‘LEEFlet’ The Newsletter of the London Environmental Education Forum Summer 2009
The Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge is now being awarded The Council for Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) have started awarding the first new LOtC badges . These badges provide the first national accreditation combining the essential elements of provision – learning and safety – into one easily recognisable and trusted Quality Badge for all types of organisations that provide learning outside the classroom. The Quality Badge is for all organisations and venues that provide learning outside the classroom experiences for children and young people aged 0-19 and offer safe, high quality teaching and learning experiences (i.e. managing risk effectively). Local authorities, employers, the education workforce and parents will be able to recognise and have confidence in the Quality Badge scheme.
everyone’s experience, such as visits to theatres, art galleries, museums, historic houses, science learning centers, botanic gardens or places of worship. Here the risks are of an ‘everyday’ kind and are well within the experience of well trained school staff. These providers will follow a Route 1 process in which the Quality Badge is awarded when all the quality indicators can be met following the completion of an online Self Evaluation Form and the signing of a Code of Practice declaration form. There will be annual quality assurance visits to a proportion of badged providers to ensure standards are maintained at an appropriate level. And, of course, there will also be appropriate processes for visitors to raise concerns should they feel that a provider is failing to maintain the agreed standard. The second route is for those activities that require a degree of technical knowledge and experience, such as visits to farms, knowing which beaches are safe to use for field studies at certain states of the tide or how to ensure a group of children are operating safely on a high ropes course or a circus trapeze. Providers of these activities will follow Route 2, in which their safety management systems will be assessed by external agencies before they can be awarded the Quality Badge. They will still have to meet the same criteria for ensuring quality as the providers following Route 1. Five sector-specific Awarding Bodies will be undertaking the onsite assessments on behalf of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. For most LEEF members it will be ‘Access to Farms’ and ‘The Field Studies Council.’
For the purpose of the Quality Badge, Learning Outside the Classroom is defined as "the use of places other than the classroom for the teaching and learning of young people aged 0-19." This includes experiences that take place in: • School grounds, for example gardening • The local environment, for example land and streetscapes or places of worship • Places further afield, for example museums and galleries or field study and environmental centers • Residential places, for example summer camps or expeditions
The Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust is one of the first London based environmental organisations to get a badge. Their Centre's learning manager Michelle Pennell said: “The assessment was a really valuable experience as it made us take a fresh look at the work we do with school groups, particularly how we evaluate their learning. I am very proud of WWT London being awarded the Quality Badge. It is an acknowledgement of the hard work we put in to ensure each individual learner has a high quality, memorable experience exploring the natural world in safe surroundings."
Depending on the kind of activity you provide there are two routes to getting your Quality Badge. The first route is for those activities and venues that fall within the scope of
The LOtC Quality Badge’s are now being awarded. Visit the link below to find out how to apply for a badge for your site: http://www.lotcqualitybadge.org.uk/home
with assistance from Ruskins Ltd, specialist tree moving contractors. By Anna Portch (LEEF Coordinator)
Useful Tools and Networks Do you want to help frontline organisations be more sustainable but find yourself short for time? Have a look at the NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations) Third Sector Foresight Future Focus guides! These guides: • Are simple and effective • Help organisations be more sustainable Get free bulk copies of these guides to send on to, or use with, the frontline organisations that you and your organisation support. To sign up, email futurefocus@ncvovol.org.uk. Sign up now while stocks last! NCVO Third Sector Foresight is offering you an easy, effective way of helping frontline organisations to understand and respond to their environment. To find out more: http://www.lvsc.org.uk/ The new-look Climate Radio website has just gone live! Listen to the 300-350 Show: Arctic Special part one. The first of two episodes feature Jess Worth – co-editor of New Internationalist - who has recently finished editing an issue of the magazine focusing on the Arctic. This issue uncovers the largely untold story of how climate change is impacting already on indigenous peoples and their traditional subsistence lifestyles. You can listen to the programme now at www.climateradio.org Let Talk Action run a conference, fun-day and training in your area 1. Choose your themes and topics 2. Select your combination of training days, conference and fun day activities 3. We can do the rest! To find out more: www.talkaction.org for full details, or call 0207 324 4774.
