Welcome to Out to Learn
Whilst outside, humans thrive
We combine well being, enrichment & education with nature through accessible outdoor events for all.
![new welcome mike williams](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/new-welcome-mike-williams.jpg?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
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.
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 โoutdoor 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.
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Fresh #organic #schoolgrown soup with #beets and #garlic from the polytunnel. The whole school was able to taste the food which the children have grown from seeds and eventually cooked on an open fire (not to mention the salad and fruit they pick and eat every week). An important life skill learned through fun, nurture and a weekly installment of silly songs! #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #forestschool #hertfordshire #Bedfordshire #buckinghamshire #natureinschools
![Fresh #organic #schoolgrown soup with #beets and #garlic from the polytunnel. The whole school was able to taste the food which the children have grown from seeds and eventually cooked on an open fire (not to mention the salad and fruit they pick and eat every week). An important life skill learned through fun, nurture and a weekly installment of silly songs! #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #forestschool #hertfordshire #Bedfordshire #buckinghamshire #natureinschools](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
Fresh #organic #schoolgrown soup with #beets and #garlic from the polytunnel. The whole school was able to taste the food which the children have grown from seeds and eventually cooked on an open fire (not to mention the salad and fruit they pick and eat every week). An important life skill learned through fun, nurture and a weekly installment of silly songs! #outdoorlearning #bushcraft #forestschool #hertfordshire #Bedfordshire #buckinghamshire #natureinschools
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](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
The sun setting on a beautiful and busy week of outdoor goodness #outdoorlearning #schooltrips #kindsinnature #alternativeprovision
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](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
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
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](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
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
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](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
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
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 ๐ 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 :) hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
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 ๐ hoping to find a budding sound engineer to join us next. Lovely way to spend the day at #cheshamcarnival
For a couple of weeks during the summer, something magical happens in the Coombe. People gather to create and share music, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature. @abovebelowfestival is an intimate, safe, and meaningful festival brought about by an impressive team of local people dedicated to realising a dream - and what a superb job they do of it. @outtolearn sessions take place elsewhere on the site during the festival build and breakdown, but we are there in spirit. Huge appreciation for what you`ve created, massive respect ๐
![For a couple of weeks during the summer, something magical happens in the Coombe. People gather to create and share music, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature. @abovebelowfestival is an intimate, safe, and meaningful festival brought about by an impressive team of local people dedicated to realising a dream - and what a superb job they do of it. @outtolearn sessions take place elsewhere on the site during the festival build and breakdown, but we are there in spirit. Huge appreciation for what you've created, massive respect ๐](https://b3339621.smushcdn.com/3339621/wp-content/plugins/instagram-feed-pro/img/placeholder.png?lossy=2&strip=1&webp=1)
For a couple of weeks during the summer, something magical happens in the Coombe. People gather to create and share music, connection, and a deep appreciation for nature. @abovebelowfestival is an intimate, safe, and meaningful festival brought about by an impressive team of local people dedicated to realising a dream - and what a superb job they do of it. @outtolearn sessions take place elsewhere on the site during the festival build and breakdown, but we are there in spirit. Huge appreciation for what you`ve created, massive respect ๐
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