Who are they?
'Naturesbase' are and outdoor environment education experience organisation directed at children (and a few adults, alike!) to educate and get them involved in looking after our environment and enjoying days outside away from the busy world of technology.
What do they do?
'Naturesbase' invite primary schools to their inspirational residential camp to learn about living in harmony and having fun with our environment and wildlife.
"one of the best ways to describe it is a 24/7 forest school experience
where we live and learn outside, but with the comfort of our large stone barn from eating, teaching, relaxing and playing in if we need to."
Children can get involved with tasks such as;
• Sleeping in large safari style tents
• Singing and roasting marshmallows around a campfire circle
• Collecting eggs from chickens and feeding the animals
• Making lunch for later
• Warm up games
• "West Wales Adventure" - Using a map to journey around the farm
• "Survival in the Wild" - Getting into "tribes" and learning how the Celts survived
• Lighting small fires with a spark
• Writing haiku-poems
• Locating the best place for a wind turbine
• Outdoor pizza making - made with ingredients from the farm
• Learning about farming skills by creating hurdle fences, feeding animals, creating scarecrows, mucking out, grinding corn, making flour and bread (for supper), churning butter and sowing seeds before a taste tour of the veg patch
• Exploring the woodland, hedgerow, meadow, and stream habitats for a range of bugs
• Having fun in the "Muddy Messy Obstacle Course"
• Going on a "Celtic Safari" collect clues, and then navigate the way back to camp
• Paddling in streams
• Learn how to filter water
• Learn to light fires
• Follow an explorer's trail to Aberaeron Harbour town
• Crab fishing in Aberaeron
• Raft building on the beach
• Visit a Welsh speaking school
• Night-time safari
• Hunting for bats
• Orienteer around the site by torch light
• Listening to stories under the stars
Creating;
• Native American map lines
• Natural paint
• Shelters next to a stream
• Herb tea
• Pots from the riverbank
• Dream catchers
• Cob/earth bricks
• A solar oven
• A 'bug hotel'
• A float a solar-powered boat
• Natures palette
• Sculptures
• Wet clay faces and puppets
• Natural tie-dying
• Name plates collages
• Mobiles
• Leaf bowls
• Aboriginal art paintings
• Nettle paper
• Cob bird boxes
• Masks
• Beads and bracelets
• Stick carvings
• Willow dragon flies
• Hedge row pencils
• Tree people and animals
• String
What's the brief?
Key Objects
> To design elements of a potential children's book which will act as an introduction to exploring the natural world through activities and associated information.
> To suggest best or most appropriate art styles, type use/formatting and/or added features through research to help the audiences best engage with the subject matter.
Target Audience(s)
There are 3 age group catergories available from which you must select one for your book to be aimed at:
> 5-7 year olds (emerging readers). To be read and sued with adult assistance
> 7-9 year olds (confident readers). To be read and used with some adult assistance
> 9+ (confident and competent readers). To be read and used independently with minimal adult assistance.
Deliverables Summary
You are required to produce 1 x cover (front, spine & back) and 2 x internal double page spreads for a book that introduces children to, and activities within the natural world.
Sizes: After research you are to decide whether to use A5 of A4 sized pages.
Paper use: Your client as that you consider the use of recycled papers and board as he is keen that the printing of this book ultimately takes in as many 'eco print' considerations as possible.
Final Presentation
All elements to be mounted and annotated clearly with module number/name visible, on a sheet of black A1 mount board.
Are the any other similar courses to 'Naturesbase'?
There are the so many different activities for children to get involved with and enjoy, but 'Naturesbase' aren't the only organisation of its kind.
Another example is 'Arthog' -- an outdoor education centre aimed at children aged 11+ (but take on a lot of younger secondary school year groups)
Their aims are highly similar to that of 'Naturesbase', to educate children and to involve them in outdoor activities. The activities that 'Arthog' present are perhaps a little more challenging, with tasks such as;
• Trail Quest
• Raft Building
• Gorge Scrambling
• Rock Climbing
• Mountain Walking
• Paddle Sports
• Board Surfing
• Mountain Biking
• Mine Exploration
• A Camping Night Out
• Nightline
• Orienteering
• Photosearch
• Night Walks
• Beach Games
Having been to 'Arthog' three times in the past, I have a first-hand experience at an outdoor activity organisation, so I'm looking forward to putting design and outdoor education/activity together.
Other examples of outdoor education adventure organisations include:
Kingswood
Howstean Gorge
Live the Adventure
Initial thoughts and ideas for 'Naturesbase'?
After doing some research into 'Naturesbase' and their aims, and also reaching out into further similar organisations, my initial thoughts are that I want to create elements of a children's book that really engages with a child and makes them excited about what lies outside their front door and beyond technology. Something that makes them want to know more about the different activities you can take part in not only in your garden, but in fields, forests, streams etc. I'm looking forward to getting started with this brief.
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