In Our Element

In Our Element

'In Our Element', a one-day conference on creative learning in the outdoors, took place at the Northmoor Trust in Oxfordshire on 12 June 2009.  The event was attended by over 80 teachers, creative practitioners and environmental educators from across the Thames Valley and beyond.

The conference brought together two very current educational agendas:  creativity and outdoor learning.  Schools are increasingly concentrating on the development of pupils' creative intelligence, and at the same time there is growing concern over the lack of opportunities for children to spend time in natural surroundings.  'In Our Element' explores the notion that green spaces can be highly effective creativity classrooms. 

 

 

Venue:

The Northmoor Trust is based in South Oxfordshire and manages an estate of 300 hectares, including Little Wittenham Nature Reserve and Wittenham Clumps, a conservation farm, a woodland dedicated to forestry research and Project Timescape, the Trust's visitor centre. www.northmoortrust.co.uk

 

Conference overview

The key-note speaker was Susan Humphreys MBE, environmental learning consultant and founding Head Teacher of the influential Coombes School in Berkshire, where extensive use is made of the school grounds.  A trustee of the Learning Through Landscapes Trust, Susan received an MBE in 1995, and in 1999 was awarded an Honorary Master's Degree of the Open University for services to education.  She is a writer for the educational press and the co-author of five books describing the unique philosophy of the Coombes School.

 

Case studies and the plenary were led by Anne Brown with presentations from:

Priory School (Paul Rowley, Yr 6 teacher & Pippa North, artist), Holmer Green (teacher, David Reeves) Godolphin Infant (Teacher, Chloe Hobson), Park House (Joe Slevin CP school cord), Frontiers (provider of alternative education service outdoors in Berkshire- Jon Berry)

Conference workshops took place at different outdoor locations within the woods, fields and arboretum of the Northmoor Trust.  The workshops were led by:

• Robert Jarvis, composer and sound artist, on developing perception as a stimulus to creation www.robertjarvis.co.uk
• Martin Prothero, visual artist, on creative dialogue with nature www.martinprothero.com
• Andy Noble, bushcraft practitioner and instructor, on the creativity of survival www.naturescraft.co.uk
• Nan Pratt of the Wildlife Trusts, on Forest Schools and outdoor curriculum design
• Duncan McAfee, artist and poet, on creative writing and sonic environment www.themmpress.com

 

Conference bookmarks

An online resource for creative learning in the outdoors has been set up at, www.delicious.com/inourelement.  All delegates are invited to add to this list, so that together we build a significant shared resource for anyone interested in children's outdoor creativity.