It is widely accepted that unstructured outdoor play improves children’s physical and emotional development, mental well being, social skills and opportunities for creative learning.

Between 2006 and 2008 almost eighty nature kindergartens were developed in schools in Fife where children go out into woodland, forest or foreshore on a regular basis.

This half-day workshop will be facilitated by Chris Miles, who was instrumental in developing this initiative in Fife and who was recently awarded an MBE for services to Education and Young People. At the end of the day participants will go home determined to make something happen, and confident of their ability to do it!

• gain some philosophical background to children and nature
• explore some of the perceived barriers to taking children into nature
• understand the role of the outdoors in growing imagination and resourcefulness
• get practical ideas on how to get started
• examine the role of the adult.