Turning inside out : learning through local phenomena and lived experience

The learning outcomes of this programme further endorse the growing awareness of the important role that the natural world plays in whole-child development. Social issues tend to settle and children who normally sit outside social circles seem to find their place. In particular, we have found it to be a calming environment for students who have been on the teachers' radar. As the fog again rolls in, blanketing the campus, the children return to their homes and share their experiences over a dinner they may have helped prepare. They discuss where their food has come from and talk about the feral cat that was captured that morning. They might mention the visiting scientist, or how they saw a calf being born. Their clothes are dirty and need a wash. It is time for bed. Who knows what Mount Rowan has in store for them tomorrow?