Journey of discovery

The Winston Churchill Trust operates Travelling Fellowships as a living memorial to Sir Winston Churchill. More than 100 awards are made each year to enable UK citizens from all walks of life to travel abroad and bring the benefits of their experience back to the UK.

Juliet's fellowship will enable her to study how technologies are used in an outdoor context. Juliet has recently returned from the first part of her trip. Her travels took her first to Chicago, where he saw technology and sustainability working hand-in-hand at the Garfield Farm Museum, aid a visit to the Fermilab Science & Technology Education Center and met the education co-ordinator of Chicago Wilderness, an umbrella organisation which unites all environmental and outdoor services.

Juliet then travelled to Toronto where she discovered the role that digital technology plays in outdoor programmes through expeditions to Toronto Urban Outdoor Centre and Canadian Ecology Centre. She then met members of the Eco School and School Yard Naturalisation team at Toronto Board of Education.

Finally, Juliet visited schools and nurseries across Seattle which are adopting technology, problem solving and outdoor education techniques to deliver an alternative approach to traditional teaching and learning methods.

Juliet leaves for the second leg of her travels in October 2008, when she is hoping to explore renewable energy technologies and technology that can be taught through outdoor activities.

Although Juliet has yet to decide on an itinerary, this aspect is likely to take her to the Czech Republic and Sweden.

'I'm amazed by how much I have got out of the fellowship so far,' says Juliet. 'Each place I have visited and each person I have met have had a much greater impact than I expected, and I'm thinking much more about the role of technologies within our society and the world in which we live.

'Children learn in different ways – some children love gadgets like mobile phones and others enjoy building and making things. I want to find ways of making the outdoors accessible and appealing to all children.

'I'm looking for simple ideas that can be adapted to enable teachers to take their classes outside for a range of technology activities. This includes subjects as diverse as ICT, craft and design, graphics, engineering, food and textiles. I intend to develop a free downloadable teaching pack which links to Curriculum for Excellence. I strongly believe that learning outdoors enhances the curriculum and increases the scope for creativity.'