Pupils from Ysgol Maes y Mynydd, Rhosllanerchrugog near Wrexham found and identified trees in a local woodland during Wales Outdoor Learning Week 2021.

It was inspiring to see the range of outdoor learning taking place across Wales on social media during #WalesOutdoorLearningWeek last month as learners of all ages and abilities headed outside to to learn in, learn about and learn for the natural environment.  Organised by the Wales Council for Outdoor Learning in collaboration with Natural Resources Wales, the week offered an opportunity to celebrate the amazing outdoor learning and nature connection opportunities that go on every day across Wales.  Pupils from Pentwynmawr Primary, Newbridge, near Newport explored a woodland to find living and non-living things.  Why use counters when you can use natural materials?  Exploring place value outdoors was the order of the day for pupils at Ysgol Llanddoged, near Llanrwst, Conwy.  Meanwhile Years 7 & 8 pupils in Cefn Hengoed Community School investigated cynefin and sense of place in Winch Wen, Swansea.

Partner organisations took to the airways, running a program of 28 online events, helping to raise awareness of the value of taking learning outdoors and the importance of a meaningful connection to nature.  Sue Williams, Team Leader Health, Education and Natural Resources and current Secretary of the Wales Council for Outdoor Learning commented: “It was great to see the breadth of learning in the natural environment that was going on across the country on social media.  The online events run by Council members were well attended and we were pleased to see the importance and continuation of outdoor learning recognised in the updated Operational guidance for schools and settings produced by Welsh Government.  With news that education visits can now be considered, we hope that the passion and enthusiasm displayed during Wales Outdoor Learning Week continues so that outdoor learning and its many benefits becomes the norm and part of everyday life.”

Whatever your interest or age group you are working with, we’ve got a range of online training courses coming up.

• Naturally Healthy and Happy “Thank you for today, very enjoyable and inspirational. I’m going for a walk now :)”, Hazel Howard, Seren Bach Playgroup, Merthyr Tydfil
• Treemendous Trees and Wonderful Woodlands: Part 1 “This presentation was so informative, fun and has really blown me away. There are only a few presentation/training days that you remember in your teaching career and this will definitely be one of mine.” Jo Dunne, Herbert Thompson Primary School, Cardiff
• A Natural Childhood ‘This session was enlightening and provided lots of great resources/ideas that I cannot wait to use in the classroom. Thank you so much for the course this evening, I cannot wait to attend more’. Stephanie Jones – Chester Uni Student

NEW COURSE! Fruitful Orchards – Join us for a ‘conference’ call as we share tips and advice on how to maximise the learning and experience opportunities that an orchard provides. Juiced the ticket, if you find the idea of cultivating an orchard with your learner’s apple-ing. Join us, we’ve got all the in-cider information and we’ll apple-y answer your questions.  

To book your place on any of the above courses, please visit the Tocyn Cymru website.  All training courses are delivered on Microsoft Teams.

The 10^th – 16^th May is Mental Health Awareness Week and the theme is ‘nature’. Central to our psychological and emotional health, nature has the unique ability to bring consolation in times of stress, but it can also increase our creativity, empathy and a sense of wonder.  Even small contacts with nature can be effective in protecting our mental health and preventing distress.  Learners of all ages need a meaningful connection with nature, and you can give them time to experience this using the 14 activities and games in our Health and Well-being booklet.  From a spot of mindfulness, to working as a team to complete the human knot challenge, there’s something to suit all age groups.

Secondary teachers and young people aged 16-18 are invited to share their ideas and contribute to a Manifesto for Education for Environmental Sustainability launched to coincide with the UN Climate Change Conference COP26 in November. 

The British Educational Research Association (BERA) are hosting a series of workshops where young people and teachers will co-create a manifesto for education for environmental education in the UK.  To take part in an online workshop on Thursday 20^th May at 4.30pm, please email amanda.smith@cat.org.uk for a calendar invite.

