THE EDINBURGH OUTDOOR LEARNING NETWORK
The Edinburgh Outdoor Learning network brings providers together to share ideas and practice. Our Teacher's Outdoor Learning forum is a community where advice, ideas and enthusiasm for Outdoor Learning are shared.
Webinars
In Spring 2021, the Edinburgh Outdoor Learning Network organised and ran a series of webinars for teachers and other practitioners. Each webinar featured four, fifteen minute presentations by a variety of different Outdoor Learning providers. Topics were diverse; over the three webinars we had presentations on using Gaelic outdoors, discussing climate change with Primary aged pupils, the reintroduction of Beavers to Scotland and many more, alongside our own resource; the Outdoor Learning Map.
If you missed the webinars and wish to see them, recordings are available to view on our YouTube channel at the following links:
Webinar 1: https://youtu.be/B-5el9EpaWM
Webinar 2: https://youtu.be/HB_vXvg15_s
Part 1 of Webinar 3: https://youtu.be/5miL_VilUYg
Part 2 of Webinar 3: https://youtu.be/_2s8OpGvfo4
Links and resources
Below are links to resources from the presenters and contributors to the series of 3 webinars organised and run in Spring 2021 by the Edinburgh Outdoor Learning Network
Webinar 1:
Edinburgh Zoo
https://learning.rzss.org.uk/ for ZooDLE
Thanks everyone - if you have any further questions about our work at RZSS, please email us at education@rzss.org.uk
JASS Award
https://www.jasschools.org.uk/
Water of Leith Conservation Trust
Scottish Government Policy Summary:
- Much of government policy is directed by the Paris Agreement (2016) which is an international treaty that aims to reduce carbon emissions to 2/1.5 degrees celsius. This short video (under 2 minutes) is a good introduction to what it aims to do. https://unfccc.int/process-and-meetings/the-paris-agreement/the-paris-agreement
- In 2019, Scotland became one of the first nations in the world to declare a climate emergency, as stated by Nicola Sturgeon at the SNP conference in April 2019.
The Climate Change (Emissions Reduction Targets) (Scotland) Act in 2019 set the ambitious goal for Scotland of reducing carbon emissions to net zero by 2045, five years ahead of the rest of the UK. The Scottish Government website sets out how they plan to do this.
https://www.gov.scot/policies/climate-change/reducing-emissions/
- Good year to focus on climate change in classes due to upcoming international conference in Scotland!
26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (hence the name COP26) will meet in Glasgow 1-12, 2021. https://ukcop26.org/
Good BBC article summarizing where we are now and the Government targets. Enough Renewables to Meet 90% Scottish Electricity Demand by Claire Diamond https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-north-east-orkney-shetland-45876604
Edinburgh Council Policy Summary
Edinburgh Council has the climate target of net zero emissions by 2030. Net zero means that by 2030 we will be removing the same amount of carbon and other greenhouse gases as we put into the city. They are currently creating a sustainability strategy for the city which they hope to put out for consultation in spring 2021. For information on what they are currently doing to reduce emissions and meet the 2030 deadline, read the following: www.edinburgh.gov.uk/climate-2/climate-target-net-zero-2030/2
Scottish Green Innovation
Pollution and air quality video experiment about your commute to school http://kidsclimateaction.org/2019/10/14/bbc-video-how-do-you-breathe-less-pollution-on-school-run/
RSPB article on the effects of climate change on sea birds in the North Sea https://www.rspb.org.uk/get-involved/campaigning/climate-change-effects-on-nature-and-wildlife/effects-of-climate-change-on-wildlife/starving-seabirds/seabirds-in-danger/
Beyond Ecophobia: Reclaiming the Heart in Nature Education (1996), by David Sobel. The Orion Society (US publisher but available in UK)
I Bike
https://ibike.sustrans.org.uk/remote-learning/
Webinar 2:
The Outdoor Learning Map
Don’t Forget VLOG: Visit the map at www.outdoorlearningmap.com
Login and share what you’re doing. Get in touch with any questions or ideas for improvement at: outdoorlearningmap@edinburgh.gov.uk
Dynamic Earth
Dynamic Earth Online | Online Learning | Scotland
Heritage Heroes Award – Archaeology Scotland Award
https://archaeologyscotland.org.uk/learning/heritage-hero-awards/
Guidance for using the Heritage Hero Awards remotely (award adaptions for lockdown, remote, family learning): https://archaeologyscotland.org.uk/heritage-resources-portal/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/2020/03/Heritage-Hero-Award-remote-.pdf
Heritage Resources Portal, one stop shop for heritage resources from Scottish heritage organisations: https://archaeologyscotland.org.uk/heritage-resources-portal/
National Library Scotland - Maps. For free access to historic maps: https://maps.nls.uk/
Side by side viewer in particular is fantastic as allows direct, georeferenced comparisons between historic and modern maps.
Forestry and Land Scotland heritage/archaeology resources: https://forestryandland.gov.scot/what-we-do/biodiversity-and-conservation/historic-environment-conservation/learning
National Galleries of Scotland
Pastmap https://pastmap.org.uk/
and Canmore https://canmore.org.uk/site/search/result?SITECOUNTRY=0&view=map
fantastic free tools for finding local heritage sites.
Webinar 3:
John Muir Award - Green Team
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4HeumyN7cyoP_gW_NXhDCA
Wildside Nature
https://www.wildsidenature.com/
Royal Botanic Gardens Edinburgh
https://propagatelearning.rbge.ac.uk – enter as a guest.
Scottish Orienteering
- Let’s Get Started Orienteering: This is a set of videos that introduces the basic concepts of orienteering and map skills. It is targeted towards younger children but gives ideas for basic exercises on drawing your own maps, games and activities. It includes accompanying teachers notes and printable resources https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/lets-get-started-orienteering/
- A range of materials for schools and teachers can be accessed from the Resources section of the SOA website. This includes a document with full resources for teaching a block of 5 lessons, as well as other activity ideas.
https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/resources/schoolsteachers/ - British Orienteering also have a pack of introductory orienteering activities, called Tri-O, designed for teaching orienteering to children.
www.britishorienteering.org.uk/images/uploaded/downloads/schools_trio_resources.pdf - For older pupils with a smartphone the MapRunF app is highly recommended. There are now over 200 courses available all across Scotland and it is relatively straight forward to create new courses to use in the app. An interactive map of the location of courses is available on the SOA website along with basic guides on how to use the app and set up new courses.
https://www.scottish-orienteering.org/get-involved/pocs/ - There may be some permanent orienteering courses close to your school that are open and accessible. https://www.britishorienteering.org.uk/pocs
- Some school campuses, and many parks, already have a bespoke orienteering map that will be available for use. Within Edinburgh if you contact your local club to enquire about the availability of maps in your area. The local club will also give you more information about other organised orienteering activities. This link shows you where they are and gives contact details. www.scottish-orienteering.org/get-involved/find-your-local-club
- Recommended text for teachers: Cool, Awesome and Educational, orienteering at school, ages 6-15. issuu.com/byorienteering/docs/cool_book_ages6-15_english_web_final. Scottish Orienteering Association Glenmore Lodge, Aviemore PH22 1QZ info@scottish-orienteering.org
- We have a range of training courses available and are now able to offer some of these in an online format. Contact Denise Martin email denise@scottish orienteering.org for more information. www.scottish-orienteering.org/development/course-list.
