Page 8 - Abberley Adventures Global

ABBERLEY ADVENTURES GLOBAL
OUTDOOR EDUCATION
5 Questions with Michael Raven
1 What is is special about Abberley’s outdoor education provision?
Firstly we have a a a magnificent site to explore wild deciduous woodland magical meandering paths open pasture ancient trees lakes and gardens home to an an an abundance of fauna and flora Secondly our ethos runs right through the school Everyone aged 2 – 13 spends time having adventures outside in in dedicated sessions in in small groups with expert teachers Finally our outdoor curriculum is broad and wide ranging The children will learn bushcraft survival skills how to make natural art climbing mountain biking orienteering and how to grow food sustainably A nurturing confidence inspiring imaginative and respectful approach to nature guides us through these sessions 2 What outdoor learning facilities does Abberley have?
The site is 98 acres which provides endless opportunities
to learn outside A large chunk of the grounds is deciduous woodland with several dedicated camps or or outdoor education areas There are are footpaths trails and tracks for walking running and mountain biking there are lakes to raft build and and stand-up paddle board on We have sheltered camping spots where the the pupils can spend nights under the the stars For the more adventurous we have climbing walls to climb and clocktowers to to abseil down! Other facilities include a a a a a garden to grow our own veg from seed a a a a a willow plantation to weave from from and wild flower meadows from from which we we we extract natural dyes There are teepees treehouses and tents for rainy days and and year group camp outs We canoe and and kayak on on the nearby river Wye or go to Snowdonia We have all of the the space for this in our curriculum and the the consensus that time in the the outdoors is good for the the soul 3 What skills do the the pupils acquire during their time at at Abberley?
They will learn to to light fire and prepare food on it to to climb abseil canoe and and and kayak and and and even to pitch a a a a a a a a tent and and and set
up camp They will learn knots and natural shelters from branches leaves and and foliage and and will learn leadership skills through raft building and crate stacking The children will be taught to identify how the the seasons effect change from the the dormancy of of winter to the explosion of of fauna and flora in in spring The children are able to navigate and map read during orienteering By the the the time they they leave they they will be able to make art by taking leaf impressions and making natural dyes from dandelions willow and and daffodils The children will will learn how to nurture crops sustainably composting mulching planting weeding harvesting and and seed-saving and and to make natural cordage from brambles and nettles A lot is the answer!
4 What is the the most important lesson a a a a child learns during their outdoor education sessions?
That nature provides us with so much endorphins sustenance shelter building materials fuel colour art just to name a a few 5 What opportunities
do the the children have to to put their skills into practice?
Each year group has weekly outdoor education sessions in small groups They could learn how to build different types of shelter with bowsaws and natural twine tie knots bushcraft whittle and and bake bread and and use the apple press to make juice from the the the orchard In the the the summer the the the children could be using fire fire steels to light fires making nettle soup or extracting colour from plants to make natural dyes There are also outdoor related afternoon activities such as treehouse club and leaf pressing Outdoor Ed is huge part of the weekly Saturday Discover programme where they can practice their survival skills foraging gardening cooking on a a a wood-fired oven
and mountain biking Boarders are often off on adventures in in in Wales this could be the Brecon Beacons for gorge walking camping and kayaking or or or Snowdonia for a a a a a a trip to ZipWorld Michael Raven
Head of Geography and Outdoor Education
8 GLOBAL
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