Blog

Spotlight on Anita Kerwin-Nye - Outdoor Citizens Campaign

Published: 26 Mar 2019

Anita Kerwin-Nye is a national leader in access to enrichment, extra-curricular provision and a rich and rounded curriculum.

With a particular interest in special educational needs and disability, Anita has run several Department for Education contracts on supporting inclusion, including founding Whole School SEND and The Communication Trust.

Spotlight on Dr Roger Hopper

Published: 13 Mar 2019

Dr Roger J Hopper is Development Manager at Heatree Activity Centre in Devon. He has over 25 years' experience working in the outdoors as a multi-activity instructor, trainer, centre Manager, qualified teacher and University lecturer. His passion is to support and enable the outdoors to be used in a professionally recognised, sustainable manner for personal transformation. Roger will be talking about the National Outdoor Learning Award (NOLA) which all schools can take part in.

Spotlight on Dr Roger Greenaway - Reviewing skills training

Published: 05 Mar 2019

Spotlight on Dr Roger Greenaway - Reviewing Skills Training and speaker at our Learning Beyond the Classroom conference 29th March 2019.

Dr Roger Greenaway's interests span teaching, training and youth work and wherever people want to get more value from active approaches to learning. Roger trained in Wales as a teacher of English and Outdoor Education and he has retained an interest in both subjects throughout his career. Here he discusses why he is thrilled to be part of our conference.

Spotlight on Nick Baker, naturalist and TV presenter

Published: 20 Feb 2019

Naturalist and TV presenter, Nick Baker, joins us at this years 'Learning Beyond the Classroom' conference being held on 29 March 2019 at High Ashurst, Mickleham nr Dorking.

Nick will be leading a talk on 'Building a Naturalist' as well as delivering two workshops on the fascinating minute world of 'Life in a Bucket'. Nick is passionate about us all getting more connected to nature and will inspire and motivate our delegates to make 'Every day a field trip' for their young people! Here's why and how....

Learning outside the classroom, the benefits are clear!

Published: 11 Feb 2019

Never has there been a better time to be getting your young people active throughout the school day! The evidence is clear – more focus and concentration, improved attainment, less disruptive behaviour, improved attendance, all from using your inside and outside classroom space more flexibly to encourage more physical activity throughout the school day.

Learning Beyond the Classroom Conference 2018

Published: 23 May 2018

On Friday April 20 we welcomed the delegates to our annual Beyond the Classroom conference at High Ashurst.

We had guest speakers: Kate Humble (TV presenter, write and novelist), Juliet Robertson (author of Messy Maths and Dirty Teaching) and Kim Somerville (Learning Away) and workshops throughout.

Academic Education Is Incomplete Without Personal Growth

Published: 26 Feb 2018

As a leading provider of outdoor education in London and Surrey, SOLD know all too well the benefits for young people that come from incorporating the outdoors across the school curriculums. From building character and encouraging healthy lifestyle choices to aiding social, physical, and emotional development, outdoor learning has too many benefits to ignore, which is why it is so encouraging to see more and more schools making it a vital part of lessons for all ages. But, with mandated testing still seeming to focus on traditional learning, is personal growth still being undervalued in comparison to academic education?

Four Reasons to Book Your Place at SOLD’s 2018 Learning Beyond The Classroom Conference Right Now!

Published: 07 Feb 2018

With our dedication to providing quality outdoor learning courses for teachers, and following the success of last year's Learning Beyond The Classroom conference, it was only natural that we'd be hosting another one in 2018! If you didn't attend the 2017 conference, then you can read our recap blog to hear about what you missed out on! If you're still not sure if you are going to book a place for this year's conference, then one of these four reasons should put any indecision to bed! You'll find you want to book ASAP if...

Surfing seal spotted at Thames Young Mariners

Published: 23 Jan 2018

Great excitement at Thames Young Mariners today with a sighting of a seal in our lake aboard a windsurf board!

We immediately reported this to the Zoological Society of London (ZSL) through their website. Reporting these sightings will help ZSL to make sense of the biodiversity in the Thames and will help with conservation. So, if you 're lucky enough to ...

Fact File: Triple Trapeze

Published: 11 Dec 2017

Surrey Outdoor Learning and Development (SOLD) is an AHOEC GOLD accredited outdoor learning provider that offers adults and young people alike the opportunity to learn, develop, and flourish through residential or day experiences. We offer a wide range of outdoor activities across our three Surrey and London centres, and are starting a series highlighting a few of these to highlight their benefits for learning and development. This week's spotlight is on the Triple Trapeze at High Ashurst, our activity centre in Surrey that is near Dorking.