Outdoor Education

I will be nominating teams from this years exped projects so get your thinking caps on and come up with a great project idea.

If you are a parent/ participant and wish to nominate someone please see me for a form or contact Elisha Fisher at GCC.

Scottish Power Inspiration Awards

 Over the last three years the Duke of Edinburgh’s Awards in Glasgow has been supported by Scottish Power. Last year, to celebrate the success of the partnership we launched the first ever Scottish Power Inspiration Awards.  These awards are in addition to the DofE awards gained by participants and will celebrate the commitment by leaders and innovative work going on in Glasgow. Nominations for the 2013 Awards are now open.

There are 3 nominated categories

·         Most Creative Expedition Project/Presentation

This is a team award for an interesting or exciting Expedition presentation/project. Nominations in this category could be due to an unusual project topic, a funny or interesting experience or due to the media used.  This award can be nominated by a DofE leader, Coordinator or another Expedition team.

 ·         DofE Leader of the year

This award is to celebrate the great work undertaken by a leader that has gone the extra mile to support participants with their DofE programme.  This award can be nominated by participants, leaders, parents or a colleague.

·         DofE Project of the year

This award could be a team or individual award to capture some unique piece of work as part of the Volunteering, Skill, Physical or Expedition section.  Nominations in this category should be a creative or unusual DofE programme and can be nominated by participants, leaders or parents.

Nominations panel will be made up of representatives of the 3 partner organisations and the winners will be announced at the award presentations in October.  Nominations should be sent to Elisha.Fisher@education.glasgow.gov.uk  or the address below by

the 30^th of September 2013.

Elisha Fisher,

Education Services, Vocational Education

40 John St

Glasgow, G1 1JL

I know the weather outside is not exactaly as we would expect at this time of year but you won't have packed away your wolly bonnets or gloves yet so get out there an enjoy our wonderful country over "Spring" break.

I plan to visit the Moray Coast and re-learn my Doric toungue. I'll be visiting Fraseburgh, Peterhead and finally Cullen and maybe get up to the highlands for a walk with family and friends.

Why not visit Mugdock country park or check out events at Clyde Muirshiel Regional park(http://www.clydemuirshiel.co.uk/) or Finlaystone Country park (http://www.finlaystone.co.uk/)

This year is the "Year of Natural Scotland" and where best to encourage participation in the many and varied events for this year that here on the Outdoor blog.  Check out the link for ideas and events to get involved.

http://www.eventscotland.org/scotland-the-perfect-stage/scotlands-years-of-focus/natural-scotland/events-programme/

I look forward to my return and getting stuck into the bronze DofE expedition season. 

A number of Silver participants are close to finishing this level of award and discussions have already taken place to get these participants enrolled on the Gold level of award.  

URGENT UP DATE; 22/3/13

Due to adverse weather conditions the training day 24th March is now postponed until further notice.

In light of the postponing of the training day and in addition due to the adverse weather conditions and long range forecast Glasgow City Council have asked that all expeditions planned for the last weekend in March are postponed until further notice.

The Red Nose day Hill Walkers do something funny for money :)

and me too!

I am so excited and pleased to say we have officially launched the new World Challenge programme for 2013/14. The expedition will take place in June 2014 and is open to current S5 pupils. World Challenge is holding a parent information evening on the 7th Febuary (in school hall at 7pm) and I will be coordinating this event. Pupils have received a letter and must return the repy slip ASAP. It is advisable that pupils and parents attend this information evening as cost, location, duration, ethos and procedures will be discussed in detail. This evening is an opportunity to ask all the questions you can so you can all make an informed decision about applying to come. Application instructions will also be passed on at this evening as well as written instructions appearing on school notices and on blog. Please keep up to date with what is happening by visiting the World Challenge pages of this blog.

Welcome back and Happy New Year to you all.

This year is the "Year of Natural Scotland" and where best to encourage participation in the many and varied events for this year that here on the Outdoor blog.  Check out the link for ideas and events to get involved.

http://www.eventscotland.org/scotland-the-perfect-stage/scotlands-years-of-focus/natural-scotland/events-programme/

Other than this Jordanhill will of course be continuing with the Outdoor programme kicking off with our first hill walk of the year penciled in for 13th January. This will be confirmed by tomorrow (8th). The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh participants start their exped training this Thursday with a look at First aid and team building and of course another World Challenge exped will be launched very soon. The destination is Vietnam and Laos in 2014 for our current S5 pupils (S4 pupils WC exped will take place 2015)

Dear hill walkers, Duke of Edinburgh participants, World Challenge participants, parents, and supporters

I would like to take this opportunity to send my last message of 2012 to my fellow outdoor lovers.

This year has been the most successful year for the school in terms of its outdoor programme. We had huge success at the Duke of Edinburgh awards ceremony and I am still a little emotional when remember how proud everyone was to see all the hard work paid off with such an excellent night of celebration. The winners of the Scottish Power Inspiration prize a cherry on top of a well iced cake! Personally I have been so inspired to see the great work being carried out by the DOE participants from volunteering at soup kitchens to overcoming personal challenges to complete expeditions. Next year is shaping up to be even more successful with 28 Silver participants working hard already on competing that level of award while this week sees the new bronze participants gain approval for sectional work and have their first official DOE check in of their award.

The hill walking club is going from strength to strength with a regular attendance of 8-12 S1-S4 pupils. A number of pupils have now been walking with us for three years and I hope to see the S4 pupils use their hill walking experience to help them on their DOE exped next year. I would like to personally thank both Rebecca Cheape and Blair Bellamy (and recently lately Martin Edgar too!)  for their regular attendance and support and help of new and beginning hill walkers to our group. Their mature and supportive attitude has helped the hill walking club become and inclusive and great place to come and be made very welcome. THANKS J

The World Challenge expedition this year left me equally impressed with how resilient and hard working our pupils really are. Despite the physical and mental challenges they faced they took the whole exped in their stride and came out the other end laughing just has much as they were at the start!

Finally I’d like to say thank you to all the parents that have supported Colin and I in the running of the outdoor programme. Without you help getting kids out of bed, sending them to days well prepared and with plenty of home baking to keep us happy, the outdoor programme just wouldn’t work.

Pleae keep visiting the blog to keep up to date with Jordanhill School Outdoor programme or contct me at breamg@jordanhill.glasgow.sch.uk for any information or help on planning your own outdoor activities.

I have had a GREAT year and I know I can speak for Colin too when I say THANK YOU AND WELL DONE to everyone involved. Miss Bream (George) J