Outdoor Learning

Outdoor Learning Inspires Leaders of the Future

seanfallon Outdoor Learning, Sean Fallon

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.

Discover Outdoor Learning

billstephen Bill Stephen, Events, Learning and Teaching, Outdoor Learning
discover-orienteering
Click here for Session Dates, Times & how to book.

In addition to our Outdoor Learning programmes arranged directly with schools,  this year we will be running again our successful and amazingly popular Discover Outdoor Leaning days aimed at Primary schools to encourage more of our classes to learn outdoors. Last year an amazing 1350 Midlothian pupils attended these sessions, and many (500+) progressed on to attend our  Orienteering festival and Biking festival)

Our Discover Outdoor Learning Sessions this year are aimed at ;

The information booklet available here (Or click on the picture)  gives all the details you need to book and attend as well as links to further information regarding curriculum links and further participation as well as  the;

  • Midlothian Orienteering Festival 2017
  • Midlothian Mountain Biking Festival 2017

discover-bikingPlease contact the named Outdoor Learning Teacher as per the booklet if you wish to arrange attendance at one of these popular advertised sessions.

We look forward to seeing you all in 2016-17 year for some exciting Discover Outdoor Learning Days.

Midlothian Schools Italian Snowsports Trip Easter 2017 Ski Aosta 2017

billstephen Bill Stephen, Outdoor Learning, Ski

Outdoor Learning – Midlothian Schools Italian Snowsports Trip Easter 2017 Ski Aosta 2017

On Saturday 1st April 2017 The Outdoor Learning service will be leaving for the AOSTA valley in Northern Italy.

Click on image for poster
Click on image for poster

The visit using INTERSKI  and qualified Midlothian leaders and volunteers includes 6 days of snowsports and includes 4 hours of instruction per day, equipment hire, transport, half board accommodation & snack lunch. Evening activities and insurance are also included

Aimed at our Primary and Secondary pupils this visit is an excellent opportunity for those pupils wishing to increase their skiing skills that they may have experienced through the after school, and schools ski programmes through active Schools and Midlothian Ski centre at Hillend

There are still a number of limited spaces available. For more details on the visit and how to get involved you can download the ski visit brochure below that gives wider information on the visit and also the poster if you wish to advertise within your school

Please contact Bill Stephen on 01968 664043  or email william.stephen@midlothian.gov.uk if you are interested in joining us.

Information brochure on Ski Aosta 2017
Click on image for Information brochure on Ski Aosta 2017

We will be hosting an information evening for those already booked and others interested in joining this amazing opportunity on the 5th October 2016 at 7pm at Penicuik High School – Come and join us and find out more.

Mid Bike Festival 2016 Powers into Action

seanfallon Events, Outdoor Learning, Sean Fallon

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.

900+ Pupils Attend 2016 Orienteering Festival – Final Results

eoinkeane Events, Outdoor Learning

imageOver 900 pupils took part in the recent Orienteering Festival at Vogrie Country House. An amazing turnout to a fantastic event using this superb venue.

A huge thank you to the staff at Vogrie, the Active Schools team, ESOC and all the staff in the Primary Schools who entered their enthusiastic pupils and made the event possible.

The event was organised by Midlothian and East Lothian Outdoor Learning Services and has been a great success and we hope to run again in 2017.

Three linear courses were set out for P5, P6 and P7 that challenged their navigational abilities.

  • We had over 500 entries-  made up of pairs, teams and solos.
  • A total of over 900 pupils – up on last year.
  • A total of 24 primary schools. 12 from ML, 12 from EL – well up on last year.
  • Several schools brought OVER ONE HUNDRED pupils – amazing.

All young people appeared to enjoy the opportunity to partake in this event. Plenty of smiles from our confident, successful learners.

Congratulations to all the pupils who took part. The Midlothian winning schools in each category are:

P5

Nadia & Charlie – Hawthornden PS

Fastest School – St. Mary’s PS 

P6

Cameron & Innes – Kings Park PS

Fastest School – Tynewater PS

P7

Sarah – Mayfield PS

Fastest School – Tynewater PS

imageResults can be found here: Orienteering Results 2016. The key to the school codes can be found here: ML-ELC Primary School codes  – these are all the results for all schools – you can see how well your individual teams and pupils performed. We will arrange for trophies for the fastest students to be sent to each school.

We will be running more Discover Orienteering in the 2016/17 year, but for those that wish to take their talent further and pit themselves against others from across Scotland then you need to enter some great events coming up;

Scottish Schools Orienteering Competition.(click link) – Closing date for Entries  – 26th May 2016

More Orienteering opportunities locally can be found on these club websites: ELO  and ESCO