The majority of Outdoor Learning is likely to take place in the grounds that surround establishments such as schools.
Grounds for Learning, part of the UK charity Learning through Landscapes, helps Scottish schools and early years settings make the most of their outdoor spaces for play and learning.
School grounds are essential to children’s learning and development, providing opportunities for healthy exercise, creative play, making friends, learning through doing and getting in touch with the natural world. We believe all children have the right to enjoy and benefit from well designed, managed and used school grounds.
Rock Climbing - Traverse Walls
With regards adventurous activities within playgrounds, many Highland Council schools have installed rock climbing 'Traverse Walls'. To see examples, have a look at this slide show.
Orienteering
Several schools in the Highland area have recently had maps created of their grounds (and in some cases, nearby woodland areas), for as little as £100 each. Maps are created using specialist software, a cut-down version of which can be downloaded free from the internet. Schools are given their electronic map so they can keep it up to date themselves, and print only as many copies as are required at any time. Hilary Quick at the National Orienteering Office can also supply contact details for people who could do this mapping.
If anyone’s uncertain as to the benefits of orienteering in schools, we suggest you read a recent article from the Times Educational Supplement
Hilary Quick
Scottish Orienteering Association Development Officer
National Orienteering Centre, Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore PH22 1QU
tel. 01479 861374
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