Malmsbury Estate Tower Hamlets London Play has worked closely with Play Association Tower Hamlets (PATH) to add a big old fallen oak tree surrounded by woodchip as a safety surface to a residential square on an estate, which has been a focus of activity for the mobile playworkers who visit different parts of the area on different days each week. PATH has worked closely with Tower Hamlets Homes and the residents and tenants association in the area to devise a number of play improvements, of which this is the first. The next phase of the project will be for local children to plant suitable small trees in the square during the autumn. London Wildlife Trust Hackney East Reservoir The LWT site now has a new combined bird hide and playhouse for children. It has swings and hammocks underneath and can be used on a free, come and go as you like basis within their opening hours. The hide allows you to watch the birds without disturbing them, on this important site for migrating and indigenous water fowl. Loris Road Community Garden Hammersmith The public gardens have been transformed with a new natural play area. The old play area with swings and slide fell into disuse and was removed years ago, as it became a streetdrinkers hang out. Now with new by-laws in place prohibiting street drinking, parents are finding it is safe to let their children play out again. The local school also has a special relationship with the gardens and play area, as they have their own door directly into it from the school playground, so it is used extensively for learning outside the classroom and recreation. Woodvale and Mawbey Brough Estates Lambeth Fir trees reclaimed from a site in the Lea Valley Park, earmarked for the new white water Olympic canoeing course, have been replanted on their sides to become dens and climbing structures as part of two new estatebased play areas.
Natural Play Projects London Play has announced that a number of natural play projects have now been completed, thanks to funding from Natural England and corporate sponsor ICAP, and
Events Vauxhall City Farm - Free Family Fun Activities this summer
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Every Wednesday from 1.30 pm – 3 pm during the Summer Holidays. Don’t be late as spaces are limited. from old junk 5th August 'Weaving Willow' learning how to weave and taking away • 12th August 'Paper Power' make your own 'special paper' • 19th August 'Rainbow Catching' A rainbow has shattered - can you find it? • 26th August 'Grubs Up' Outdoor cookery on the farm with loads of fun food To find Vauxhall City Farm: Address: 165 Tyers St, Vauxhall, SE11 5HS Tel: 020 7582 4204 Finding Us: The farm is located along the edge of Spring Gardens, just off Kennington lane with the entrance on Tyers street. Pestival 03/09/2009 to 06/09/2009 Southbank Centre London Pestival is a mobile arts festival examining insect-human interactivity in bioscience, through paradigms of contemporary art, cinema, music and comedy as well as direct scientific demonstration and educational projects. Pestival will bring together eminent international artists and scientists and local and global communities to collaborate on cutting-edge interdisciplinary art projects, placing the natural world under the microscope in order to further public understanding of our place within the biosphere. Do you wish to help revolutionise public understanding of art and the environment and build awareness of current insect interactions with both the natural world and humankind? Come and take part in a unique event this September by volunteering time and energy. Meet other like-minded people and have fun by joining this energetic and innovative community of cutting edge scientists and artists. Artists and activities include insect ID walks and talks; insect fashion shows with internationally renowned artist in residence Noboru Tsubaki; artist Bob and Roberta Smith’s mobile Brownfield site; insect Comedy with Robin Ince; a termite Pavilion and insect music with Robyn Hitchcock. To find out more: http://pestival.org or email: pestivalteam@google.com. All Our Futures 2 15 – 17 September 2009
All Our Futures 2, through future forecasting from world experts, business and design leaders, researchers, learners and teachers, will address the sustainability challenges of the twenty first century. This conference brings together the imperatives of design, business and education: that we design a world that we can go on living in, and that we communicate to each other the values, insights, skills and technologies informing this design. The conference will take place at the University of Plymouth. To find out more: http://csf.plymouth.ac.uk/allourfutures/about#D esign#Design
Groups and Courses An Introduction to Bushcraft at Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve Do you think you could survive in the wild? Want to learn how? Then come and join survival skills expert Enric Cucarella on this one-day course. The Ray Mears of London, Enric has lead similar courses for the London Wildlife Trust for a number of years. He will teach you how to find food in the wild, the various ways to build a fire and how best to purify water. Some refreshments will be provided but please bring your own packed lunch. • Sat 15th August (over 21 years, £30 per person) • Thu 20th August 2009 (16-21 years, £20 per person) Time: 10am-4pm. Location: Hainault Lodge Local Nature Reserve, Forest Road, Fairlop, Essex, IG6 3HP. Booking in advance is essential. To find out more: Contact the Nature Conservation Ranger Team by calling 020 8501 1426 or emailing nature.conservation@redbridge.gov.uk Wildlife Photographers Haringey 1st Haringey Wildlife Photographers meeting Are you interested in wildlife photography? As a beginner or non-amateur, BTCV are supporting local photographers to take pictures of local wildlife with monthly meets, workshops and exhibitions including guest speakers and displays of work. When: 7.30pm, Tuesday 11th August, and then the 2nd Tuesday of every month.
