Outdoor Learning Gift Guide

It’s that time of year when many of us are thinking of gift ideas and making Christmas shopping lists. Here are our top picks for the outdoor learning enthusiast or childcare setting/school in your life!

 

Learning Outside the Classroom Handbook

Our very own bumper pack of more than 140 OUTDOOR LEARNING LESSON PLANS to build confidence and support for  current practice. It’s the perfect gift for your favourite child care setting, school or outdoor educator. Our Learning Outside the Classroom (LOC) Handbook supports an experiential approach so you can enhance enjoyment, focus and behaviour whilst also developing collaborative and group skills in your pupils. Mostly focused on KS1 and KS2 plus some EYs. All on laminated cards and ready to go.

 

 

Waterproof Gloves

It’s hard to warm up cold hands once they are chilled through so help your loved ones avoid getting chill altogether with some waterproof gloves. These are ideal for hardworking outdoor learning staff. There are plenty of different brands and styles, these ones from Sealskin are particularly good!

 

 

Group Table

A solid, robust group table is a true gift for any setting passionate about getting children learning outside.

Made from Cedar slabs with accoya legs and frames. Where possible we also keep the wany edges for a beautiful aesthetic. We then treat the tops with a natural oil to preserve them so there is no chemical requirement required. They are great for group activities as they can sit 12 children comfortably.

 

 

Neck Warmer

A cosy neck warmer works just like a scarf without the ends floating around and getting in the way. A circular fleece neck warmer is a great for working outside with children and staying cosy! This one is lovely and warm, you can find plenty of other options at your local outdoor shop too.

 

 

A Set of Log Seats

It doesn’t get much simpler than this, to create a seating circle for outdoor learning, Forest School etc. Gift your local childcare setting or school with a place to meet and learn outdoors together.

We recommend oak as it will last for many years even when in permanent contact with the ground, unlike softwood equivalents. We also leave the bark on so that they look like wood should look.

 

 

Waterproof Pad and Pencil

It’s always helpful to have a pen and paper nearby to jot down a passing thought, new idea or to-do list. These waterproof pads are fantastic for tucking into a jacket pocket for outdoor professionals. They also make great stocking stuffers!

 

 

Outdoor Classroom Storage Boxes

These boxes are an incredible addition to any setting with an outdoor canopy classroom. Our hanging storage boxes are designed to sit on the inside of the wany edge cladding walls of our canopy classrooms. They are made from accoya frames and tricoya tops so they will last indefinitely outside. We also blackboard paint the box tops so they can be labelled with the contents or even used as visual teaching aids during outdoor learning sessions. They are portable and can be lifted off easily and moved around your site as required and then simply put back in place at the end. Perfect for storing teaching resources, writing materials etc. more versatile than a shed or large crate if you purchase several to sit all around your canopy installation.

 

 

Pocket First Aid Kit

One last idea from us is a first aid kit that can easily fit into a jacket pocket or small backpack. These are a great help for outdoor educators who are out and about all the time. It’s not a replacement for a fully stocked first aid kit at base camp, but it works great for that scraped knee or insect bite when out and about.

A Good Read

“H Is for Hawk” by Helen Macdonald. This is a great read for everyone, but especially for outdoor educators. We reviewed this one over on our blog and highly recommend it.

 

Have a wonderful season, enjoy time with family and friends and don’t forget to treat those outdoorsy folks in your life!