The Greatest Outdoors

Category: 2024

We are four years old!

Elements began in 2020, in the teeth of the pandemic. We are now 4 years old. It has been QUITE the ride. We have had now run scores of sessions, held numerous holiday schemes, put on festivals and birthday parties and even had a wonderful time exploring the world of arts and crafts

We have held our sessions all over Northern Ireland – from – Loughgall to the Waterworks. We have even run courses for others interested in Forest School.

We have introduced over 500 children in different ways to the wonders of nature.

All the while we have stayed true to the ideals of nature being a part of ourselves. Our sessions bring in art, science, gross and fine motor skills. We tell stories. We make sure there’s food. Ans speaking of food…

We have been always been big on foraging and cooking with what we find. But I must let you into a little secret: children love food cooked on an open fire. Whether it is the novelty or the taste of the smoky wood, or the novelty, we have never had children which had said to us they did not like what we prepared.

As the year plays out, we are so pleased once more to be running an after school at the Holywood Steiner School, birthday parties at the Quarries, Easter and other holiday schemes as well as another Wild About Learning programme with the Fostering Network. It has been a truly fulfilling and inspiring ride.

Thank you to EVERYONE who has been along for it!

Stephanie and Jemma

Easter Scheme 2024!

Yes, we had weather – for a bit, but then the sun came out and we reveled in the gorgeousness of Crawfordsburn Country Park. I think we can safely say there is no other place like it… waterfalls, rapids, river to play in, magnificent train bridge, blue flag beach, meadows and of course FOREST and to cap it all off a geologically inspired playground! We had such a blast! Here are some of the pictures… but not all cos we were super busy the entire time!

Day 1

We walked to the waterfall… and enjoyed looking at the wooden sculptures along the way. There was a burning question… what are turkey tails… well, now everyone who came on Monday knows…!

Walking to the waterfall… it was a bit drizzly, but many of our children are used to the weather and no one mentioned it… furthermore they were all so engrossed in conversation they forgot about the wet.

On the way back

It is impossible to overstate the beauty of this railway line built in that 19th century that spans the burn. One of the questions was, what runs over this bridge? Many said people. I said, yes people, but what are the people in? Cars? Walking? Then someone said, Trains! And a few seconds later a train went over the bridge, right on cue.


Splashing about in water… there is a reason why elements was called elements… and it is so nice that many people are returning to that way of looking at the world…
Splitting wood for the fire… everyone had a go at the hatchet.

Huge thumbs up for the bannock newbies!

Day 2

Today was sand castle day…
We started out with games by the beach…
Then we made a sandcastle village…
This one was a clifftop village…
Rock pooling…
We then made pizza on a pan. Here we are lighting the fire.
Easter egg hunt rounded off the afternoon

Day 3

Flying kites we made…
The Gang!
Smores!!!
Dyeing Easter Eggs!

And that was us! Easter 2024 was over, just like that! I heard that children slept soundly that night!

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