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Location: Railway Fields, off Green Lanes, Haringey, N4. To find out more: Contact BTCV on 020 8348 6005 or email m.bury@btcv.org.uk. Felt Workshop Two Thursday workshops September 3rd 10am - 4pm September 10th 10am - 4pm Location: The Others 6 and 8 Manor Road, London N16 5BG For beginners and experimenters The workshop will use natural forms as an inspiration to discover the potential and creative freedom of felt making. Absorb yourself in the wonderful textures, patterns and forms that can be created using wool combined with other materials. Learn different mixed media techniques to produce sample pieces and get inspired about turning these into more sculptural forms, toys and even clothing. Course price £30 + materials To find out more: Please contact Louise Email: louise_isik@hotmail.com t.0208 8023752
LEEFnet ‘Summer Holiday LEEFnet’ A free ‘art and nature’ picnic where you can meet other LEEF members. Location: Centre for Wildlife Gardening 28 Marsden Road, London, SE15 4EE. When: Tuesday 25th August 2009, 11:00 am till 2:00 pm. This ‘Art and Nature’ ideas sharing event for LEEF members and their friends and families is hosted by Celia Hammond at the Centre for Wildlife Gardening. Zuky Serper will demonstrate ideas for ‘Art and Nature’ activities. Bring your own picnic to eat in the garden and ‘Art and Nature’ activities to share. Booking is essential. CHILDREN WELCOME To find out more: info@leef.org.uk. www.leef.org.uk ‘Autumn LEEFnet’ A free event to meet other LEEF members Location: Chelsea Physic Garden, 66 Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea, SW3 4HS. Enter via the green door beside the 170 bus stop/shelter on royal hospital road.
When: Thursday 17th September 5:00 - 8:00 pm. Hosted by Michael Holland of the Chelsea Physic Garden, after the garden has closed to the public, LEEF members will get their own private tour. PLEASE bring any activities or tips on or about growing and gardening that you or your organisation does with children or adult groups, as well as details of where people can source seeds, funding, gardening tools, etc. Booking is essential. To find out more: info@leef.org.uk. www.leef.org.uk
Volunteers Envision is looking for enthusiastic, committed, solution focused volunteers to become "Envision Youth Educators" (EYEs) starting in September/October 09. This challenging and highly rewarding role involves supporting teams of young volunteers aged 16-19 to plan, set up and implement their own projects tackling social or environmental problems they identify in their schools and communities. You will be helping young people develop skills, gain confidence and explore their own potential to make a difference. You will need to commit to weekly meetings (normally at lunchtime) until May 2010. You will be placed in a school local to your home or place of work or study with another volunteer- a great opportunity to meet new people or volunteer with friends or work colleagues. We are currently interviewing volunteers for this coming academic year with training dates in July, August and September. To find out more: www.envision.org.uk/volunteer or call Emily Pickering on 020 7253 1677. Volunteer Environmental Education Assistant, London Wildlife Trust London Wildlife Trust needs enthusiastic volunteers to assist with formal and informal onsite and outreach environmental education sessions and events. The role will provide excellent work experience. Volunteers will learn how to prepare and deliver environmental education programmes with a view to eventually delivering sessions themselves, and receive training in how to run successful events. You should have experience of working with children & young people, and some conservation & wildlife knowledge. To find out more:
