outdoors – Sylvan Adventures

August 16, 2016July 1, 2020

Off Grid festival and Hennock Fayre.

Last weekend the webmaster got out from behind my keyboard and headed down to Devon to help out Sylvan Adventures in person. Unfortunately I live over two hours away so am not able to help in person as often as I would like.

On Saturday we were on the road bright and early to help at the Off-Grid Festival. Sylvan Adventures ran the Wild Wood area. The Wild Wood was a quiet, cool haven set away from the main festival. The weather was glorious so the shade of the mature trees was lovely and the area was busy all day with some folks just relaxing in the trees and nets or continuing to develop their skills with the shave horses in constant use. Throughout the weekend there were scheduled activities including bug hunts, green woodworking, shave horses, twilight nature walk, fire making and bat walks.

I taught archery all day mostly working one to one with children and adults to not only ensure they had a good time but also to help them improve their skills and technique. We had several regulars who kept coming back and they came on leaps and bounds with their skills and hopefully left feeling accomplished and satisfied. The day wound down with a twilight bat walk, fire twirling and marshmallows and stories around the camp fire led by Dan

Up early on Sunday we headed over to Hennock Village Fayre to teach archery. Another glorious day had me don a funny hat (better that than sunburn). I was on the go all day teaching everyone from 3 year olds and up. Once again aiming to deliver skills and fun and more often than not I guided the young archers to get a gold on their last one or two arrows which would lead to a round of applause from the spectators.

Overall an excellent but tiring weekend!

This will be the first of a series of blog posts from me detailing what I have been up to over the spring and summer. Even though I don’t often work closely with the Sylvan team I aim to get out in nature with my camera as often as I can.

“I like this place and could willingly waste my time in it.”
― William Shakespeare

http://www.hennock.org.uk/

http://offgrid-festival.co.uk/

September 26, 2015July 1, 2020

Ageing Well Festival

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?
PizzaOvenCO3000

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.

April 27, 2015July 1, 2020

looking for a sponsor

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.

April 24, 2015July 1, 2020

Forest School SW Spring Gathering 2015

Its nearly time for the Forest School Association Southwest group’s spring gathering.This year exciting spring gathering is happening on 16 -17th May at Tremayne Quay in Cornwall, with the kind permission of the National Trust and is being organised by group member Sarah Henn.

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 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. Venue details. Tremayne Quay, Helford
This is a large woodland valley that skirts part of the Helford river leading down to a historic quay. Frenchman’s creek is just around the corner. This site has basic features, a compost loo, and no shower facilities. Water for washing will be available on site in bowsers. Treat this a ‘wild’ camp. There is no mobile phone reception on site. There is a camp site at the farm for those who would like to extend their stay, please ask for details.

The 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

August 4, 2014July 1, 2020

Summer Here.

Well the summer holidays is here and what lovely weather we have had so far.

So with schools out for the holidays, our activities have also changed from Forest School sessions to outdoor play sessions and community workshops. It started with a beautiful sunny day for Preston Picnic, where we were helped at the event with young people from our Nature Explorer Project. The activities on offer included clay creatures, tree medals and whittling, we were busy all day long with excited children and young people.

For the rest of the holidays we are busy supporting outdoor play sessions for a variety of organisations including:

Outdoor play sessions at an adventure playground in Torquay for Play Torbay.

Birthday parties and woodland holiday club for A Touch of Wild.

Last couple of Nature Explorer Sessions in Torbay, a project funded by New Wave Torbay.

A Wandering Whittling craft workshop for Centre Peace in Paignton.

And lastly on bank holiday weekend in August, we are organising and delivering the outdoor play session with Outdoor People at Exhale festival. More details to follow.