In May 2024, Hill Avenue Primary Academy, worked alongside HandsOn to acquire a school bid for £50,000 to build an external structure, the Lodge. This has further developed the provision of WildnWell to promote well-being across school. As this was for our children, they were involved throughout the project from the organising phase with pupil leaders running voting stations to name the 'Lodge' to the building phase by actually setting the foundations with the volunteers.
The Wild N' Well Outdoors Approach
The Micro-Adventure Therapy Approach – immersing in the natural world close to home with a sense of adventure.
Wild N’ Well Outdoors uses the Micro-Adventure Approach to support the mental, health, wellbeing and education of those we work with. This is done through offering tailor made outdoor experiences which blends social pedagogy, adventure therapy, nature-based learning and youth development models.
Our programmes have a basic foundation with key elements implemented throughout which are the basis on which experiences are built upon:
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Nature-Connection
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Social & Emotional Literacy Development
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Therapeutic Dialogue
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Bushcraft Skills
However, whilst these are the four foundations upon which the approach rests upon and is the basis for programme design, co-production is a key element as it allows for those involved to set their own goals and focus on particular areas of development and skill.
Hill Avenue plays an integral part in identifying how Wild N’ Well Outdoors can become part of the school ethos, highlighting which children would benefit and the approaches needed i.e. 1:1 or group work. Hill Avenue leads support in identifying the needs of the young people based on individual and collective goals. This means programmes developed can focus more on education or wellbeing or even a mix based on the identified desired outcomes. Feedback between all stakeholders is essential and continuous.
More details regarding the programme, theory and research here.
