‘Pick & Mix’ – Woodland Play Days

Date: Every Wednesday throughout the summer holidays – 25^th July, 1^st, 8^th, 15^th, 22^nd, 29^th August 2012.

Time: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Location: Holt Hall Environmental and Outdoor Learning Centre, Holt, Norfolk

Cost: £40 per child per day or £200 for all 6 days

Description:

Join Belladonna Bushcraft and Birchwood Learning this summer every Wednesday in the wonderful woods of Holt Hall Outdoor Centre for days of discovery!

The Woodland play days are designed for unaccompanied children aged 8 – 13 years old.

The sessions aim to support children to explore the natural world, develop awareness of themselves, others and the world around them, create and play using natural materials and feel secure and comfortable in a natural woodland setting. The focus is to encourage children to develop their own ideas and ‘pick & mix’ the activities to build their skills and understanding. We will support the children to develop their outdoor skills and support them to apply their skills through play. Skills introduced will depend on the children’s interests but may include;

• Keeping safe & healthy in the outdoors.
• Useful knots and lashings to make structures or items.
• Making and using fire sensitively.
• Using hand tools to make craft items.
• Nature Awareness & observation.
• Games and puzzles.

Examples of the way children may chose and can be supported to use these skills include; building dens, making rope swings or rope walks, making woodland jewellery, whittling sticks, making charcoal in the fire and using it to sketch, making clay monsters/people/tree faces, making leaf crowns/mobiles, collecting wild foods and cooking on the fire, using a storm kettle or billy can to boil water and make hot chocolate, light a fire using a ‘dragons sneeze’ (fire steel), tracking animals, play stalking games, make woodland instruments and much much more!

We believe that these play experiences are most effective when provided to small groups, therefore these days will have a maximum of 16 children attending each day.

Domestics:
We will work from our home camp within the woods for the majority of the day. We will have a simple parachute shelter and use campfires to make hot drinks and snacks. Although we will not be using any buildings during the day, there is access to toilets, handwashing facilities and drinking water. Children will need to bring a packed lunch and water bottle for the day, although snacks and drinks will be available throughout the day. As we will be spending all day outside, children will need to bring appropriate clothing and footwear. Please see below for a kit list to help you plan your day.

Provider Information:
These days are provided by Louise- ‘Birchwood Learning’ and Martin- ‘Belladonna Bushcraft’ plus supporting staff. All staff are experienced outdoors practitioners and are fully qualified Forest School Leaders. Martin and Louise are also qualified bushcraft instructors and Louise is also a qualified teacher.

All staff are trained in outdoor first aid, have a current CRB check and child protection training.

If you would like further information about any of our policies and/or procedures for any of the activities described above please do contact us.

Location:
Holt Hall Outdoor Learning Centre is owned by Norfolk County Councils’ Childrens Services and is a residential centre for schools to visit and undertake outdoor learning. We will be using a patch of their woodland for the sessions.

Please visit Holt Hall’s website for a map and further information here.

What’s there?
We will be working from our home camp within the woods for most of the day. We will have a simple shelter and use campfires to make hot drinks and snacks throughout the day. Although we will not be using any buildings during the day, there is access to flushing toilets, handwashing facilities and drinking water.

Booking:
Download a booking form here.

Please note that a deposit is required to secure your booking – please see booking form.

Please view our Terms and Conditions before booking here.

Kit List for ‘Pick & Mix’.

If you have any questions please contact us.