Welcome to Out to Learn

Whilst outside, humans thrive

 

We combine well being, enrichment & education with nature through accessible outdoor events for all.

 

School LeadersHOLIDAY CAMPS

Thank you for visiting our website and for taking an interest in Out to Learn. It truly means a lot to me that others are as enthusiastic about combining education and enrichment with well being and nature.

Out to Learn began in the beautiful Chiltern Hills while walking with my sons and we came across some bones poking up through the ground. After investigating this together we realised that we had an almost intact badger skeleton and I realised that this inherent inquisitiveness resides in us all.

I signed up to become a qualified teacher and now, years later, here we are doing the same thing but with many more children and adults, embracing our natural curiosity in the most natural place there is!

As someone diagnosed late in life with dyslexia and ADHD my lived experience has shown how powerful outdoor learning and connecting with nature can be in supporting emotional regulation, which then opens the door to true learning. We encourage young people to move away from the idea that learning happens only in a classroom through real-life experiences and problem solving.

We believe that taking risks plays an important part in the learning process. We manage this with a thorough staff training program, high staff-to-participant ratios and a robust health & safety policy. All of the team are up to date with safeguarding, DBS and first aid requirements with the childrens safety as our highest priority.

Mike Williams (PGCE, MOst)
Founder – Out to Learn

Natasha Lewis
Natasha Lewis
2024-04-09
What a golden gem this project is! My child diagnosed ASD has been attending every half term for around a year now and he always comes out so happy. This is the only place heโ€™s had a consistently positive experience at.The activities are well thought out and engaging for all children with opportunities to learn valuable life skills. The team are fantastic at building self confidence and building an environment the children feel included and comfortable in. They really take the time to get to know the child individually and are fantastic at supporting their needs. All the staff are so friendly and welcoming and you can see they genuinely care. I really canโ€™t speak highly enough of this project and the people involved. Thank you so much for what you do!
Lataya
Lataya
2024-01-16
My 6 year old son attended this camp for 2 days during Christmas holidays and absolutely LOVED it. I was extremely nervous leaving him on day one and actually sat in the car park for 2 hours waiting until I happened to see my son and the group walking to the woods to start a camp fire - my son looked in his element. That was very reassuring for me. The feedback from both my son and staff was very positive. My son canโ€™t wait until he can go back in the holidays. Never found anything so suited to his interests and needs during the holidays before! Mike and the other staff were amazing, thank you SO much.
Carrie Lloyd
Carrie Lloyd
2024-01-07
My daughter attended all four days of the camp. She was so happy to have learnt new skills and enjoyed her outdoors time especially. The staff were always friendly and helpful and were really accommodating when she was anxious. I'm grateful that my daughter could get active outdoors and have fun even in the cold & rain!
Melissa Mostyn
Melissa Mostyn
2023-10-29
Before joining Out to Learn, for months following deregistration from school my son was very withdrawn with school trauma. He spent days gaming and refused to join any group activities or team sports. I couldnโ€™t even get him out of the house. I was determined to get him into nature and so persuaded my son to do a trial session with OTL. He was immediately hooked! In the ensuing 18 months since, my son has had a flexischooling education, joined an U12 football squad set to compete in Barcelona next spring - and accumulated a wide knowledge of and respect for nature and wildlife, bushcraft, carpentry, cooking from scratch, and teamwork. How did OTL facilitate the return of my sonโ€™s confidence? By providing clear, patient, inclusive and well-informed leadership every week, allowing him to explore nature and wildlife in a variety of ways, build meaningful friendships, develop an awareness of neurodivergence, and add to his literacy and numeracy organically. Most of all science, which was always his favourite subject at school, has become even more invaluable to my son after learning about biology, genealogy, physics and chemistry in practice, ensuring an evolving interest in evolution and technology. I cannot imagine him ever stopping attendance of OTL. Mike and his team are wonderful facilitators and I cannot recommend them highly enough. Five stars all round.
Carmen Miron
Carmen Miron
2023-10-17
Out to Learn are outstanding!! My children love the outdoor activities that Mike, Gwendoline and the team have put together over the years. They spark curiosity, desire to participate, a safe and comfortable environment while being active, connected with nature and having so much fun! My 10 year olds acquired skills not available to them elsewhere and that gave them a sense of pride and independence, which is huge, especially for senco. We need more educational settings like this and the adequate support for them to provide the inspirational attitude for life! Thank you Mike and stay awesome!
Nisha Malani
Nisha Malani
2023-10-16
I highly recommend Mike Williams. My daughter (10) has been learning from him for 2 years and she absolutely loves his groups. I asked her to describe Mike's teaching and she said "I love it because it's fun and very interesting. Mike is very good at explaining things."
Robert Grant
Robert Grant
2023-10-10
Runs a great group with the kids, mixing science and bushcraft, orienting and social skills
Peter Wallace
Peter Wallace
2023-10-09
Mike Williams, is an exceptionally gifted leader in education. My son loved his lessons, mainly because they were thought in an interesting, and imaginative manner, because of that he remembers the lessons very well. I would highly recommend Mike, to anyone looking for a great facilitator of education, in a non traditional setting or manner. Highly recommended by our family.
Jamie uk
Jamie uk
2023-10-09
This Bushcraft experience is highly recommended, I took my two along and they both really loved the activities (ring making, fire starting), so did I for that matter! It was educational and enjoyable day out, the host Mike himself is very welcoming and really has tailored this experience soo well, it is both kid and adult suitable. If you want to get out in nature, this is a great start!๐Ÿ‘
Veronica Brodie
Veronica Brodie
2023-10-09
My 11 and 8 year old daughters have attended Mikes sessions. He is kind, caring and considerate. He has helped my daughters confidence to grow and made my children feel very welcome and included. His style of teaching is inclusive to all and he is very enthusiastic and empathic. My children have learnt a so much with his help and he is a wonderful teacher. We highly recommend!!

