Outdoor Connections bulletin: Issue 3, May 2006
Contents
- Newsletter
- Outdoor Connections Development Programme
- Enterprise
- Health
- Sustainable Development
- Consultations
- Funding
- Safety
- Events
- Resources
- General Education News
- Contact
- Subscription Information
Newsletter
This newsletter aims to meet the needs of a very broad audience. As such the format is short tasters with web links to other sources for more information. There is something new and relevant for everyone; however, many will also be familiar with some of the contents. That has been the challenge of making connections and connecting people through this newsletter. Please forward to colleagues. Browse away . . .
Outdoor Connections Development Programme
In late 2004, the Minister for Education and Young People, Peter Peacock, requested that a development programme on outdoor education should be taken forward. SEED invited LT Scotland to undertake this task.
The development programme, Outdoor Connections, is designed to make outdoor connections across a range of current and emerging education priorities and policies, develop research into the current state of outdoor education in Scotland and develop and disseminate resources.
For more information on the Outdoor Connections development programme, email LT Scotland.
enquiries@LTScotland.org.ukEnterprise
St John's Primary in Barrhead launched its Eco-Project in November 2002. The project involved all the pupils in the school in the design and establishment of an area for recreation and wildlife within the playground.
A botanist worked with pupils and staff on this improvement to the school grounds. Further mini-projects were developed on water, waste minimisation and recycling. Funding was received from 'Awards for All' which provides lottery grants for local groups.
http://www.ltscotland.org.uk/enterpriseineducation/sharingpractice/vocational/outdooroccupations/introduction.aspTourism ten year plan
An action plan for Scottish tourism for the next decade will help achieve 50 per cent growth in tourism revenue by 2015.
Scotland Needs a Minister for the Outdoors
A demand for the 'fundamental restructuring' of government departments to meet the needs of outdoor recreation has been made by the Ramblers Association Scotland. The call - complete with a recommendation for a discrete government minister - came from the group's Cameron McNeish at its annual meeting.
New LT Scotland enterprise website
The new Enterprise in Education website is about equiping children and young people with the skills and values to contribute meaningfully to the Scottish economy and society and will prepare them for the role of global citizens of the twenty-first century. The website has resources and guides for teachers including guides for intergrating enterprise into individual subjects. There are also features on enterprising school projects and useful links.
Health
Walking to Health
The Executive has awarded more than £1/2m to Paths to Health - a group which promotes walking as a form of exercise - at the start of National Obesity Awareness Week. Paths to Health co-ordinates over 90 local walking schemes throughout Scotland.
Sustainable Development
Climate Change
The publication by the Scottish Executive on March 30 of Changing Our Ways: Scotland's Climate Change Programme, following a review of the Executive's strategic response to climate change, complementing the UK Programme published on March 28.
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Environment/Climate-Change/16327/5494
Prize rewards greener living
The Eco Prize for Creativity is awarded for a creative work in Scotland that inspires greener lifestyles and environmentally-friendly living. All creative forms are eligible and the winner in each category will receive £1,000. The closing date is 30 June 2006.
New LT Scotland sustainable development website
The new sustainable development website is about improving our wellbeing without jeopardising anyone's opportunities to do the same locally, globally or in the future. It has information on the national picture, the six principles of sustainable development and the key organisations that support it as well as examples of projects in schools that incorporate Sustainable Development approaches.
Consultations
Health services for young people
Delivering a healthy future: An Action Framework for Children and Young People’s Health in Scotland sets out the challenges faced in achieving a healthy future for our children and young people. It looks at the basis for change, and outlines the ways that these proposed changes will be delivered and supported. Health improvement remains one of the top priorities for NHS Scotland and the draft document recommends the local Authorities create 600 Active School Co-ordinators, 400 new PE teachers, and 1,000 new walk leaders in place, to implement Paths to Health and Safe Routes to School.
Cairngorms National Park
The Cairngorms Draft National Park Plan is out for consultation, presenting everyone with an interest in the Park with the opportunity to help shape the future of this special place over the next 25 years.
Funding
Involving People in the Natural Heritage
This grant scheme is administered by Scottish Natural Heritage. It aims to raise awareness and understanding of natural heritage; to increase opportunities for children, young people and adults to actively learn and care about Scotland’s natural heritage through first-hand experience; and to encourage more communities and individuals to get involved in looking after the natural heritage. Applications for less than £10,000 can be submitted at any time.
Sustainable Action Grants 2006–07 to 2008–09
The Executive is now inviting applications for Sustainable Action Grants for projects which will help further the objectives of 'Choosing our Future – Scotland's Sustainable Development Strategy', by making a contribution towards one or more of the following: sustainable communities and learning for sustainable development, sustainable consumption and production; climate change and energy; natural resource protection and environmental enhancement.
