear about it in a Treefest. There are only three of us that are not teachers.

Listening and learning . . . I think.

March 2008 - Saltoun Primary School

The end of the Forest School line! A total success. The HMIs who happened to be visiting the school loved it . . . and so did everybody else. Check out the FILM we made if you need any further proof.

Dangerous work!

October 2008 - Saltoun Primary School

Just started a 23 weeks working with the primary five, six and seven school kids.I am taking them to the rather attractive named nearby Strawberry Woods. So far so good. The pupils really seem to appreciate being out and about rather than cooped up in the classroom all day. 

Is this how you do it?

Now you have a try.