Key organisations in Scotland

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority

The Adventure Activities Licensing Authority inspects activity centres and other activity providers on behalf of the Department for Education and Skills (DfES). If the Licensing Authority is satisfied that the provider complies with nationally accepted standards of good practice they issue a licence.

Association of Heads of Outdoor Education Centres

The Association for Heads of Outdoor Education Centres website provides information to young people, teachers and parents on the opportunities for residential visits to outdoor education centres across the whole of the UK, including the 12 centres in Scotland.

The Council for Scottish Archaeology

CSA works to promote the use of archaeology as a tool for learning. It provides information and access to resources as well as organising workshops for schools. The CSA website also provides information on excavations and places of archaeological interest in your area.

BSES Expeditions

BSES Expeditions (British Schools Exploring Society) is a youth development charity which aims to provide young people with inspirational, challenging scientific expeditions to remote, wild environments and so develop their confidence, teamwork, leadership and spirit of adventure and exploration.

Forest Education Initiative

The Forest Education Initiative aims to increase young people's understanding of the importance of trees, forest and woodlands. Through its network of local groups, it supports local projects by providing teaching packs on trees and forests, information on local sites and help with developing woodland settings in school grounds.

Forestry Commission Scotland

The Forestry Commission Scotland serves as the forestry department of the Scottish Executive, advising on and implementing forestry policy and managing the national forest estate.

Eco Schools Scotland

The Eco Schools programme is an international initiative designed to encourage whole-school action for the environment. It is an environmental management tool, learning resource and recognised award scheme. The programme provides lots of resource materials and ideas to make sustainable development a part of the life and ethos of your school.

Experiential educators in Europe

Grounds for Learning

Grounds for learning is the Scottish school grounds charity. They help schools and early years settings to develop high quality grounds and the skills to use them as an effective educational resource that can deliver across all aspects of a Curiculum for Excellence. They can offer support through trained and accredited professional advisors, web-based resources, CPD training for teachers, a free newsletter every term, a telephone helpline, resources by post and a free resource pack to help with participation in Scottish School Grounds Week which takes place in June each year.

Historic Scotland

Historic Scotland safeguards Scotland's rich historic environment. Its education arm offers curriculum-based activities for schools as well as training and workshops in conservation and rangers services which support visits to Holyrood Park and Linlithgow Peel.

Institute for Outdoor Learning

The Institute for Outdoor Learning offers information and guidance for those taking part in outdoor and adventure activities.

Met Office

The Met Office offers a range of weather forecasting services, with specialist services for mountain areas in Britain and snow reports from across Europe.

National Trust for Scotland Education

The National Trust for Scotland Education website offers support and guidance to anyone organising educational visits to any of the Trust's properties. It also has pages aimed at students and pupils.

Royal Highland Education Trust

The Royal Highland Education Trust is a charity which works to encourage children in Scotland to learn more about the countryside. One of the Trust's key activities is organising farm visits for schools.

Scottish Advisory Panel for Outdoor Education

The aims of the Panel are to act as a representative voice on matters relating to outdoor education, and to safety in outdoor activities. This is achieved by identifying and promoting good practice in outdoor education, monitoring change and trying to ensure that developments in this sphere proceed along sound educational lines, and offering informed and authoritative advice on education in the outdoors and on the safe management of outdoor activities, at both local and national level.

Scottish Natural Heritage

The task of Scottish Natural Heritage is to secure the conservation and enhancement of Scotland's unique and precious natural heritage - the wildlife, the habitats and the landscapes which have evolved in Scotland through the long partnership between people and nature.

Sportscotland

Sportscotland provides links to all adventure activity governing bodies and centres, and includes information on coaching schemes, training courses and codes of practice.

The Woodland Trust

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading woodland conservation charity. By acquiring sites and campaigning for woodland, the Trust aims to conserve, restore and re-establish native woodland to its former glory. Currently it owns and cares for over 1,000 woods, covering over 50,000 acres.