Play Out Wild!
Play Out Wild days
Designed for children aged 6+ of any ability to explore and play in the surrounding countryside with qualified and experienced Playworkers who are all CRB checked.
POW purpose/outcomes
Using playwork principles, knowledge of child development and use of the environment, Playworkers will work with small groups of children and young people to:
- Build relationships and establish trust
- Develop skills in particular areas of interest to the individual
- Build self-esteem and self-confidence
- Learn to respect and value the environment and how it can be used safely for play and adventure
- Build confidence through a range of options
Developments within POW days
The process of walking and engaging with both a new environment as well as adults and other children/ young people can be further developed or enhanced with additional work as follows:
- Shelter / Den building
- Fire safety, lighting and fire awareness
- Rope trails – setting and following
- Nature awareness and respect – wild food, wild life
- Physical and mental challenges during the walk
- Working with wood – pioneering – rope swings etc
- Night walks
Every Child Matters
The objectives within the POW days provide opportunities for all 5 outcomes;
Be Healthy: Physical activity in the open air through walking and moving through different environments, additional physical and mental challenges; healthy food, developing better understanding of where food comes from and what provides energy; adult input as relationships develop to ask questions, what would you do if this happened? etc
Stay Safe: Understanding of why certain clothing and equipment are necessary for this type of day, understanding of Countryside Code, development of understanding of personal safety; respect for Ground Rules and help with devising them.
Making a positive contribution: low impact on the environment; supporting others whilst on the walk, sharing knowledge and making positive contribution to the group; helping to develop and support staff for future walks with other children
Enjoy and Achieve: Satisfaction and enjoyment of day and the simple things in life!; develop skills in map reading, using compass, forest skills, fire awareness, wild food etc; successfully finishing walk and challenges and achieving greater levels of self confidence
Achieve economic well being: developing self-confidence
and understanding of group working and dynamics all contribute to increased
self-esteem and desire to achieve whether through increased interest in
other activities, taking up volunteering or being motivated with a positive
attitude to seeking employment long term.