Knox S5/6 in the Cairngorms (+ Podcast from the Corrie) February 27, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Cairngorms, Experiential Learning, Knox Academy, Outdoor Learning, Winter Skills, podcast , 1 comment so far
Liz and I worked with a group from Knox Academy at the weekend. The group was put together by Miss Jenny Duff who is VERY proactive in getting the pupils out on Outdoor Education experiences. I know (as with many other schools) if we doubled the schools allocated\days from the service they would all be used.
The pupils at the weekend worked very hard on the hills - we had to hunt a little bit for snow. Still enough to take the pupils through some basic skills for winter walking and safety before setting out on the hills in the winter.Some pupils above in their bucket seats and practising lower off/abseil. More snow needed in the corries but it is getting colder again, see;
Direct link to Cairngorm Weather conditions.
http://www.phy.hw.ac.uk/resrev/weather.htm
Lack of snow didn’t really detract from the experience as there was still much for us to do. I also had a few opportunities to get a podcast together.
You can here some of the pupils’ views on the weekend on the podcast (the one that actually recorded!!). I’m still getting used to using space on the web and have to work out how to link the file to my page properly however if you click on the link below then scroll down to Cairngorm podcast it should play. Will be out with Dunbar pupils in a couple of weeks so will try another podcast then and perhaps with Adult CPD course this weekend.
http://www.esnips.com/doc/97336e0f-f84b-4274-a21f-d2ca8aaee3b0/Cairngorm-Podcast
Knox S5/6 Please leave your comments by clicking the comments link.
Innerwick Web Site - Marketing continues…… February 19, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Innerwick Outdoor Centre, Outdoor Learning , 7comments
I have started putting together a website to help market the Innerwick Outdoor Centre.
http://www.innerwickoutdoorcentre.ik.org/
This is as a result of past and present discussions and as a result of looking at the marketing (see earlier post). Have also put link on the site for pdf flyer - just updating the previous flyer with a view to sending out again. I Can see a need to market the centre to various curriculum departments for use as a field centre/study base, however their may also be a need to address teaching staff willingness to run residential trips?. Great chat with Ewan Macintosh http://edu.blogs.com/edublogs/ too (thanks Ewan). As a result has got the brain working on other ways to market. Ewans knowledge of using It as a tool have been very useful -will hope to visit a group at the centre soon to get some podcasts on their thoughts on the centre and the activities they have been taking part in.
I intend the website to have just plain concise information and images on the centre and when time allows make more information on local amenities and teaching facilities, i.e. natural environment, archeology, mueseums (John MuirBirthplace for example), activities available in area. I suspect that much of the customer base will continue to come from out of the authority and perhaps much of our marketing could be directed towards that end. I do worry that we are perhaps thinking too small, could be an ideal link with American Schools i.e. John Muir link. Also a need to update links to directories that Innerwick is mentioned in. Alastair (PT) spent a lot of time in the past on this. A quick google search and an update email to all should cover most of it.More on this later once the website is complete, however feel free to use the link and read the flyer and make comments.
Social Blogging..Social Climbing? February 8, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Climbing Wall, Outdoor Learning , 4comments
Fantastic new climbing wall facility is underway at Foresters Park in Tranent. We had a site visit today to check it out. It looks fantastic so far. Although not as large as those available in Edinburgh i.e. Alien Rock ( http://www.alienrock.co.uk/) or Ratho Adventure Centre (currently closed?).The wall is 8m high in places and will provide an excellent venue for climbing courses and skill development. Naturally we have loads of ideas on the use of the wall but I guess we will have to await the openeing before we can build into programmes for next year. It will certainly be offered for use for schools and for use in our school allocations. It will also be very handy for the CPD courses and adult education courses that we run.
Innerwick Marketing February 7, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Innerwick Outdoor Centre, Marketing, Outdoor Learning , 2comments
I have been busy looking at ways to try and market Innerwick Outdoor Centre.(see www.eloe.ik.org) Its a residential only centre, mainly used by school and community groups.
We have just had lottery grant that aided the renovation and upgrading. Bookings are coming in but still a need to get it running up to capacity. Great however to re-visit the marketing mix. The 4P’s are always tough to mix for success. Or is it the 5 P’s I.e. Product, promotion, price, place (and people). It’s a good model to work from and most organisations seem to use it (Including East Lothian Council). I do feel its a little simplified and I believe designed in the early days of Marketing and aimed at physical products. It is a great tool however to get the mind focusing on strategies for developing the product.I am a little concerned that I won’t be able to apply enough time to the project- but I will give it my best shot in the time available.
“Vision Express” February 6, 2007
Posted by Bill in : A Curriculum for Excellence, Experiential Learning, Outdoor Learning, Vision , add a comment
In the dark days of February The outdoor team has a bit more time to discuss and plan. We have been looking at the East Lothian Outdoor Education Service Strategy. Its up for renewal - reworking i.e. our last business plan and strategy document covered the period 2004-2007. As with all organisations we got hung up on the “what should our vision statement communicate about our organisation?” question. How do we convey what we are doing and what we will continue to improve on in one statement? And is it actually a vision statement (future) or a mission statement? (present).
Here is what we came up with:
“East Lothian Council’s Outdoor Education service provides high quality, safe, reliable and sustainable outdoor learning opportunities. The service promotes progressive, experiential learning, responding to the needs of East Lothians Schools and the wider community”
The major changes being that we have ditched the “will provides.. ” (as we do and will continue), adventure ( as outdoor learning we feel covers all that and more!). we have added “progressive” - to try and explain that we are moving towards and building more developmental style courses but still appreciating a use for taster style sessions. The last sentance should convey our need to develop and grow with the needs of the community which involves adapting to new initiatives i.e. A Curriculum for Excellence & political change.
All we have to do now is build the strategy…..and put it down on paper.
