OPEN GROUND - place-based education and consultancy

OPEN GROUND place-based education and consultancy

Check here for regular updates and photos of Open Ground projects

Place-Based Education Training 27th-29th May

Another opportunity for educators from all contexts to come and learn and share best practice. Based in Glen Strae from the Friday evening till Sunday afternoon, we will look at techniques to educate 'in, about and for' the places where we work. We will also discuss the ethos of this type of education and the challenges which we face implementing it. The cost is £100 and places are still left. Contact Sam for more information

Oban High S3 geographers

The students from Oban were out in the hills last week with Open Ground, looking at ways to understand and investigate the physical and human elements of the landscape

Oban High Geography project

Oban High School's Advanced Geography class have been spending a few days out with Open Ground learning about geographical study techniques and how they can be put into useful practice. We have done soil sampling to find out about peat depth for a new piece of forestry and acidity for adding lime to grazings. This photo shows Brian from Scotland's Rural Past showing the group how to survey shielings. The project will continue into the new year.

Open Ground on tour

Open Ground has been invited to present a series of talks in recent months, at a range of venues: from the Macauley Land Institute in Aberdeen, the 'Sense of Place' conference at the Eden Project in Cornwall, to Lochaber College in Fort William. Sam also spoke at the Inverness Old Town Art conference in September, and delivered a session for Learning and Teaching Scotland's 'Sustainable Development Education' away day at Glenmore Lodge. Sam will be speaking about place-based education at the UHI's Centre for Remote and Rural Studies in Inverness on the 11th of December, contact him for more information.

Learning Landscapes in Oban Times

The 'Learning Landscapes' project with Dalmally Primary School's P6/7 class was recently featured in the Oban Times. The article describes the weekly trips on to the Glen Strae Estate near the school, learning about the history and ecology and generally exploring. The project was very well received, with the headmaster, teachers, estate staff and local community all commenting on its sucess.

Place-Based Education Training

The open training course was a great success, with a interesting mix of people all contributing their experience and views. We spent the weekend exploring the possibilities of Place-Based Education, and of course having fun - the tipi provided a great venue for a ceilidh (away from the midges!)

Eda Frandsen sailing holiday

Featured in Guardian Travel and the Ecologist, for the past four years Open Ground has run sailing and walking holidays with Eda Frandsen Sailing exploring the heritage and ecology of the hebrides. The very best of eco-tourism, this holiday provides the opportunity to explore some of the issues important to Open Ground in a relaxing holiday format with great food. This years trip featured all sorts of weather, friendly puffins and a minke whale breaching very close to the boat! Bookings are being taken for next season.

Edinburgh University Field Trip

The postgraduates on Edinburgh University's Outdoor Envrionmental Sustainability Education course spent a week with Open Ground honing their facilitation skills. With lovely weather we were able to trial and discuss techniques for teaching about sustainability and place in the outdoors and delve into the deeper ideas and concepts involved.

Training Workshops

Two Place-based Education training workshops will be run by Open Ground in Glen Strae, Argyll, from the 28th to 31st of May, and the 26th to 28th of June. The cost will be £80.

Spend a weekend in a beautiful glen with other educators looking at bringing out the most of the localities you use. Discuss and model experiential techniques to reveal the history, ecology and geography of places, and how these combine to create more than just a venue for work in the outdoors.

For more details contact Sam - sam@openground.eu

Project about my place

On our second day out at Appin, the home-schoolers had a lot of fun breaking ice! (Castle Stalker watched from behind). The project continues in the new year

Natural Change Project continues

We have had our second workshop at Glen Tilt, on the Blair Atholl estate. Catch up on our blogs at www.naturalchange.org.uk

Eda under full sail

Eda Frandsen at her best sailing in the Sound of Raasay. If you want the opportunity to come aboard for a holiday with Open Ground and Eda Frandsen Sailing, we are taking bookings for August 22nd - 28th 2009. Contact Sam for more details.

dolphins playing in the bow wave

Just back from the second trip of the season on Eda Frandsen - exploring the Hebrides by sail and foot. We journeyed up to Rona, Raasay and the Crowlins, and spent a a few days exploring the coast of Rum. In the inner sound a pod of dolphins came and played in the bow wave.

Pipes in the Rain