Joint Outdoor & Woodland Learning (OWL) Workshop and Network Event

Joint Outdoor & Woodland Learning (OWL) Workshop and Network Event

Welcome to the third Joint OWL Workshop and Network Event run by North Highland, South Highland and West Coast OWL groups. This event is for those who are involved in outdoor education or educators who would like to take a more outdoor approach and need some inspiration to get started (Forest School Leaders, Teachers, Early Years Practitioners, Pupil Support Assistants, Home Educators, Youth Workers- to name a few). Workshops are linked to CfE and count towards CPD hours.

We will gather at the beautiful Dundreggan Rewilding Centre for a day filled with woodland adventure & exploration as you sign up for 2 x 45 minute workshops in the morning and a 2 hour workshop in the afternoon. There will be plenty of networking opportunities to share ideas, approaches, skills and to celebrate the great oudoors and spend time with our more than human kin.

Morning Workshops

Whittling for Beginners - Whittling is an ancient folk art that can be traced back to the stone age and is practiced throughout the world. You will be joining the ranks of great whittlers such as our very own naturalist and conservationalist John Muir. You will learn how to whittle safely and what woods are most sustainable and conducive to this great art. Relax and connect to nature as you learn basic knife skills; how to execute push and pull cuts, stop cut and V cuts to create something beautiful and/or useful from our natural environment.

Felted Pebble Pets - In this fun and hands-on workshop, participants will be making their own pebble pet, which they will be able to take home/ to work/ back to the forest with them at the end of the session.As we make our new pets, we'll discuss and learn the ancient art of wet felting using sheep's wool. Once our pets have been brought to life, we'll explore how they can be used as a starting point and inspiration for play and exploration during forest school sessions, or as part of outdoor learning.

Film Making for Beginners - This filmmaking workshop aims to introduce and encourage mindfulness through actively engaging our five senses whilst in the outdoor world. It will cover some basic filmmaking techniques, such as framing sizes and camera movement, where we will re-frame our surroundings in both analogue and digital ways.

Something from our Countryside Rangers - Waiting to hear what our C.R.s will pull out of their knapsack for our delight...

Afternoon Workshops

Lichens & Fungi - Explore a whole new Kingdom as we discover the unique lives and relationships that form between Lichens and Fungi. Learn about the different ways they obtain their energy and the important role they play in supporting other wildlife and ecosystems. In addition to discussing identification features we will play some activities to make this topic more accessible to children.

Nature Art Therapy - Art therapy is an established form of psychological therapy delivered by trained art therapists / art psychotherapists. It’s designed to help anyone, including those whose life has been affected by adverse experiences, illness or disability, by supporting their social, emotional and mental health needs.

Art therapy can be used by anyone of any cultural background and age (infants and parents, children, young people, adults and older people). Participants are usually interested in what creativity and imagination can offer, but do not need any previous experience in making art.

Y ou will get an introduction to this discipline, and the aim is for you to use basic techniques to use with your classes/groups. You won't become an art therapist from coming to this workshop, but Sarah who is also a teacher and artist herself, will give you some skills to use techniques that you can use with your classes/groups

Gaelic in the Landscape - We will take you on a walk to show how folklore in the landscape is reflected in place names, their meaning and what they can tell us about culture-nature connection. If there's time, we will look at plant and animal names and their culture-nature connections.(TBC)

Forest Bathing Techniques - Forest Bathing, also known as Shinrin Yoku in Japanese, is an evidence- based practice to support wellbeing and health through guided immersive experiences in Forests and other natural settings. Shinrin Yoku are the Japanese characters that translate as 'Forest Shower' or 'Forest Bath' hence referring to an experience in the forest of total immersionDuring the walk I will be offering instructions and practices to help ground ourselves in the present moment. I will also be combining this with invitations for simple sensory opening activities along the way. There will be spacious wander time and reflection time with these invitations alone and a chance to share together within the group.The session is an opportunity to deeply connect in our own way with nature within a guided walk. The walk will be at a slow and gentle pace.Please let me know before the session if there are any individual needs to accommodate so I can offer an appropriate and accessible walk.

We will update the workshops as we get confirmation

Come and be a part of this unique experience at Dundreggan Rewilding Centre!

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Dundreggan Rewilding Centre, Inverness, United Kingdom