#exploringtheoutdoors
29 April 2025 – Plas Menai, Caernarfon, LL15 1UE
30 April 2025 – Arts Centre, Aberystwyth, SY23 3DE
01 May 2025 – National Botanic Garden of Wales, Llanarthne, SA32 8HN
10.00 – 15.30 – Lunch and refreshments will be provided throughout the day.
Suitable for: Cwlwm practitioners (Early Years Wales, Mudiad Meithrin, NDNA, Pacey Cymru) school-based practitioners and early years advisory teachers.
Over three days in April and May, in settings in north, mid and south Wales we will explore the endless opportunities offered to us outdoors. Join us to learn, share and enjoy – whatever the weather!
We will start the day with our keynote speaker:
Ben is a multi-award-winning trainer and will deliver an entertaining and thought-provoking keynote speech exploring risky and boisterous play outdoors. Ben will look at the profound importance of outdoor experiences for young children, in all weathers. He will share with us how we can confidently increase boisterous and risky play in our environments, giving children the vibrant play experiences they need to thrive.
There will then be the opportunity to attend three different workshops throughout the day. The workshops will take place outdoors as much as possible (there will be shelter if the weather is adverse.) Each workshop will explore authentic and purposeful experiences we can offer our children. Joining Ben to deliver workshops will be Dr Glenda Tinney, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Education and Humanities at the University of Wales, Trinity Saint David and Kayleigh Bickford, Curriculum Implementation Officer, Cwlwm.
Dr Glenda Tinney Kayleigh Bickford
Workshop 1 – Go out, go wild – (In English) Ben will deliver a workshop outdoors that will offer us firsthand experiences of the kinds of risky play, boisterous and challenging experiences we can offer our children outdoors.
Workshop 2 – Creating an effective environment – (In Welsh with simultaneous translation) Glenda will explore what resources and experiences we can offer our children in an authentic outdoor environment. She will introduce us to the possibilities of offering recycled and repurposed resources and furniture that will be effective, inexpensive and environmentally friendly.
Workshop 3 – What are Loose Parts? (In Welsh with simultaneous translation) Join Kayleigh for a practical and fun session and discover what loose parts are, and why they are important resources for children in your environments.
To close the day, there will be an opportunity to network and discuss with colleagues.
The whole day will be free of charge, and we look forward to seeing you.
