Have you caught up with Gary Mantle’s blog: A Daily Dose of Nature? Gary is Chief Executive of the Wiltshire Wildlife Trust and President of the Sensory Trust, but his blog provides personal reflections about his experiences of nature with occasional comments on both environmental issues, generally, and on how both Trusts are working to reconnect people and nature.…
Have you see the Permaculture Association’s latest e-Bulletin which gives you news from the Association and a roundup of permaculture related items, upcoming events, jobs and opportunities. It’s sent out 12 times a year. You can subscribe here.
FACE asks: How can those of us engaged in farming and countryside education (farm educators and teachers in school) use activities inspired by food and farming to deliver Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) subjects? The answer is a new booklet produced by FACE which contains ideas presented by a wide variety of contributors.
This is a brilliant book for use as a teachers’ guide and for lesson planning where the teacher wishes to focus on nature and environmental issues. I especially like the practical sections (make and do). What child could resist making a bee hotel, a hedgehog box or a pond for frogs? The ‘Ten Things to…
The Natural Connections Demonstration Project is an initiative funded by Natural England, DEFRA and English Heritage, which Plymouth University were awarded the contract to deliver. It is one of the largest outdoor learning projects in the UK and will involve around 200 schools and between 200-500 volunteers. The project operates at a local, school-led level, in ‘hubs’ across the South…
Project Dirt is a network connecting and resourcing community projects, through social media. Dirt is a “doing” network, showcasing what’s happening in communities so that people and projects can engage with each other, as well as the organisations looking to resource them. You can get involved here.
Circle of Life provides nature-based experiences that are “educational, fun and life-changing!” for schools or families in woodlands. Since 2004, it has been working to reconnect people from all backgrounds and ages to rediscover the natural world. Its Summer training days are listed here, its summer camps here, and details of forest school training here.
If you want to keep up with what the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (CLOtC) and its partners are up to, you can subscribe to their monthly Newsletter here. As a taster, here is their post-election update, and the June Newsletter itself is here. NB, nominations are now open for the 8th annual learning outside…
What do you think about zoos? If you’re ambivalent about their message and morality, then you might find Gordon Eaglesham’s blog a useful aid to your thinking, and that of your students. The post refers to Chris Packham’s recent article on zoos and their role in conservation, for the BBC Wildlife magazine. This is as honest…
June 19th is Empty Classroom Day. Where will you be? Will you be joining schools and organisations across the UK to celebrate outdoor learning. Will you spend a lesson outside, or do more? You can sign up your school, here, to be part of it and to hear news in the run up to the day.