Wales Nature Week is an annual celebration of nature featuring the fantastic habitats and species of Wales.  A virtual week of events commence with a welcome return of the Garden BioBlitz. Ask your learners to take part by spotting and sharing nature visitors and residents in their garden. The helpful tips and support available from a community of experts will ensure their participation is fun and informative.  Brought to you by Local Nature Partnerships in Wales, it’s an opportunity for your learners to discover nature on their doorstep and learn how they can help it.

Want to get involved in outdoor learning but not sure which accredited course to go for?  Whether you are interested in becoming a Coastal School Leader or want to take on the role of Outdoor Learning Coordinator for your setting, why not tune into a free session run by the Outdoor Learning Trainers Network Wales (OLTNW) to find out more.  Worked with Agored Cymru throughout 2020, OLTNW has reviewed and updated the ‘Learning in the Natural Environment’ suite of qualifications. This event will be a chance to celebrate the launch of these new training opportunities as well as exploring the diverse and wide-ranging benefits learning in the natural environment provides.  Book your place on this online, one hour event on the 17^th May, 4.00 pm by visiting the Tocyn Cymru website.

A new dark skies map has shown that Wales is doing well in tackling light pollution.  The Dark Skies and Light Pollution in Wales map was commissioned by Natural Resources Wales (NRW) and was compiled by using satellite imagery of Wales taken at 1:30am.  It revealed more than 68 per cent of the country and 95 per cent of our National Parks and Areas of Outstanding National Beauty fall within the two darkest night sky categories.

Jill Bullen, Landscapes Lead Specialist Advisor for NRW, said: “Dark skies can affect our experience of nature, landscapes and green spaces and can benefit our health and well-being and local wildlife.  Although dark skies are most often experienced in remote and rural landscapes, our experience of the night sky can be enhanced in towns and settlements by reducing light pollution and using dark sky friendly lighting.  Lighting kept on for longer than it is needed or units that spill light upwards, rather than to where it is most needed, contribute to sky glow, light intrusion and add to light pollution.  Many local authorities now have energy saving policies in place that affect lighting and contribute to a lower carbon future.  Some lights are being dimmed, part night lit or switched off during the night where it is possible and safe to do so.”

What levels of light radiance have you got in your area?  Find out by checking the Dark Skies and Light Pollution in Wales web-based map with your learners.

Is your setting a hive of activity?  Thursday, the 20^th May is World Bee Day!  From lavender to buddleia, clematis to rosemary, you can help bees by providing them with the nectar and pollen they need to thrive whilst giving your learners a first-hand experience of nature in all its glory.  If you give a beeswax, why not take part in Plantlife’s 'No Mow May' project.  Changing your setting’s mowing routine and allowing plants to flower helps to provide a vital source of nectar for bees and other insects and you’re more likely to spot a greater variety of flowers popping up in your grounds.  At the end of the month, you can get your learners surveying and recording their findings.  How many different plants are there growing in a metre square?  Submit your results as part of Plantlife’s Every Flower Counts survey, get your setting’s personal nectar score and find out how many bees your settings grounds support.  Do your learners have a lot to bee proud of?  Do they need to consider planting more bee friendly plants?  May is the perfect month to find out.

A creative challenge to children to read and enjoy this engaging STEM book and use their imagination to illustrate what their community would look like if we all used water more wisely.

What would your home, school, or garden look like if we were to use water more wisely? Competition open to 5-9 and 10-13 year olds plus individual and class prizes. Supported by online teacher notes in English & Welsh. Submit entries between May 1st to 28th 2021.

A collaboration between the DRY Project (University of the West of England) and Waterwise in conjunction with Waterwise's Water Saving Week May 17th-21st To find out more, please click here.

Would you like regular outdoor learning updates and news?  Why not follow the Outdoor Learning Wales Twitter account or closed Facebook Group which both offer a platform to keep up-to-date, spread the word of ongoing projects and facilitate discussions with anyone with an interest in outdoor learning and environmental education in Wales. 

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