The evolution of Out to Learn

Whilst outside, humans thrive

 

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

 

School LeadersHOLIDAY CAMPS

How it all began

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

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 story continues

Taking inspiration from nature, 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.

We quickly became OFSTED registered demonstrating our commitment to professionalism, accountability and access for all.

Before long these educational nature experiences were delivered through ‘outdoor learning’ within the mainstream school setting as an onsite alternative provision. 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 regular weekly sessions now function as offsite alternative provision for children who are unable to attend school for various reasons.

The huge positive impact these experiences have on children and adults of all abilities is evident in the feedback from clients.

It is our commitment to strive to support everyone, irrespective of perceived barriers, to develop a meaningful and lasting connection with nature.

Nature always finds a way to express itself. This week we were looking at the effect of laying cardboard over the beds in the #polytunnel and why it stops growth. This little one took advantage of a single staple hole in the cardboard offering us a valuable insight into how plants grow.... so we sang a song about it 😉 #natureeducation #outdoorlearning #powerofnature #kidsinnature

Nature always finds a way to express itself. This week we were looking at the effect of laying cardboard over the beds in the #polytunnel and why it stops growth. This little one took advantage of a single staple hole in the cardboard offering us a valuable insight into how plants grow.... so we sang a song about it 😉 #natureeducation #outdoorlearning #powerofnature #kidsinnature ...

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Simple sunny days in the hut with food cooking over the fire while we admire our beautifully crafted nature basket filled with mint from the stream. #simplicity #kidsinnature #alternativeprovision #outdooreducation #rewilding

Simple sunny days in the hut with food cooking over the fire while we admire our beautifully crafted nature basket filled with mint from the stream. #simplicity #kidsinnature #alternativeprovision #outdooreducation #rewilding ...

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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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