Forest School Wales conference 27th June, this year

This year’s Forest School Wales conference is called

‘Considering the Curriculum at Forest School’

This event will be held on Friday 27th June (9.30am – 4pm) at;

Northop College, Holywell Road, Northop, Flintshire CH76AA.

Booking form available on the FSW website

Further details about the FSW conference – consideringthecurriculum

A detailled programme will be available on the day when you will be able to select your workshops.

• A Forest School Association presentation from Gareth Davies will give all of us an opportunity to fnd out more about the Forest School Association and their work and plans for Forest School in the UK. We are very pleased they are joining us this year so we can build relations and discuss joint ways forward for Forest School in both Wales and the UK.
• John Purchase, the Flintshire Forestry Officer will be leading a Woodland Management and Identification workshop. You will walk through the woods onsite where you will be engaged in a discussion of its management and conservation through the eyes of a Forester as well as an educational practitioner.
• Sarah Jones from Natural Resources Wales will be leading a workshop on Literacy and Numeracy. You will experience a range of practical ideas to enhance teaching and learning, discuss links to literacy and numeracy framework and share ideas with other Forest School professionals.
• Carolyn Burkey from Plas Derw Trust will be leading a workshop entitled ‘Using your head – thinking games in the forest.’ Using the natural environment and materials you will be creating problem solving and educational games and activities that will enhance teamwork relationships and emotional development.
• Iwan Edwards from The Wildlife Trusts Wales will be leading a workshop on the new bilingual Opal resources available to everyone. The Open Air Laboratories (OPAL) network is a UK-wide citizen science initiative that allows people to get hands-on with nature, whatever their age, background or level of ability. Opal develop activities and resources, including national surveys, which currently include water, soil, air, tree, mini beasts and climate all of which allow people to get closer to their local environment while collecting important scientific data. They also arrange and take part in nature events and workshops around the country and you will get the opportunity to use some of the resources they have available.

There will be further workshops in Storytelling and also a Market Place for information from various organisations and space for you to display details of your projects and case studies. As always we will have plenty of time for that all important networking and sharing of experiences, over a cup of tea, with FS practitioners, trainers and trainees.

FSW AGM

This is partly a formality for FSW but also an opportunity to speak to our trustees and get to know more about FSW and how you could be involved in developing the future for Forest School in Wales. We will be electing trustees and if you are interested in becoming a trustee and finding out more about the role, please get in touch with Barbara in the office in advance for more details.

Food and refreshments

Refreshments and a buffet lunch will be provided as part of the conference fee. Please let us know if you have any dietary requirments.

Directions

By Road:

Route 1: Off A55 (Junction 33 from north, junction 33a from south) into Northop village. Turn right at traffic lights and travel approx 0.5 miles to Glyndŵr University Northop Campus. Take right into entrance. Follow road through campus to rear car park. Reception building situated adjacent.
Route 2 : From Wrexham, travel north through Mold and take the A119 (for Flint). Travel through Sychdyn / Soughton (speed camera) into Northop village. Turn left at traffic lights and travel approx 0.5 miles to Glyndŵr University Northop Campus. Take right into entrance. Follow road through campus to rear car park. Reception building situated adjacent.

Rail links and Shuttle Bus

There are excellent rail links to the conference and we are offering a free shuttle bus from the Flint train station for anyone arriving on Friday morning on either the 9.00am or 9.32 am west bound trains or the 9.07am and 9.37am eastbound train and the 16.03pm or 17.03pm eastbound train or 17.10pm or 17.42pm westbound train. Please let us know in advance if you require this service.

Carshare

If you would be happy to car share – can offer or need a lift, please let us know and we shall try to fit you all together!

Accommodation

If you require overnight accommodation, please contact us for details of local B and Bs and we are hoping there will also be some cheap rooms onsite (it is a halls of residence too!).

What to bring

Suitable clothing for both indoor and outdoor workshops in the Welsh summer!
Note book and pen.
Displays or case study details about your projects to share.
Questions for the Forest School Association and the FSW trustees.

More about Plas Derw Trust our hosts
Plas Derw Trust Ltd promotes outdoor learning, sustainability and Forest School Training and CPD in North East Wales. It does this through the provision of Forest School and Environmental Education. We work with local schools and organisations providing Forest School and outdoor programmes to disadvantaged children, young people and adults. Forest School has proven to be very successful and is a valuable resource to our community.
Our aim is to:
• Encourage sociability and positive interaction.
• Promote and encourage sustainability and the use natural materials.
• Encourage the appreciation and understanding of the local and global natural world.
• To develop team building, problem solving and coping strategies that may prove useful in everyday life.
• To allow participants to explore their strengths and weaknesses and find out more about who they are.
There is more information about Plas Derw on their website.