Cambium Sustainable Newsletter - Winter 2020
Welcome to the Cambium Sustainable Newsletter
Hi, we're glad you're here.
Here at Cambium, we believe that to be reflective practitioners it's important to develop our practice and keep up to date with the latest research and ideas from the world of Forest School and Outdoor Learning. We've put together some useful links, articles and ideas for you this winter. Grab a cup of tea and take a look.
News
We have had a busy 2019 here at Cambium and 2020 is looking just as exciting! Here are a few of our latest developments which we're excited to share with you!
New courses on offer for 2020
Dealing with Challenging Behaviour in the Outdoors
Learning in the Outdoors - Qualifications for Young People
Woodland Management
Wellbeing in Nature
Professional Development for Forest School Practitioners
During our conversations with Forest School Practitioners, we're always struck by two things - firstly, the desire of outdoor professionals to update and develop their own professional practice, and secondly, feelings of isolation and sometimes frustration about how they can convince others of the value of what they do.
With this in mind, we are working hard to develop Cambium's very own membership scheme which will include both online and face to face support and development to all Forest School practitioners. The scheme will include videos, case studies, interviews, practical demonstrations, research and ideas from experts and other outdoor educators from across the UK. We're working hard to include interesting, relevant and useful information which will expand and develop professional's confidence and knowledge of what happens at Forest School so we can all develop our practice together over time.
If this sounds interesting to you, watch this space!
Research
We've compiled a list of interesting articles and research from recent publications around the world to keep you up to date with the latest developments.
We've shared this before, but well worth another look! Ideas from Forest Schooled about how to 'plan' learner-led experiences outdoors. Click Here
Research from 2009 from Forest Commission Scotland about physical activity at Forest School, very interesting! Click Here
We all know this anyway, but this is interesting research from Denmark about the link between time spent outdoors and happiness in later life - this is a big study as well so useful data! Click Here
Ken Robinson talks here about how to create a culture for deep and valuable learning. Great links to Forest School and Outdoor Learning practice here. Click Here
Case study - Changing the culture of a Multi Academy Trust through Forest School
Our Associate Trainer Simon Ashbell shares his thoughts on the barriers to embedding quality Forest School and Outdoor Learning and how his school has started to overcome them.
Opportunities to Revel in Outdoor learning.
I am one of the lucky practitioners who have managed to find a place that supports and believes in the ethos and benefits of Forest School and Outdoor Learning (OL)….it hasn’t always been the case! The journey that I have faced has been one of common barriers and cultural resistance. The majority of educational establishments that I have been a part of seemed to have faced similar barriers. These are:
Resistance to change based on a perception of an increased workload if Forest School was adopted.
It’s hard to show/gather data regarding pupil progress which leads to a devaluation of Forest School's effectiveness.
Cost of staff cover.
Only small groups can be accommodated when in reality a primary school class has 30+ pupils.
Short/medium term availability for forest school courses i.e. 6-week blocks once a week for half a class once a year.
Forest School and OL being reliant on 1 member of staff.
Staff feeling uncomfortable with a perceived giving over of ‘control’ to children.
A feeling that Forest School and Outdoor Learning isn’t real learning.
This is not an exhaustive list but, in my experience, these are the most common problems facing Forest School in education. However, it’s not all barriers and up-hill struggles, there are lots of common factors that can really support a Forest School ethos:
The desire to support the known developmental stages of children.
Appreciation for the benefits of time in nature.
The harmonious and long term benefits of providing a nurturing environment that doesn’t require persuasion or coercion for behaviour management but rather connection.
In my experience, it’s this last benefit that can affect cultural change within schools and is highly impactful in adjusting practices over time. I have found that the connecting experiences, free from predetermined outcomes, can lead to deep learning experiences, that want to be shared, which in turn satisfy more curriculum outcomes than expected. The knock-on effect of this is a greater ‘buy-in’ from class teachers and SLT. Sounds good, doesn’t it? However, each one of these barriers and benefits has a case study of its own. The discussion continues!!!
I have found that a ‘joined-up’ approach to Outdoor Learning is the most exciting and interesting way to make my day feel worthwhile. This may sound a little self-indulgent but unless I am passionate and engaged I won’t be able to do the same for my colleagues let alone the children. Overcoming the barriers above can help to create programmes which can be curriculum-linked, topic-related and cost-effective while still including free play, nurture, child-centred activity, data tracking and increasing revenue for the setting. I promise I’m not just making this up!
There are some key ingredients that make all this possible and they do require someone to be willing to approach the established norms with a fresh approach, one that aims to create space for a connection based ethos, rooted in nurture and using the natural environment to amplify connection with themselves, others and the environment.
This, I appreciate, is often different to the ways the individual has fundamentally approached or been taught to create a learning environments in school. I regularly feel like I am stepping out into the unknown and have felt fear around this, but I implore all us to take risks, have fun, believe in our own value, our own ability, our own need for connection in all of life (work and home) and to take this attitude into work.
I believe we are all bold and magnificent in our own ways and feel deep gratitude to be part of the adventure of growth!
Simon Ashbell
Outdoor Learning Lead.
The Revel Primary School, Warwickshire.
https://www.therevelprimaryschool.co.uk/
Upcoming Events from Cambium and our Associate Trainers
Check out our online booking system for details of all of our upcoming training including Forest School, Outdoor Learning, Coastal School and the brand new Dealing with Challenging Behaviour in the Outdoors!
Happy to help.
We'd love your feedback on this new publication. Have you found it useful? Would you like more? What could we cover in future newsletters?
Email info@cambiumsustainable.co.uk to share your thoughts.