The Primary Learning Centre pupils of Rockfield Primary, Oban have enjoyed learning outdoors over the last three months in partnership with the Stramash team. We based our activities around the woodland characters from the children’s classic story “The Gruffalo” by Julia Donaldson.
Pupils were able to work collaboratively and individually in the woodland setting at Glencruitten, developing problem-solving and risk assessment skills.
We had enormous fun through tasks such as canoeing, abseiling, rock climbing, bush-craft, fire-building, shelter-making, map reading, wild art and scavenger hunts.

The pupils worked together towards a John Muir Trust Discovery Award, where they discovered a wild place on their doorstep, explored the environment, conserved by pruning, clearing and recycling, then shared their experiences with their peers back at school. We also had a most successful open afternoon for family and friends to see what we have been up to. We showed the screen premier of “Gruffalo Woodland Adventure – the movie” and even had a small cafe serving refreshments and gruffalo cakes!

The children have all developed through this experience, not only educationally and socially, but also physically, as they negotiated moving through uneven terrain. Our wider network team of therapists (Speech and Language Therapist, Physiotherapist and Occupational Therapist) have also complemented the work done to develop each pupil to achieve their full potential as they engaged in these outdoor activities.
It has been wonderful for our staff to witness the children’s progress in all areas of the curriculum, and to see the pure pleasure on their faces as they reached personal goals and succeeded in tasks which were a real challenge. We are very proud of all our children, and thankful to the Stramash team for all their expertise, patience and encouragement. As a team, the Learning Centre staff also learned lots and enjoyed the whole experience.