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Introduction


Dams to Darnley Country Park is a joint project that is being progressed by Glasgow City and East Renfrewshire councils. The country park is nestled in the green space between Newton Mearns, Darnley and Barrhead.


The Dams to Darnley countryside ranger service provides specialist environmental knowledge and expertise which augments and supports learning. Every year approximately 1,100 children and young people benefit from the environmental education and outdoor learning opportunities delivered by the service. The countryside rangers lead environmental activities for nursery, primary, secondary and additional support for learning schools, as well as colleges. These activities can be held within the country park, school grounds and local green spaces.


Environmental education increases our understanding of the environment and the challenges that it faces. Crucially, it develops the knowledge and skills needed to take responsibility for addressing these challenges. Environmental education for schools not only engages with children and young people, but also the wider community. It enables connections to be made with local green spaces and the wider countryside and creates a sense of stewardship and responsibility.


Outdoor learning is an important approach in delivering Curriculum for Excellence (CfE). The curriculum presents the opportunity for all children and young people to benefit from outdoor learning experiences.


“Learning in the outdoors can make significant contributions to literacy, numeracy and health and wellbeing. In literacy there are opportunities to use different texts: the spoken word, charts, maps, timetables and instructions. In numeracy there are opportunities to measure angles and calculate bearings and journey times. In health and wellbeing there are opportunities to become physically active in alternative ways and to improve emotional wellbeing and mental health.” (Curriculum for Excellence through Outdoor Learning, 2010)


With the increasing popularity of the countryside ranger service and the implementation of CfE this pack aims to formalise and promote the environmental education and outdoor learning opportunities associated with the country park. Recognising the limitations of the service’s staff resource and the importance of equipping teachers with the necessary skills to deliver high quality outdoor learning, guidance on follow-up and self-led activities is also provided.


Our vision is that the country park countryside ranger service continues to promote the outdoors as an intrinsic part of the formal education process that engages with children and young people and enhances their learning experiences. The countryside rangers will adapt to developments in CfE, ensuring that the service remains relevant and valuable to schools.


www.damstodarnley.org


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