This September foster carers and children in their care came together to learn about and experience the great outdoors in Northern Ireland, with the aim that they will become 'wild about outdoor learning', ably led by Monica and James from the Fostering Attainment and Achievement team.
Session 1 enthused the foster and kinship carers, while their children were at school, to build up their confidence, consider the benefits of outdoor learning experiences and get ideas on simple, but great outdoor activities. The foster and kinship carers threw themselves into hammock and tarp building as well as learning some simple, but handy knots to help the proceedings.
In Session 2 the foster and kinship carers had the opportunity the try out their newfound, or in some cases refreshed, outdoor skills with the children they care for. Everyone had a great time swinging in the hammocks, building animal dens, bark rubbing, minibeast hunt, foraging in the undergrowth and much, much more - it was a packed morning of activities! The session finished around the campfire with melted marsh mallows and smores - what could be better?
Wild About Learning rounded up with the foster and kinship carers returning in session 3 to reflect on the sessions, but moreover on the journey they had personally taken to enthuse themselves about the benefits of outdoor learning and having this experience within a mini community of foster and kinship carers.
The big idea behind the programme had been to send the adults away with the ideas and resources to increase the likelihood that they would want to provide the children they care for with more opportunity the play and learn in nature. It was clearly event from their enthusiasm that this had been very much achieved!
