On Friday i drove to Cardigan Bay, to the "Chicken Shed" that is the home of all things Do.
I had a place on a "How to build a great brand - with very little money", course ran by David Hieatt (founder of Howies, the Do lectures, the25mile restaurant, and Hiut Denim). David was assisted by Mark Shayler from Tickety Boo Environmental Consultants.
I had hoped, on the drive up, that the day would give me some inspiration on how to develop The Path Less Travelled.
I realised, on the drive back down, that, my hopes had been surpassed many times over, and, like a lemonade bottle, lid slightly loose, that has been vigorously shaken, my brain fizzed popped and exploded like there was a firework display going off inside it.
The Do Day was simply brilliant.
The lunch was held in the25mile in Cardigan. Go. See and taste for yourself. Wow.
Huge thanks to David, Claire and Anna at team Do, to Mark Shayler, and to all the other attendees.
"People who say it cannot be done should not interrupt those who are doing it"
George Bernard Shaw
Getting Government to debate Outdoor Centre closures
One in three Local Authority outdoor education centres are facing closure (some have already closed) which could mean large numbers of young people are denied potentially life-changing experiences, at a time when health, physical activity and contact with nature are all declining. Some children from poorer and disadvantaged groups may not have another opportunity to share a night away from home and visit places they would not otherwise see.
The sad fact is that closure need not happen, in many cases given extra time these centres could become self sufficient. If centres close they may not reopen again.
You can help by signing our petition, set up by the FSC with the support of Association for Heads of Outdoor Education Centres, English Outdoor Council, Institute for Outdoor Learning and National Association of Field Studies Officers. If we reach 100,000 signatures this year the issue will be considered for debate in the House of Commons.
To sign the petition visit http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/26661
To raise awareness of the campaign we have created a short piece of video which you can watch by following this link: http://youtu.be/WPEenciK8uQ
Please pass this email on to any those who may be interested in encouraging a debate on this in the House of Commons
Thanks
Andy Robinson
IOL CEO
Institute for Outdoor Learning
Internationally renowned as the keystone for quality in outdoor learning.
If you saw Country File last night, you will have seen Matt Baker being guided around the beautiful Wye Valley by Graham Hassall, a mountaineering instructor, good friend of mine, and owner of
Www.summitmountaineering.com
The link to the programme on iPlayer is here
The photo is Graham following me up a classic rock climb at Symonds Yat, the end of which affords spectacular views across the Wye Valley, repeatedly voted the most beautiful river in England.
Go. Do. Be.
behind the reviews of Welsh pubs, random climbing videos, photos of fungi and sunsets, retweets of other peoples internet junk, and occasional philosophising, there is a business
i have just re-done the website (by Ian aged 6)
as you are all probably awesome in your respective fields, ninja climbers, and beyond the need of experiential learning, you may consider coming to the next lecture
it is my way of "putting something back"
maybe you could provide a useful critique of the site (i'd much rather be out doing, than web site designing), pass the web address on to a friend, or just keep making tea in a pot. it all helps.
Once upon a time about a year ago some people called The Geography Collective
created this amazingly new millenia old idea called Love Play Outside
to try and reinvigorate the stuff that kids either choose not to do, do not have the opportunities to do, or do not have the parents or carers able or willing to allow them to do
that "stuff" is opening the door, closing it behind them, finding a park, field, wood, village green, school field, open space ..... anything really that hasn't got a roof and walls, and is called outdoors. then messing about, playing Pooh sticks, chasing balls, throwing sticks, laughing, splashing, doing tree rubbing or a treasure hunt or shouting in to the wind or trying to swallow the most rain drops. all this stuff is sometimes called "play"
together it is called Playing Outside
or as The Geography Collective would say ..
Play is deeply linked to geography. From being immersed in deep play and imagining alternative worlds to evading capture in foreign territories while playing hide and seek, play is one of the most enjoyable engagements we ever have with our world(s). It’s also an immensely powerful way to learn about people, social interactions, communication, risk-taking, management, fear, love, worms, trees, strangeness, experimenting, science, being creative and so much more. Despite all of the known advantages of outdoor play many children do not have the opportunity experience it as much as they should do.. and would want to
As of today Love Outdoor Play is now here, is ran by Play England and the Free Time Consortium, has millions of pounds worth of funding and is just simply trying to get as many grown ups to help as many kids as possible to err ... just play outside.
There is some "take action" stuff here, like posting a "like", getting a sticker or adding your support to the group
The Geography Collective haven't put their feet up, they've created Mission Explore a great play resource for kids.
However, by the time you have been through all of those links to find out how to play outside you may well have wasted all the available day light left to play outside.
Make an effort this weekend to take a human being aged between 1 day and 110 years outside. Chase shadows, watch clouds, throw frisbees, see tiny eyes focus on flowers, rivers and sheep, or listen to what Grandparents did outside when they were kids.
Just do something outside.
I understand that some social circumstances need support and facilities to play outside, and all of the websites above are grand initiatives, but just go and play.
Do anything, but do it outside.
As previously blogged, The Woodland Trust has easily the greatest free activities resource on the net in the UK for outdoor learning and play.
The less we do something as a society(play outside), the less common it becomes (fades from memory), the more caution surrounds doing it again (activity memory loss), the more rules and regulations evolve to allow us to do it again (restrictions).
Who would have thought that there are now classes in how to light a fire outside, or go camping for the night.
PS The Path Less Travelled is now a member of the Institute of Outdoor Learning.
I think that means i am now qualified to play outside.
Go. Do. Be.
Even if Carlsberg did do free adventure and travel e-magazines, they wouldn't be as good as Sidetracked Edition 4...
http://www.sidetracked.co.uk/edition-04/
Short video about athlete, author and explorer, Karen Darke
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ef5tKc40qok&sns=em
Since December i have reimmersed myself in to climbing, with a regularity and passion, for me, missing since the late 80s.
My left forearm now wishes to raise the point that it is no longer the late 80s.
The Doctor diagnoses over-use, and ten days rest.
The Physio appointment is in 3 hours.
When i "were a lad" growing up in the North East, the local sports centre took the bold decision in '89 to convert a squash court in to a climbing wal.
Some lad, a few years older than me, rocked up to open the wall, wandered nonchalantly horizontally and vertically around all the routes on the wall, then left.
That "lad", Johnny Dawes, is giving a lecture at the Warehouse Wall in Gloucester tonight.
My company, The Path Less Travelled, is sponsoring it.
All profits are going to Hope and Homes for Children.
23 years flies by.