FSLI Embracing Outdoor Learning Conference 2012

I can't believe that just over a year ago I attended my first EOLC still to complete my Forest School leader training. A year has passed and for every two weeks of term 370 children have had the opportunity to experience learning in the outdoors. 

So it was off to Gloucestershire full of enthusiasm and eager to learn and unusually this year some early morning sunshine.

Welcome

The conference is all outdoors at the Redwood Education Centre near Slimbridge. A series of workshops were available three of which needed to be pre chosen.

• Danish Basket Making and Willow Sculptures

• Natural Musicians

• Cooking Outdoors with Children

• Learning through Flora and Fauna

• Forest School Skills Update

• Story Telling in the Outdoors

• Creating in Nature

The first workshop for me was Cooking Outdoors, having tried marshmallows and popcorn this year I was looking for something a little more exciting to introduce next year.

Orange Baked Muffins

These were great fun to make.


Each smaller group looked at cooking in different ways, on the fire, in the fire and on a griddle. The area was set out with a whole range of tools and equipment for cooking and the whole session was very informative. I certainly have some ideas for the future, especially as all the recipes are being emailed out to us.


Next up was willow weaving, the thing that gets me is that this looks easy but never is. We had a go at wands, fish and hurdle making. The information about types of willow was useful. As we've already started growing our own I'm hoping we will be able to self source this product in the near future.



Rain had punctuated the morning so it was good to see some sunshine over lunchtime.




















The afternoon was a great surprise to me. Music I must admit is not my strong point but the way Chris Holland delivered the session meant that even someone with my hopeless ability could envisage leading sessions encouraging children outdoors.

You can see some results here.

Looking forward to the next time.