Outdoor Learning

Outdoor learning is increasingly seen as an entitlement for children and young people, yet can be difficult to organise. As a Chaplain, church or other volunteer you can be invaluable to a school in providing the extra support needed every time a group of pupils goes outside the school grounds (when adult-pupil ratios quite rightly need to be much more generous). This applies for all sorts of field trips etc.

A useful solution is also sometimes to use an Outdoor Centre. You may well be aware of the centres below, but your schools may not be.

Outdoor Education Centres

Various organisations operate Outdoor Education Centres, which are widely used by schools as key parts of their annual curriculum. Residential and day activities include Environmental Education, P7-S1 Transition, Leadership courses, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, etc.

See our Outdoor Education Centres page for more information on Scripture Union Scotland, Abernethy Outdoor Centres, Compass Christian Centre, Teen Ranch and Rock UK.

Vine Trust School Expeditions

Vine Trust’s School Expeditions offer opportunities for older secondary school pupils and their teachers to work in partnership with in-country development organisations in Tanzania or Peru. Since 2007, 700+ school volunteers from Scotland have already been involved in two-week programmes which take learning far beyond the classroom. https://www.vinetrust.org/volunteer/school-expeditions