THE HORIZON COUNCIL FOR LEARNING OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM NATIONAL CONFERENCE 2023

Join us on 2nd March 2023 at the amazing West Midland Safari Park for a day of engaging workshops, inspiring speakers, and informative discussions. The CLOtC Conference is the only event dedicated to learning outside the classroom (LOtC) that brings together teachers, headteachers, sector-leaders and providers from across the country.

It’s a fantastic opportunity to discover how you can successfully develop your LOtC provision and attract a bigger, broader audience to your venue or organisation. There will be plenty of networking opportunities where you’ll be able to speak to like-minded individuals, share best practice and gain advice on topics such as how to communicate to potential customers (schools) and how to deliver good-quality LOtC experiences amid the current wider challenges. This year we are pleased to announce that we will be running separate workshops for schools/settings and providers, tailored to the needs of each. The workshops will be led by experts and cover the breadth of learning outside the classroom, giving practical advice for attendees to take back to their teams.

For more information about the event, please view our Conference Guide – What to Expect and book your tickets here today. We hope to see you in March!

Future Footprints

It is now accepted that we are living at a time where we must act urgently to change our existing systems and ways of relating to the planet. This change must be at every level; personal, community, national and global. We are in the privileged position of being able to introduce children and adults to the beauty and benefits of the outdoors and can reconnect them and instil in them the concept of stewardship of the environment.

There is a lot of fear, despondency, avoidance and ignorance. We know that children and young people are increasingly anxious about the climate and the environment. Studies show distress, anger and other negative mental health problems are increasing in 16-to-25 year olds due to “eco anxiety”. We know that the UK is the world’s second worst producer of plastic waste per person, behind only the US. Sadly, despite our best efforts at home and at work, less than 10% of our plastic is actually recycled. Most of it is shipped and dumped. We also know the importance of biodiversity and the poor state of the UK’s biodiversity relative to other countries. Biodiversity loss risks ‘ecological meltdown’.

The Future Footprints initiative is a means of ensuring we get our own house in order and have a positive impact through the lives of all those we have contact with. Starting with our actions at home and at work in our immediate environment, we can begin to make changes for the better.

For more on the new Future Footprints initiative, click here.