Senior Leader working in education?

We can help you to bring the classroom outside and inspiration back

 

Through working with schools we have developed enrichment and intervention packages to suit a variety of needs. Learning outdoors brings with it new opportunities for children to self-regulate, build relationships and reinvigorate their inherent love for learning.

 

School Leaders & SENDCOs Find out More Here

The evolution of Out to Learn

Initially born of a home-educating family who, having taken such inspiration from nature, decided to gain the necessary teaching qualifications and credentials to set up an OFSTED registered setting. The weekly outdoor setting continues to offer nature-inspired applied academic learning experiences in a fun and accessible way within the stunning Chiltern Hills.

Before long the project grew to include grant funded holiday camps where both home and mainstream-educated children could enjoy nature together. Soon after these nature experiences were delivered through โ€˜outdoor learningโ€™ within the mainstream school setting. This helped children to regulate and normalised nature as a part of the school day.

This evolution has continued to include workshops at festivals and corporate events. The project began as a way for our own child with SEND to learn and regulate in a safe, natural and social setting. We have since discovered the huge positive impact these experiences have on children and adults of all abilities. It is our commitment to strive to support everyone, irrespective of perceived barriers, to develop a meaningful and lasting connection with nature.

The sun setting on a beautiful and busy week of outdoor goodness #outdoorlearning #schooltrips #kindsinnature #alternativeprovision

The sun setting on a beautiful and busy week of outdoor goodness #outdoorlearning #schooltrips #kindsinnature #alternativeprovision ...

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Learning about #refraction #science #appliedscience #outdoorlearning

Learning about #refraction #science #appliedscience #outdoorlearning ...

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Amidst the turmoil of life;  a night in a sleeping bag by the fire under the stars; being awoken by the grunting and barking of wild deer close by after melting into the dawn chorus an hour before. Then a cool swim in the early morning sunny warmth while admiring the geological beauty of the landscape and contemplating our place within it... helps me to retain perspective on what this project is about and why we do it. Feeling blessed #wildswim #natureconnection #ridgeway #peaceinnature #perspective #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #childreninnature #outdooreducation

Amidst the turmoil of life; a night in a sleeping bag by the fire under the stars; being awoken by the grunting and barking of wild deer close by after melting into the dawn chorus an hour before. Then a cool swim in the early morning sunny warmth while admiring the geological beauty of the landscape and contemplating our place within it... helps me to retain perspective on what this project is about and why we do it. Feeling blessed #wildswim #natureconnection #ridgeway #peaceinnature #perspective #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #childreninnature #outdooreducation ...

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Using trays of water rather than a spirit level to teach the children how we find horizontal level. It was  beautiful to watch how much sense this made to them and how creatively they engaged with it using fingers and sticks to compare the depth of the water. They also used different levers and fulcrums intuitively so that they could easily lift the heavy structure at various points. #appliedscience #appliedmathematics #outdoorclassroom #outdoorlearning #alternativeprovision #ofstedregistered #pond  #natureconnection #natureinschools

Using trays of water rather than a spirit level to teach the children how we find horizontal level. It was beautiful to watch how much sense this made to them and how creatively they engaged with it using fingers and sticks to compare the depth of the water. They also used different levers and fulcrums intuitively so that they could easily lift the heavy structure at various points. #appliedscience #appliedmathematics #outdoorclassroom #outdoorlearning #alternativeprovision #ofstedregistered #pond #natureconnection #natureinschools ...

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Tarp set up really well by the kids this morning at #colneyheathschool - we're enjoying time around the fire together with singing, talking nature and science and generally getting stuck in. At Out to Learn we bring meaningful outdoor experiences to children both in and out of school supporting their confidence, emotional development and fostering a connection with nature. #outdooreducation #foreststschool #bushcraft #appliedscience #adhd #dyslexia #autism #neurodiversity

Tarp set up really well by the kids this morning at #colneyheathschool - we`re enjoying time around the fire together with singing, talking nature and science and generally getting stuck in. At Out to Learn we bring meaningful outdoor experiences to children both in and out of school supporting their confidence, emotional development and fostering a connection with nature. #outdooreducation #foreststschool #bushcraft #appliedscience #adhd #dyslexia #autism #neurodiversity ...

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How wonderful to be involved in playing music again after such a long time. Four part harmonies, mandolin and fiddle... pretty much my dream band! First gig after two rehersals and we decided to call ourselves Chiltern Echos :) hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival

How wonderful to be involved in playing music again after such a long time. Four part harmonies, mandolin and fiddle... pretty much my dream band! First gig after two rehersals and we decided to call ourselves Chiltern Echos ๐Ÿ™‚ hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival ...

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