Yester Primary Blog June 23, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Berwick Law, Outdoor Learning, Scrambling, Yester Primary School , add a comment
I have been checking out the fantastic Yester Primary P7 Blog . They have an intesting blog on their visit to Benmore. Great to see schools blogging about their outdoor learning experiences. I was surprised to find the photographs that class teacher took with his phone on our scrambling days on Berwick Law with the P5’s a couple of weeks ago. These images are just fantastic, if there was ever pictures needed to advertise the use of outdoor learning to promote team cohesion and challenge these are the ones. As Mr Purves points out in the blog the P5’s day on Berwick Law is a great warm up for future Benmore trips but it also helps to build confident individuals who can see the value of working together to achieve in a fun way using the local East Lothian environment
A site to add to the blog roll and I will keep reading the blog with interest. Look forward to working with the P5’s next year.
Sunset on Loch Ard on the Longest Day. June 23, 2007
Posted by Bill in : Duke of Edinburgh Awards, Outdoor Learning, Preston Lodge High School , add a comment
Silver Duke of Edinburgh practice with a group from Preston Lodge High School involved Canoeing on Loch Ard in a variety of conditions . We had glorious sunshine and flat calm water followed by thunder and lightning in the evening (We hastily sheltered on a crannog to get out of the storm!). The day then finished with beautiful sunshine around 10′oclock followed by a superb sunset, all accompanied by the dreaded midge. Perfect conditions on the second day for canoeing included a trip to discover Rob Roy’s Cave on the paddle home. The PL pupils paddling is improving and with further training will complete an expedition in September. The expedition provided the pupils with an opportunity to brush up on their canoeing skills as well as campcraft required for wild camping. I look forward to helping the group plan their final expedition.
Trips like these remind me of the many beautiful spots that can be reached in relative ease from East Lothian. We are lucky to have such unlimited access to these areas and highlights the need for us to follow the access code. We found lots of evidence of poor camping and usage in the area (i.e. litter, inconsiderate use of fires, waste management). I think the group very much recognised the impact such of poor consideration has and the need for more sensitive use. I think they might have enjoyed the trip too- although they were not to keen on a photo opportunity after a night of wild camping and no facilities!
* Girls please leave your comments I will pass the rest of Photos to Mr Kiernan on disc - see you in September *
