Outdoor Learning Inspires Leaders of the Future

003   After the success of last years Outdoor Learning leadership training, another team of S6 pupils from Lasswade High School took part in a team building exercise.  The group made up of the Head boy, Head Girl and four deputes took part in tasks designed around the activity of canoeing.

They spent two days training to enable them to plan and organise an overnight canoe trip.  This took place in June 2016 at Whiteadder reservoir and St Marys Loch led by teachers Sean Fallon and Eoin Keane from the Midlothian Councils Outdoor Learning services.  After an action 009packed 2 days of training the group set about planning an expedition along the Union Canal from the Falkirk Wheel to Ratho Bridge.  This took place in August 2016 with extra support from  three members of staff from the school Mr Marr, Mr Murray and Mr Dinwoodie.

005It was a rewarding see the pupils develop their individual skills and learn how they can then contribute to a team aim.  Well done all involved.  All pupils were awarded with a 1 star British Canoe Union certificate in recognition of their hard work and effort.

 

To find out more about how Outdoor Learning could inspire your pupils please get in touch with us by clicking-  HERE.

Mid Bike Festival 2016 Powers into Action

Limbo bars IMG_9438

Wheelie good IMG_9622There were 165 red smiling faces after competing in the various cycling activities at the inaugural Midlothian Primary Schools Mountain Bike Festival.   Riders in Primary 6 and 7 proudly represented their schools.  90 riders competed in the XC course and 75 in the skills event, all showing great skill and enthusiasm for the sport. 
The organiser Sean Fallon a teacher from the Midlothian  Council Outdoor Learning Service would like to thank all the school staff and participants for taking part in difficult conditions with great sprit and showing massive amounts of energy.  
This event would not have been possible without the tremendous support of our partners from Sustrans, Midlothian Active School, Beeslack High School, Midlothian Mountain Bike Club , Scottish Cycling and the Midlothian School Travel Plan Co-ordinator.  A big thanks to you all!
We were very fortunate to have a large number of prizes donated thanks to our sponsors from Halfords Straiton, Sustrans, Transgression park and Midlothian Council. 
Group goodie bag IMG_9558
Competitors with Goodie bags from sponsors

Gordon Burt (Midlothian I-bike officer) would like to add that this was”a great way to get schools together for a bike festival. This was a magnificent effort by all.”

THE RESULTS

TEAM RESULTS – Combined XC and Skills Events
Roslin                 1st
Loanhead          2nd
Paradykes         3rd
Lasswade          4th
Lawfield            5th
Sacred Heart    6th
St Matthews     Not a full team.
Individual Results Skills Course
School Class Name Time Boy/Girl Individual ranking
Loanhead 6 Kyle mcclay 00:54.1 Boys 1st
Roslin 6 David Hulton 00:59.4 Boys 2nd
Loanhead 6  Max wyllie 01:00.1 Boys 3rd
Roslin 6 Evie Black 1:02.17 Girls 1st
Loanhead 6 Kirstie Lang 01:03.0 Girls 2nd
Loanhead 6 Eliza Ralph 01:03.1 Girls 3rd
Sacred Heart 7 Ross Bryant 00:51.1 Boys 1st
Loanhead 7 Ryan turner 00:54.1 Boys 2nd
St Matthews 7 Callum Myers 00:59.6 Boys 3rd
Loanhead 7 Lana Kennedy 01:01.0 Girls 1st
Roslin 7 Mia Gray 1:02.47 Girls 2nd
Paradykes 7 Ellie Cummings 1:05.19 Girls 3rd
 Overall boys winner IMG_9451   XC action IMG_9513
Individual Results XC Course
School Class Name Time Boy/Girl Individual rankings
Roslin 6 David Hulton 2.49.00 Boy 1st
Lawfield 6 Dylan Kenny 2.59.93 Boy 2nd
Loanhead 6 Cameron Cairncross 3.05.94 Boy 3rd
Roslin 6 Evie Black 2.50.60 Girl 1st
Sacred Heart 6 Isabel Bovo 3.01.28 Girl 2nd
Paradykes 6 Kayleigh Gordon 3.18.09 Girl 3rd
Sacred Heart 7 Ross Bryant 2.30.19 Boy 1st
Paradykes 7 Euan Walkingshaw 2.40.88 Boy 2nd
Lasswade 7 Josh 2.54.21 Boy 3rd
Tynewater 7 Verity Kinch 3.04.16 Girl 1st
Loanhead 7 Yasmine Foreman 3.15.37 Girl 2nd
Lasswade 7 Jessica Thomson 3.17.00 Girl 3rd
A FULL list of results can be found here –  Mid Bike festival 2016 results.
 500m Sprint challenge Mike IMG_9455
500m Sprint Challenge
P6  Girl-Amy Robertson-33.9-Loanhead
P6 Boy-Fergus Jones-34.0-Paradykes
 
P7 Girl-Yasmin Foreman-31.6-Loanhead
P7 Boy-Calum Evans-32.2-Paradykes
 
Honourable mentions to Elena Clark 32.0-Lasswade and
Verity Kinch-31.8-Tynewater
WELL DONE TO ALL RIDERS:)
A certificate for all riders can be printed by clicking here >>  Participants certificate Bike Fest 2016.
If you would like to cycle more please get in touch with your local club the Midlothian Cycle Club.
The Outdoor Learning team will again be organising our very popular Discover Mountain Bike sessions in 2016-17 .  Information on last years discover event can be found HERE.

