Training for teachers on Place Based Education

In late May I travelled down to Glen Strae in Argyll to help Sam Harrison, who runs Openground, specialising in Place Based Education, run an educators training weekend. Participants had come from as far afield as Speyside and Mull, and included not only school teachers but outdoor educators. The weekend was thought-provoking but also very practical. Despite some good wet Argyll weather we spent most of the time outside sharing Sam's knowledge and love of Glen Strae, and experimenting with ways of helping school pupils find out about their local Place. Sensory activities, storytelling and creativity around the geology,  history and natural history of Glen Strae were combined with discussion about the challenges of creating a sense of Place in today's world. I gave a presentation about my time in the U.S. and the various ways in which learning about Place has been extended to living well as part of one's community and environment. We had some stimulating discussions and it was great to meet and to hear stories from the teachers.

Openground http://www.openground.eu/ 

Sam and participants sharing experiences around the fire