Connecting people to nature through adventure
October 24th will see the Dangerous Dads Torbay group meeting at the Growing for Life site in Preston, Torbay to enjoy and explore the autumn countryside through games, activities and free -play.
They will meet at 1pm – 4pm, for pumpkin carving and making pumpkin soup, apple bobbing and many more fun games.
Please check out their Facebook event for more details: www.facebook.com/events/465273043651893/
The Forest School Association Southwest group is having its autumnal gathering and AGM at Dticheat Hill Farm, somerset on 3- 4th October. Its a great relaxed event, where you get to meet up with old friends, making new ones, network and learn new skills.
Who can come
Spaces are limited and priority is given to people who are already qualified and practicing Forest School Leaders or Assistants, and members of Forest School Association (who qualify for a discount). It’s not suitable for people who are still training or thinking about it as there are other events around that would be better focused for them. However do ask if you have extra reasons for wanting to attend. Please let us know what qualification and experience you have to help us prioritize places.
For more information please check out their website: www.forestschoolswss.wordpress.com/
A Traditional Crafts for All Workshop
Sylvan Adventures is proud to be delivering “A Traditional Crafts workshop”, where the whole family can learn new skills in a relaxed friendly atmosphere. There are three to choose from Felting, Green woodworking and Outdoor cooking or you could do all three. They are suitable for all ages and abilities. Join us to learn new skills or share existing skills with family members.
“Traditional Crafts for All” is happening at Growing for Life, Preston, Torbay as part of the Ageing Well Festival, Saturday 3rd October. 10 am – 2pm.
Workshops
Ever wanted to try Felting?
Making Pizzas in a cob oven (similar to the picture)?
Well now is your chance. Join us at Growing for Life, Preston, Torbay
Drop in anytime between 10 am -2pm. Everyone is welcome
Supported by National Lottery. Donation only
Contact: danbest@sylvanadventures.org for more details.
Friday 18th – Saturday 19th – Sunday 20th September 2015
For dads, male carers and granddads with children all ages [from 3 to 16]
NEW in 2015! This year we also have green-woodworking, DIY smoothies and archery, as well as campfire story-telling, woodland games, fishing, Silly Science, good food, wild walk, cave painting, the Official 2015 World Dad Dancing Competition, magic shows, beer tent and music… and loads more
DadFest tickets: covers all activities, camping spot, shower, etc
Children under 5: FREE
Children 6 – 16: £15
Dads [all ages!]: £45
Concessions available – please contact the organisers
Food Tickets [six meals & all hot drinks, all weekend]
Children: £15
Dads: £35
Don’t worry about bringing food, cooking & washing up – buy a weekend food ticket. Includes full English breakfasts, tea & coffee all weekend, evening and lunch meals, snacks, toast and water whenever you and the children need it.
Hire a Tent?
If you don’t want the hassle of bringing a tent, pitching it and taking it down… you just want to turn up, get stuck in and enjoy the weekend, why not book a tent? You can hire a new 4-man tent and one will be pitched, waiting for you. We’ll take it down on Sunday too. £20 [limited number of tents]
Book early as this amazing weekend books up very quickly.
Workshop leaders:
Pete Moore: Forest School Leader at Forest & Beach
www.forestandbeach.co.uk
Chris Holland: story-teller, bushcraft & outdoor education specialist… and lots more
01803 840990
077 317 95160
Check out the DadFest2014 film – it gives you a great idea of this unique festival
DadFest2014 film
Planting and Playing is what we will be doing for the 2nd session of the newly form Dangerous Dads Torbay group.
It is happening on our new allotment, which has been kindly given to the group by the Growing for life project in Preston. We will be playing and exploring Occombe woods, before planting pumpkins and other vegetables between 1 – 4pm. The poster for this event is in the link below:
Thanks to me being successful in gaining a place on social enterprise course being run by Dartington school for social enterprise in the Autumn of 2014, we are in the process of formalizing Sylvan Adventures into a community interest company or C.I.C.
This means that the profit we earn through our birthday parties, training and bespoke nature awareness projects, will go into the Sylvan Adventures Social Fund. This fund will allow us to support community groups like Dangerous Dads Torbay and Forest School Association Southwest group, as well as providing free events and workshops etc.
To help us achieve this aim, we are exploring options for uniforms, banners and are on a hunt to find a company or organisation to sponsor them. We would able to offer the following benefits depending on how much amount donated:
Uniform: Their company logo on the front of the tops.
Website: Mention and logo on our website.
Facebook: Regular mention on our varies social media platforms e.g. Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest etc.
Banner: Their company logo on our banner or flags etc.
So if you know any organisations who might be interested in us and this sponsorship deal, then please do spread the word. It would allow us to use more of our income on Sylvan Adventures Social Fund.
