Sand and Swings

 Sometimes, if circumstances allow, a suggestion for the Outdoor Ed location can be made by the pupils. Hartlebury Common this week was one of those occasions.

Affectionately known by some of the Primary 2 pupils as "The Sandy Place", it is a great place for some really influential experiences. They enjoy creative play on the steep sandy banks and heathland.

Sand-Angel anyone?

After a while they have all spent time shaking sand from their clothes and tipping it out of their shoes.

They move on to challenge each other to climb a tree.

And when they have scampered up and down a number of the fantastic trees that the common has to offer, they helped put up the rope swing (taking time to double check everything is safe and secure).

The swing is a really great activity. It teaches the pupils a plethora of meaningful actions and subjects.

The science behind it (the interplay between kinetic and potential energy), gravity and friction (ropework and knots). It is a really good example of risk and reward ,showing them how to calculate the benefits of an exciting but potentially precarious activity.

What has been really worthwhile when the class are engaged in this activity is the reaction from members of the public. Hartlebury Common is a popular place for recreation and dog-walking and there is usually a steady stream of people passing by when our pupils are enjoying the excitement of the rope swing. Comments are always positive...

along the lines of "This is what they should be doing, enjoying themselves outside".

"They will remember this when they're older".

"Much more exciting than a computer game".

and my favourite... "I wish I could have done this at my school".

Battenhall Bike Track

 Worcester Council are pushing hard to establish more of these facilities across the county.

The pupils of Year 10 enjoyed a blast around the pump track in the sunshine, but the wind did make it tricky when their wheels left the ground.

Some of the pupils are content with a slow and steady meander around the track, whilst their are others that look to push the boundaries and test themselves to go further and faster each time around.

This eventually culminated in a challenge from the Tutor to one of the pupils. He was watched as he consistently cleared a considerable distance on one of the jumps. To show  how much trust staff placed in his ability on a bike, the Tutor lay in front of the lip and challenged him to jump over as he lay on the track. After a few run ups to gather his courage he sailed over and past flawlessly.

Brockhampton Woods

 Monday morning was hot. The temperature was already in the high twenties when Year 9 set out.

A decision was made to head for the shade of the woods at Brockhampton.

One of the class dragged an amazingly long fallen branch from out of the undergrowth (it must have been 25 feet or more). A few of them then spent a while and a determined effort trying to raise and stand it upright...just like the American marines at Iwo Jima.

They actually did it...then scattered for cover as they let it stand unsupported.

Hilarious.

*It was lowered back safely to the ground before the class moved on.

At the bottom of the trail is a man-made pool which had a drainage culvert at its top edge. It didn't take long for the class to rise to the challenge of clearing the eight foot gap.

These sessions are becoming fruitful and more enjoyable for the pupils as they collaborate more freely whilst at the same time their levels of tolerance between each other have increased considerably. This enables the challenges that are set and the activities to be more demanding as the pupils are more supportive and less critical of each other.

Witley Court

 Primary 3 had the pleasure of something completely new to them. After contacting English Heritage, I was informed of a scheme where they offer free educational visits during term time for schools.

They had a great time walking through the ruin of the mansion                                                             (which was gutted by a devastating fire in 1938), climbing trees and playing tag.

But the highlight was at 11am when the fountain burst into life.

The wind was such, that it blew a mist onto them as they stood by it.

 

Forging ahead in Forest School

 Primary 1 are really beginning to blossom during their Monday afternoon Forest school sessions.

Staff have worked hard to provide a wide range of creative and engaging activities for a the pupils and a big effort has been made to promote collaboration and tolerance when they are working and learning in the Forest School area. 

This week, there were a few tentative hands dipping into the Mud Kitchen area. But by the end of the session, the gloves were off (so to speak) and the pupils were really embracing the messy looseness of the topic!

Another activity staged at the far end of the Forest School was shelter building. The pupils were given a check list of materials and with this random assortment they were tasked with constructing a shelter which would fend off the worst of the elements. A test was made at the completion of their effort where a hosepipe was trained briefly on the shelter with them inside.

This elicited quite an excitable response from all involved.

 

Dowles Brook...fun and games

 The tail end of June has become increasingly hot and humid.

As a result, the class groups are more than happy to venture anywhere that there is a chance of  splashing around in some water. It offers an opportunity to revisit the guidelines on water safety - being aware of temperature, slippery surfaces, unstable riverbanks, water currents and the importance of supervision by adults and never venturing out alone.

The small stream near the outskirts of Bewdley has an abundance of wildlife (notably kingfishers, crayfish and even an experimental reintroduction of a colony of beavers)!

The classes can begin there adventure journeying along a disused section of the old Tenbury to Bewdley railway. From there they take a right along a steep, uneven path (a good test of agility for some) which dives down to Knowles Mill. This has been owned by the National Trust since 1938 and is undergoing some renovation work. As it open to view, the pupils are fascinated by all the old mechanics and interior of the building.

After a short, inquisitive stay at the Mill, the classes cross the Brook on a bridge and head along a dirt track back towards the car park. The walk is interrupted often by detours down to shallow parts of the brook where the pupils wade, skim stones and build pebble towers.

Earlier in the week, whilst we were in this little alcove alongside the brook, a suitable branch was spotted for the rope swing. This was duly set up, but as the picture below shows, the initial launch was a little low!

With a few small adjustments made, the pupils were able to experience the exhilaration of a graceful arc out over the water (some of the more adventurous even dropping an arm to skim a hand across the water).  

This venue, nestled in a valley on the outskirts of Bewdley, encapsulates everything that is positive about Riversides outdoor provision. 

The history of the area, the solitude of the setting, the abundance of wildlife and also the chance to offer a little excitement to some of the more adventurous makes it a hugely popular destination for all classes.

Magic on our doorstep

 It is always a surprise to many members of staff that we don't have more pupils who appreciate how lucky they are to be so close to the Malvern Hills. As a place that encourages anyone to ramble, scramble, run or ride across its length, emphasis is placed on the accessibility and freedom that it can offer.

Below are a few images from some of the classes who have experienced all it has to offer. Quiet contemplation, group challenges, wild and windy weather and ultimately, the feeling of exhilaration and achievement when they reach the summit of its many peaks