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FREE Teaching in Nature course

For Clyde and Avon Valley based teachers

Filed under News
Date posted: Wednesday, 21 September 2016

The Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership has teamed up with Grounds for Learning to deliver Teaching in Nature during 2016/17.


The course will focus on local natural places within the Clyde Valley near Motherwell and the Clyde Walkway. It is a year long programme to support teachers to use a natural wild place to plan, implement and evaluate a challenging and fun outdoor learning experience for your pupils. It will embed outdoor learning into your teaching practice and help form meaningful relationships with local natural places. It will give you the confidence to plan, deliver and evaluate your own teaching in nature . It will also challenge you to share that learning in your own setting, to develop a holistic, whole school approach to outdoor learning.


By the end of the year you will:

  • Have a connection to local, natural places and an understanding of the learning opportunities they provide.
  • Have worked with local ‘experts’ such as archaeologists, Countryside Rangers and natural historians who can help support your work.
  • Become part of a local outdoor learning network for sharing ideas and getting support.
  • Feel confident to lead regular ‘Teaching in Nature’ sessions for your learners and incorporate them into your regular planning.
  • Understand how to incorporate Teaching in Nature within your own school grounds and linking back to indoors.

Teaching in Nature was developed by Stirling University, Scottish Natural Heritage and Grounds for Learning and has been running for several years with great success. You can find out more about you can read about the original course here: http://www.teachinginnature.stir.ac.uk/


This programme is funded by the Clyde and Avon Valley Landscape Partnership and is FREE to participants.


If you are interested in this course, please discuss with your head teacher to ensure that it complements the school’s development planning. In addition to developing your own CPD, there will be the expectation that you lead CPD sessions within your own school and / or cluster. By completing the course, and a short reflective piece, you will be rec-ommended for Professional Recognition in Outdoor Learning.

The course is made up as follows:

Day 1: Introduction Day, Monday 24 October, 9am - 4pm

Introducing the project and participants, sharing good practice and inspiring ideas.

Day 2: Sharing Day, Monday 14 November, 1 - 4:30pm

Visit a local natural and wild place. We will introduce you to local specialists and support staff and collaboratively work through your ideas with colleagues and Grounds for Learning staff. Look at some of the practicalities and notifications of planning a trip.

Day 3: Meet Up and Detailed Plan, Monday 6 March, 1 - 4.30pm


March – April
Additional support sessions if required, plus Evaluation and Sharing where participants com-pile a record of lesson plans, experiences and photos.


Day 4: Review, Monday 19 April, 9am - 4pm
End of project review and sharing with Teaching in Nature Group


For further information or to book a place, please email : This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

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