Big Lottery Fund
The Young People's Fund in Scotland is a £20 million grant programme to help young people aged 11-25 learn new things and take part in healthy and positive activities that make them feel good about themselves.
Most of the money will be used to fund projects in local areas that address important local issues. It can also be used to fund new ideas or projects that cover more than one local authority area, involving groups of young people who share common concerns, experiences or issues. Groups can apply for grants ranging between £5,000 and £1 million, spread over one to four years.
http://www.biglotteryfund.org.uk/programmes/ypfs/index.htmBig Lottery Active Futures
Awards totalling more than £3m have been distributed to groups across Scotland in the latest funding from the Big Lottery Fund's Active Futures programme, aimed at tackling poor health and encouraging more sport amongst young people.
Safety
School Minibuses
The DfES statement, Licensing Incidental Drivers of the School Minibus, has been agreed by DfES ministers.
New Community Transport Association Magazine
The CTA has relaunched its magazine, the CTA Journal. It will promote how the voluntary and community sector is developing local transport solutions to national concerns. The mag comes out six times a year and is set to tackle a range of policy issues, carrying news and features. The first issue carries analysis on full cost recovery, responses on EU legislation and the concessionary fare schemes being unveiled around the country.
Safe start young film maker competition
The European Agency for Safety and Health at Work are inviting young people to create a short documentary, drama, TV commercial, news report, music, animation - whatever gets the message out about safety and health at work. Producers are encouraged to interpret the brief as widely as possible. The producers of the best three films will be awarded the title of "Safe Start ... European Young Film Maker of the Year", and invited to an Awards Ceremony in Bilbao, Spain, in March 2007.
Events
It's a Toddle for June
A target of £1m has been set for this year's Barnardo's Big Toddle which takes place in June; the giant UK-wide fundraiser is now in its 10th year. John Watson at Barnardo's said: "This year the Big Toddle is all about fun and encouraging play for under-fives, so we are expecting lots of fancy dress, children's entertainment and experiences at the Toddles."
General Teaching Council Scotland National Lecture Series 2006
The GTCS continues its national lecture series in June 2006 with Lord David Puttnam of Queensgate CBE, internationally renowned film maker and producer. As President of UNICEF UK, he now plays a key advocacy role on behalf of children’s rights all over the world and will be speaking on the theme: ‘Children all over the world are being denied a very basic right: The right to a childhood.’ Free tickets to the lecture, which will be held in the National Museum of Scotland on June 13th, are available from the GTCS
Outdoor Connections National 'Over the doorstep' Event 2007
Watch this space!
Resources
Stress and Anxiety in Teenagers CD:ROM and website
This newly launched website uses animation, sound and the spoken word to explore the issues around stress and anxiety and give simple advice. While targeted at young people, the resource will also be useful for family, teachers, mental health professionals, voluntary sector workers and social workers who support them.
CBBC Springwatch
This BBC site is calling on budding scientists to help spot the first signs of spring.
Planet Earth Explorer
Take a spin around the globe with the BBC's Planet Earth Explorer and explore the wild and beautiful in the most extreme and remote corners of the world. The broadband video player requires Flash 8.
Ministry of Defence
An MOD Public access website has been set up. It explains how statutory access rights apply to most Ministry of Defence land in Scotland and also promotes specially attractive walks, as at Castle Law in the Pentlands.
General Education News
Scottish Parliament report on pupil motivation
The Scottish Parliament Education Committee has published a report following its inquiry into the issues affecting pupil motivation. Among its recommendations, the report, Pupil Motivation, calls for greater parity between academic and vocational courses and greater emphasis on recognition of achievements outside of school.
A Curriculum for Excellence: Progress and Proposals
A Curriculum for Excellence was published in November 2004 following the National Debate on education in Scotland. It set out, for the first time, values, purposes and principles for the curriculum 3 to 18 for all children and young people. This latest publication, Progress and Proposals, includes an outline timetable and more detail on the results of the review process so far, including a rationale for science.
Research backs out-of-school learning
A new Teaching and Learning Research Programme (TLRP) publication, Improving teaching and learning in schools, discusses a wide range of issues. Included in its ten evidence-informed principles is the fact that “informal learning, such as learning out of school, should be recognised as being at least as significant as formal learning and should be valued and used in formal processes.”
Another TLRP publication, Science Education in Schools, makes solid, evidence-informed proposals for improving UK science education. It states that out-of-classroom contexts can improve the learning of science and proposes that systematic efforts must be made to increase out-of-school activity in the learning of science.
http://www.tlrp.org/pub/documents/TLRP_Science_Commentary_FINAL.pdfContact
Learning and Teaching Scotland
The Optima
58 Robertson Street
Glasgow
G2 8DU
Tel: Customer Services 08700 100297
E-mail: Enquiries at enquiries@ltscotland.org.uk
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