Please check out this website for more information on the National Trust site: http://www.ntsouthwest.co.uk/2013/03/tremayne-quay-restoration-appeal/Who can comeThe plan
Most of the plan will be worked out both in the weeks beforehand and at the event itself, using various participatory methods. However we have already had a request for “wild smithing”, so a blacksmith will be on site to run some beginner’s workshops. If you are interested in this you will need to book a place in advance as he has to limit numbers for safety etc.
Food and Catering.We will provide food to make basic breakfasts, lunches and suppers over the weekend, which everyone can help with and assist camp manager – so we need to know when you will be on-site. If you have special dietary requirements or allergies, get in touch to discuss the best way we can deal with this. Cooking will be done on one or two camp fires and will be all our responsibilities, along with clearing up. Please bring any luxuries you can’t live without or treats you’d like to share! Alcohol policy is ‘in moderation’ and not at all when tools are to be used – in line with our Health and Safety policy.
The Cost: £20 a day for non FSA members and £15 for FSA members.
£40 for full weekend for non FSA members and £30 for FSA Members.
For more information about becoming a Forest School Association Member, please check out this weblink: http://www.forestschoolassociation.org/membership-options-page/
All weathers policy. The Gathering will take place in all weathers except extreme weathers (e.g. strong winds / torrential rain / snow), when we will cancel at least 24 hours in advance.
Transport, parking and car share. There is very limited parking on site and we are asking people to only use this for dropping off their gear. There is parking available at a nearby farm and we will organise a shuttle service from the farm to the site. People will also be encouraged to car share where possible. The nearest bus stop is about 2 miles away, but lifts can be arranged. The nearest train station is 25 miles away.
More info about travel arrangements will be sent later. If you can, please offer or request a lift. Do car share where possible please.
For more information and Booking Form. You can either contact the Forest School Association Southwest group by email on fssw@gmx.com or Sarah Henn on sarah@miraclewood.org.uk
It’s not everyday you get to be involved in the birth of something, but we had the pleasure to support the launch event of “Dangerous Dads Torbay” community group on Saturday 18th April between 1 and 4 pm at Primley Park in Torbay. This new community group is also being supported by Action for Children Torbay with its aim to provide free monthly activity events for Dads and male carers with at least one child under five.
We were joined by 18 children and 8 dads on a beautiful sunny spring afternoon, with the smell of wild garlic blowing on the breeze as we explored and play in Primley Park nature reserve in Torbay. There were requests for the old favorites like hide and seek, which we did. It was brilliant watching the dads and their children playing and interacting together, either as they hide amongst the undergrowth or supporting them in counting.
Then we made our way to base camp for den and fire making activities, with all the dads and their children busy playing, socialising and discovering the wonders this nature reserve has to offer. Some enjoyed the delights at lighting their first fire with a flint and steel, which is not as easy as it looks,
Whilst other undertook the challenge of building dens using natural materials and tarps, creating their own woodland palaces:
After all this fun and physical activity, they all were keen not only to toast some marshmallows, but to try some campfire popcorn, as you can see there was more then enough to go around, before heading home very muddy and tired.
For more information on Dangerous Dads Torbay, or it’s next event please check us out and like their Facebook page Dangerous Dads Torbay, or email Dan on danbest@sylvanadventures.org
Well you know the old saying, “when one door closes another opens”. That is whats happening to me this March with my play opportunities.
Last September I was very lucky to be successful in gaining a place on a playwork study tour to Copenhagen, Denmark, investigating adventure playground, afterschool clubs and forest school settings with 7 other playwork professionals from around the UK. It was a very busy, but an exciting week with over 25 play settings visit and 350 photographs taken, were I had specific duties of using social media to record our playwork journey. Here is the web link for the mobility trip journal, I took of our amazing time in Copenhagen:
http://www.mobilytrip.com/user/sylvanadventures
One of the conditions of attending the study tour, was too attend the 12th National Play conference in Eastbourne, which of course I was happy to attend. But I didnt have any real duties to perform, because of doing the social media stuff on the tour or so I thought. Well I really enjoyed the study tour and still reflecting on what I saw and heard there, but didn’t expect anything else to come of it so you could say the door closed.
Well another door opened in February, when Dr Mel McCree (whom I met on the Danish study tour), had to cancel giving her presentation due to ill health. However she suggested I deliver the work on “Could play workers benefit from Forest School training?”, which of course I was delighted to deliver, so another door opened.
Whilst at the play conference on the 4 and 5th March, another workshop was cancelled. This time whittling, one of my favourite past times so I offered to deliver for it. Such an amazing opportunity with about 30 adults joining me and a friend (thanks Jem Collins for your help) for a one hour whittling session. Now that door has closed, two more have opened both involving me giving presentation on play and adventure playgrounds, one is happen on 28th March as part of the Somerset Play Forum . The other presentation is happening on 2nd April in Totnes, with the aim of raising the awareness of the benefits adventure playgrounds to the community.
Come and join me and some of my fellow playwork travellers, as we speak about our playwork discoveries from the study tours, on 2nd April.