Promoting curiosity about our natural world. A new opportunity.

One of my greatest wishes for children is that they are inspired to be curious about the natural world around them. The WILD passport is just one of the ways that we achieve this at Grass Roots Muddy Boots Forest School. The WILD passport is a fantastic resource that helps kids on their journey to connect with nature and themselves.

I have answered 6 questions that I think will be helpful to parents.

1. What is it?

There are two parts to it; the teaching resource and the individual learning passports  

The teaching resource is a detailed woodland curriculum that would be used by an organisation that was delivering outdoor education. 

The passport is:

• a small book that looks like a passport
• colour coded into 5 areas of learning
• objectives that are simply written for each area of learning
• has a place to stamp or tick when a child has demonstrated enough depth of knowledge or skill to achieve this objective.

2.  What is good about the teaching resource?

• 125 Learning Objectives that progress over 5 levels 
• It is a five year curriculum 
• It is aimed at primary aged children but can be used for older children and adults.
• It is linked to the National Curriculum
• The individual records are child friendly
• It gives children a great record of their achievements
• It is divided into 5 skill areas: Woodcraft, Fire, Nature, Shelter and Rope (knots and lashings mainly)
• Clear lesson plans with colour photos
• It is accredited by The Institute for Outdoor Learning 
• It was created by outdoor specialists who really know what they are talking about when it comes to teaching children in a natural environment. I know this because I have been on some of the courses they run and now teach children the things that they taught me: knife skills, foraging, fire skills etc.
• It is designed to be flexible so we use it in an unstructured way at Forest School Holiday clubs. Children can dip in and out of it as they choose and pick a level and a skill area that they are interested in.
• The progressive objectives show children what their next step is

3. How does it help your child?

• The passport empowers children and encourages independent learning. The small record book is personal to them. I like children to have the responsibility to keep their own so that they have time to look at the objectives and identify what they are interested in.
• It fires up curiosity In different areas of outdoor learning.
• It is cross-curricular so children can make links with other areas of knowledge, bringing learning to life. For example, children make the link that if they can learn how to attach a rope to a stick then they will be able to make a variety of other projects using this rope skill.
• Children can engage in deep learning. We use the passports to encourage children to follow their own interests, this is where deeop learning takes place. A great example of this was when children used the nature camera which is one of the WILD passport objectives. 
• It is meaningful to children. For example, they gain the understanding that learning how to tie a specific knot will  help them build a more secure shelter.
• Children connect with the natural world which we know improves their well-being and holistic development, making them more open to academic learning.

4. How do we use it at Grass Roots Muddy Boots?

I use the WILD passports when I teach Forest School in primary schools. Some schools buy all their pupils a WILD passport which is great for the children. This is the best scenario because aIs mentioned above, it puts children in control of their own learning. 

The second way we have started using them is at our Holiday clubs. Siobhan, from Treetops Forest School and myself collaborate to deliver the Holiday Clubs. We have introduced the WILD passports as part of our provision because we have get many of the same children coming back every time. This means they can continue to progress through the objectives each time they come.

5. Can I do it at home with my child?

Definitely. We have found that the passports are also a way of communicating to parents what their children have shown an interest in. This can be developed further at home by talking about what they have achieved, problems they may have had, potential solutions. Practise makes perfect, right? So, practising skills at home is a great way to support children with their journey. Simple things like wrapping a piece of wool around a stick.

6. Where can I get one?

For more information on the WILD passport and a link to their shop follow WILD passport. If your child Is coming to our Spring Bank Holiday Club and wants to start a passport then drop me a message and I will bring one along. They are £6 each. The booking for the next Holiday Club opens today by the way. Here is the link Siobhan is now taking care of the bookings at Treetops Forest School.

I hope you found this useful. Please let me know by commenting below. I would be so appreciative if you wanted to hear from me every other week by email with more useful stuff like this. If you do please subscribe above.

Have a lovely weekend.

Sally xx