Discover Orienteering 750 Pupils Find Success

Penicuik 26.5.11 (1)Discover orienteering has continued to be a very popular outdoor learning event with around 750 pupils developing their knowledge and skills. These sessions took place at various parks across Midlothian during November 2015 and March 2016.  Pupils in Primary 5 and 6 participated from 12 different schools.

During the sessions the pupils and staff learned transferable orienteering skills such as setting the map, feature identification, scale and route planning.  The learners all used Midlothian Outdoor Learning Services sportident computerised system to complete 6 different orienteering courses.   This helped to increase their IT knowledge and allow theIronmills 5.11.15 application of new learning through the use of technologies.

The results of the discover orienteering series and information on future events are now available HERE.

There are a few things Learners and school staff could do to develop your skills further –

(1) Access the free resource called “tri-O” published by British Orienteering which anyone can use to develop orienteering skills.

( 2) In addition to this our Outdoor Learning team regularly go into schools to support the curriculum through orienteering, so if you wish to benefit from this curriculum support and you work in a school please get in touch

(3) Join a local club such as Edinburgh Southern orienteering club (ESOC).

(4) Take part in the Mid/East orienteering festival on the 4th of May 2016 at Vogrie Country park. Book via your school.

(5) Enter the Scottish Schools event on Friday June 3rd 2016, at Dalkeith Country Park.

(6) Staff can go on a course to get qualified as a teacher of orienteering.

We would like to thank all the pupils for taking part in an enthusiastic and energetic way. Many thanks equally to the school staff and parent volunteers for helping to make our events such a great success. Finally a special thank you to the members of ESOC who gave up their time to share their expertise. All much appreciated by the teachers in outdoor learning team.

ESOC

Midlothian Primary School Bike Festival 2016

banner 2 web

This year sees a new and exciting addition to the Primary Schools Outdoor Learning Calendar.  The Midlothian Primary Schools Bike Festival 2016 is designed for pupils in P6 and P7 and it is the first time this event has been organised in the area.  The venue being used is Beeslack High School where we are utilising their purpose built cycle track as part of the cross country competition.   It is taking place on the 14th of June during National Bike Week.   The Midlothian Council Outdoor Learning Service are delighted to be managing the event in partnership with local and national organisations.  We are expecting this event to be very popular and our  aim is that all the pupils and staff have a fun challenging day learning more about cycling and achieving success by developing their skills.  How to enter and other useful information can be found HERE.

Please get in touch with Sean Fallon (Teacher of Outdoor Learning) if you have any queries.

Contact: Email – sean.fallon@Midlothian.gov.uk   OR   Tel 01968 664117.

We look forward to seeing lots of learners and staff at the event.

CATB 2015 (4)                          Good balance                          untitled

Discover                                             Develop                                              Achieve

Primary Pupils Discover Orienteering

Penicuik 26.5.11 (1)

During November the Midlothian Council Outdoor Learning team led another successful series of Discover orienteering sessions (formerly know as “come and try orienteering”).   These sessions took place in Ironmills and Penicuik Parks where almost 300 pupils in primary 5 and 6 participated from St Davids, Kings Park, Cuiken, Strathesk and Mauricewood schools.

During the sessions the pupils and staff learned transferable orienteering skills such as setting the map, feature identification, scale and route planning.  The learners all used our sport ident computerised system to complete 6 different orienteering courses which helped to increase their knowledge and application of new technologies.

The results of the November discover orienteering series and information on future events are now available HERE.

 

 

During the events we had a chance to talk to lots of  pupils, staff and volunteers and many were very keen to learn more about this fun and challenging sport.  There are a few things you could do to develop your skills further –

(1) Access the free resource called “tri-O” published by British Orienteering which anyone can use to develop orienteering skills.

( 2) In addition to this our Outdoor Learning team regularly go into schools to support the curriculum through orienteering, so if you work in a school please get in touch if you wish to benefit from this curriculum support.

(3) Join a local club such as Edinburgh Southern orienteering club (ESOC).

(4) Take part in the Mid/East orienteering festival on the 4th of May 2016 at Vogrie Country park. Book via your school.ESOC

 

We would like to thank all the pupils for taking part in an enthusiastic and energetic way. Many thanks equally to the school staff and parent volunteers for helping to make our events such a great success. Finally a special thank you to the members of ESOC who gave up their time to share their expertise. All much appreciated by the teachers in outdoor learning team.