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www.wildlondon.org.uk or contact Ashley White: 0207 252 9186, awhite@wildlondon.org.uk. Deadline: Friday 7 August 2009 Publicity and Support Team Volunteer, Urban Green Fair The Urban Green Fair is a unique grass-roots and family orientated event in Brockwell Park, Lambeth, on 20th September 2009. Education, action and enjoyment are promoted on a range of issues including food, transport, technology, health, social justice and climate change. As a volunteer-run event, they are looking for others to join the team and ensure the success and smooth running of this fun and free day out! Responsibilities vary; key priorities are assisting zone coordinators on the day and publicity in the lead up. Publicity should start from August 22nd onwards – from flyering shops near you to promotion at local events, with flexibility in location, timing and time commitment. No previous experience is required - just a curiosity and enthusiasm for local community and diverse green issues. To find out more: www.urbangreenfair.org or contact Danielle Paffard by emailing volunteer@urbangreenfair.org. Deadline: Sunday 20 September 2009 Environmental Fair – volunteer opportunity of the summer! Bank Holiday Monday 31st August, Carshalton Park Ruskin Road, 10.30 am – 8pm. Yes it’s back again! Over 100 stalls, three stages with local talent, children’s activities, delicious catering and a new look bar for 2009 with local real ales and organic lager. The Fair will feature lots of information and advice on how you can help meet the challenge to live a one planet lifestyle! If you help out for more than 2 hours we’ll provide you with a lunch voucher. To find out more: fair@ecolocal.org.uk.
Jobs Work for London Wildlife Trust Youth Volunteering Coordinator £24,000 (Grade 4 Senior Officer) An exciting new role within London Wildlife Trust helping to deliver the Mayor’s Earn Your Travel Back volunteering scheme for young people. This will be a full time role involving extensive weekend working. If you are an experienced youth worker and want to engage a new group of young people
in the improvement of London’s environment, then we’d like to hear from you. For the opportunity to join our People and Wildlife team, download an application pack below. To find out more: recruitment@wildlondon.org.uk or call 020 7261 0447 with any enquiries. Deadline: 9am Monday 10th August 2009. Interviews will be held on Thursday August 13th 2009.
Eco-Schools Officer, London Borough of Sutton £23,733 - 27,753 Sutton is the first Borough in the country to have developed an ambitious plan to become a ‘One Planet Borough’ - living within its fair share of the Earth’s resources. They are looking for an Eco-schools Officer to drive forward the issue of sustainability in Sutton schools and help to deliver measurable improvements in schools’ environmental performance. You should have excellent knowledge of environmental sustainability issues and the ability to encourage and support schools to achieve positive behavioural change. They are looking for a highly motivated individual, able to work using their own initiative and keen to build relationships with schools and other organisations in the Borough to drive forward sustainability issues. You will have excellent communications and organisational skills. To find out more and to apply, look on the LB Sutton website:www.sutton.gov.uk. Deadline: Monday 10 August 2009. Community Production Gardener, Global Generation £30,456 Global Generation is an Education Charity based in Kentish Town, London, involving children and young people in a range of Environmental and Social Change programmes. They are looking to appoint an experienced and reliable Community Production Gardener to share a full time Lottery Funded post with Global Generation’s current Gardens Manager. You will have experience of working in educational contexts with young people and adult volunteers from community and corporate settings. They are particularly looking for an individual who has specific experience of production for sales to local restaurants in order to complement the skill set of Global Generation’s current Gardens Manager. You will be a highly organised individual with a sound knowledge and experience of organic gardening
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practices, particularly as they relate to food growing in urban settings. To find out more: www.globalgeneration.org.uk; call: 0207 284 1054; or email:generate@globalgeneration.org.uk. Deadline: Thursday 20 August 2009
The London Environmental Education Forum. C/O London Wildlife trust, Skyline House, 200 Union St, London, SE1 0LX. www.leef.org.uk aportch@wildlondon.org.uk
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