This academic year, a group of after school clubs from Greater Manchester have taken up the challenge of spending more time exploring the outdoors. ALPINE Project Officer Charlotte Repton checks in to see how they’re getting on.
Thanks to funding from Sport England, the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom has been working in partnership with the Canal & River Trust to help schools in Greater Manchester to get their after school clubs outdoors and active in nature this academic year through the ALPINE project (Active Learning and Play in the Natural Environment).
During the Autumn and Winter months, the schools were supported by a dedicated ALPINE project officer, who visited once a month to deliver a “Wild Experience” session. The sessions explored different themes such as appreciating nature and supporting the environment, through activities, team games and challenges.
Once these sessions had finished and the clubs felt more confident and knowledgeable – they each made a pledge to get outdoors every day for “Daily Tasks”. Winter brought challenges, with inclement weather and dark evenings, but through their involvement in the project the schools received practical support, including free waterproofs and equipment such as torches, to ensure they were prepared no matter the conditions.
Now that Spring has arrived, warmer weather and longer evenings make it easier to get outdoors. To further support them in this aim, the ALPINE project has given each school a grant to spend on equipment for the club to enhance their grounds. Using the funding, the schools have purchased essential storage, growing beds and other gardening supplies, den building materials, and naturalist equipment such as pond dipping nets, ID guides and binoculars.
Some schools are making big improvements to their outdoor spaces. South Failsworth Primary School ordered four big bags of woodchip and log stumps to begin to develop their outdoor playground area. ALPINE project officer Ella joined them on a drizzly day and got stuck in alongside the children to help move wheelbarrows full of woodchip and roll stumps to their new home. They planted willow to make a living hedge and used offcuts to make wands.
While the schools are busy enhancing their outdoor areas and enjoying the new equipment, the ALPINE team are working behind the scenes collating the “Daily Tasks” from each school to create a games and activities pack which will be shared before the end of the academic year.
