“The John Muir Award is an environmental award scheme focused on wild places. It is inclusive, accessible and non-competitive, though should challenge each participant. The Award encourages awareness and responsibility for the natural environment through a structured yet adaptable scheme, in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration.
It’s open to all who can understand and meet the Award Criteria. It is ideally suited for those participants working at the later stage of primary education and beyond. ” https://www.johnmuirtrust.org/john-muir-award
”Applying for an Eco-Schools Green Flag is the perfect way to acknowledge, reward and celebrate the ecological achievements of young people. It clearly demonstrates that their hard work is appreciated and it provides them with the confidence and motivation to continue actively engaging with environmental issues now and throughout their lifetimes. It creates the next generation of innovative, inspirational environmentalists and tells local communities that a school, college or nursery is forward-thinking and actively engaged in protecting our planet.” www.eco-schools.org.uk
“This award scheme is all about supporting school-based learning. It enables pupils to apply curriculum knowledge and skills, as well to develop their resilience and sense of agency through outdoor learning.
There are 24 activities to choose from, each helping children to connect with and learn about nature. There are bronze, silver and gold awards to achieve depending on how many activities you do.” https://www.rspb.org.uk
“A Pocket Garden is a miniature garden that uses edible plants, plants that attract wildlife, and that reuses something which would otherwise have been thrown away.
Each year, we invite young people from schools across Scotland to send in their designs for a colourful and exciting environmentally friendly, pocket-sized garden. Pupils who send in the winning designs are then invited to build and grow their gardens to display.” https://www.keepscotlandbeautiful.org/
“Junior Award Scheme for Schools (JASS) is a progressive learning programme for young people which is designed to recognise wider achievement. JASS gives the scope to be adapted to a range of age groups and is ideal for use in Additional Support Needs settings due to it’s flexible approach.
The objectives of the JASS programme are aligned with the wider learning objectives of the Curriculum for Excellence, The Outdoor Challenge, and the National Curriculum, making it easy to run alongside and incorporate existing curricular activities. We are delighted that young people around the UK are now participating in JASS and taking their interests and skills to the next level.” https://www.jasschools.org.uk/
“A person-centred award, recognising individual progress and achievement in horticulture. Our awards are inclusive, individualised and offer life skills based education for all.
Grow & Learn aims to address a large gap in provision in the world of horticulture by offering an alternative learning opportunity for those who find mainstream learning challenging.” https://thecaley.org.uk/grow-learn/
“The Junior Forester Award aims to give children and young people of all ages an insight into the skills needed for a career in Forestry as well as equipping them with the practical ability to assist in woodland management in their schools and local
communities.” – https://rfs.org.uk/
Action for insects – Our bugs, moths, butterflies and other insects are in deep trouble. Insects are dying out up to eight times faster than larger animals, and 41% of insects face extinction. But it’s not too late! Our Action for Insects campaign has been created to help these special creatures, and we want schools to take part. That’s why we’ve produced a school guide, full of lessons plans and resources to help your school to take action for insects.
Whether it’s through a bug hunt, creating insect homes in your school grounds, or delivering a campaign to help insects, there are lots of ways that your school can make a difference and learn at the same time.
Visit Take action for insects with your school | The Wildlife Trusts for more information and to download the information pack.
30 Days Wild – 30 Days Wild is The Wildlife Trusts’ annual challenge where we ask everyone to do one wild thing a day throughout the month of June.
Visit 30 Days Wild 2023: Sign up | The Wildlife Trusts to register your school and receive the resource pack.
Junior Rangers Award – Do you want to:
- take part in outdoor learning
- find out about the work of Countryside Rangers
- develop new skills and experience
- spend time with others who share your interests?
If the answer is yes, then the Junior Ranger programme is the first step in professional development with the Scottish Countryside Rangers Association.
Visit Junior Rangers – Scottish Countryside Rangers Association (scra-online.co.uk) for more information on delivering the award.
Scotland’s finest woods award –
Scotland’s Finest Woods and the Outdoor & Woodland Learning Scotland (OWLS) team up to run the annual Schools and Early Years Awards in Scotland. The Awards are to encourage and reward schools and pre-schools that increase young people’s understanding and appreciation of the environmental, social and economic potential of trees, woodlands and forests and of the link between trees and everyday wood-based products. You may also be able to enter the Climate Change Champion Award.
Entries can be practical or desk projects involving forestry, woodlands or trees. Here are some examples of projects that can be entered:
A programme of learning in a woodland or forest environment or in a forest industry setting.
A classroom-based study of woods and forests or the forest industry.
Practical tree planting or woodland improvement projects in school grounds or in the local community.
For more information and registration, visit Schools Award (sfwa.co.uk)
Climate Champion Award – Scotland’s forests and woodlands can have an important role in mitigating, and responding to, climate change.
This exciting new Award aims to discover the very best examples of such woodlands and how knowledge and experience can be shared to raise awareness.
Who can enter?
Entries will be sought from across Scotland and are open to any forest, woodland or a school or pre-school climate change related learning project. Could the exemplary work you are doing related to forests and woodlands addressing climate change make you one of this new Awards’ early winners?
Eligible entries will be where Scotland’s forests and woodlands can demonstrate they have an important role in the:
- mitigation of climate change; and/or
- adaptation to the changing climate with climate smart management; and/or
- sharing of knowledge/information or raising awareness (including education) about climate change.
For more information and to register, visit Climate Change Champion Award | Scotland’s Finest Woods (sfwa.co.uk)
