Teachers Can Swap Classrooms For Kenfig’s Dunes!

Teachers are being invited to swap their classrooms for sand dunes as a whole new suite of educational materials have been produced to help children learn outdoors at Kenfig National Nature Reserve, and packs are also available for families too. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

In the latest instalment of the Bridgend Outdoor Schools project, Bridgend County Borough Council’s reach rural development team has developed the online resource pack for schools which enables lessons to be taught in an outdoor setting all year round and in all weathers. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Explaining the project further, Councillor Ceri Reeves, the council’s Cabinet Member for Communities, said: “These resources aim to break down the barriers to teaching outdoors by offering a selection of lesson plans and activities that link to the curriculum and the new Welsh Government Literacy and Numeracy Framework. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Rather than learning about the outdoors, the packs are about using the outdoors to learn. For example, the environment and surroundings found at Kenfig can be used as inspiration for art lessons, while a biodiversity survey could be incorporated into an ICT lesson, or the site’s remarkable past could form the basis of a writing or history task.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Reeves added: “The downloadable online packs make it easier for pupils to pick up their magnifying glasses and pond dipping nets to enjoy the many benefits of being in green and natural spaces while learning.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The schools resources can be downloaded from www.naturalneighbourhoods.com, while families can also get their hands dirty by downloading a pack full of outdoor learning activities aimed at them, and additional materials have been produced for students in higher and further education. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Bridgend Outdoor Schools project has been created in partnership by teachers, Bridgend County Borough Council’s reach rural development team, Natural Resources Wales, and educational consultants Think, Learn, Challenge. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The initiative has received funding from Natural Resources Wales and through the Welsh Government Rural Communities – Rural Development Programme 2014-2020, which is funded by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development and the Welsh Government. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Reeves added: “Since it was launched just under two years ago, the innovative Bridgend Outdoor Schools project has made it easier for teachers to educate their pupils in outdoor settings, and I’m sure that these Kenfig-specific materials will prove to be just as popular. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“These resource packs are the latest in a series of exciting improvements at Kenfig which have all been designed to help people get the most from a visit to this special area of conservation. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Other improvements also include new interpretation boards, signage and the wonderful new mural that provides a colourful welcome on the side of the reserve’s visitor centre.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​