The OWL Adventure Days at Bathwick St Mary Church School in Bath are proving to be a huge success.
‘OWL’ stands for Outdoor Woodland Learning, and children have loved the sessions, which started at the start of this year, so much the school has ensured that they are part of the ongoing creative and rich curriculum that all children enjoy.
Up until this year, the school’s woodland area had never been open to the children. However, with the help of enthusiastic staff, governors and a very active and supportive group of parents, headteacher Kevin Purkiss has ensured that this valuable space has been transformed into an outdoor learning resource.
The woodland area features it own pond, base camp and fire-pit area, helping children to develop a host of skills including collaboration, resilience, and a love of the outdoors and the nature. Every week, under the passionate leadership of Forest School Leader Sian Evans, children are building dens, planting (and climbing!) trees, pond dipping, creating outdoor art installations, learning to properly use saws and other equipment and safely light fires.
Kevin explained, “At Bathwick, we are so fortunate to have our own woodland area on site. Children love being outdoors in the fresh air, eating picnics in the wood, toasting marshmallows and apple sticks, and cooking on the open fire, problem solving in the natural environment and learning new skills. Learning and fun does not just take place in the classroom at our creative and welcoming school!”
