Wild Explorers! Outdoor Learning & Forest School for Families
For families who want to learn and grow together
Register your interest here
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Wild Explorers is a FREE project for lower income families in Taunton, especially the Halcon, Lambrook and Lane and Priorswood areas. This is thanks to funding from Somerset Community Foundation & the Early Help Fund. We want to work with families who feel ready for some change. To get outside more, to get healthier, to find ways to get through life ups and downs. To give space to your children and to yourself so that you can grow together. And all outdoors. Is that you? In the pandemic, more people have learned that being in nature is a good thing. Playing outside is really healthy for kids and can help parents to relax! Especially if you can feel safe and are with people who know about the outdoors and can guide you. We are also good at making tea and coffee, cooking on the campfire and making stuff. We're also used to working with families who may be going through difficulties or stressful times, so we have ideas and techniques for calming, relaxing and listening. We don't judge, we stand alongside and help you find your own way. Are we eligible? These sessions are funded so they are FREE. We are aiming that at families who are really stretched. So that is you if one of your children is on free school meals, or you often don’t have enough money to make ends meet each week, or you struggle to buy new clothes for the children, and you can't afford treats like cinema, or coffees out. We know how tough it can be, so these sessions are there to give families a real treat, some positive time together and to help create memories and stories that help everyone get through the difficulties. (If you can afford to pay for treats and time outside, then look at some of our other projects or email us and ask whats available.) Ready to learn a bit about nature and get confident with taking your kids outdoors? - Come to a Woodland Forest Fun Taster session. These short sessions give you a taste of what it's like to spend a day in the woods. Come and explore the place, get to know the team, play a few games or make something. There will be tea/coffee and snacks, clean loos and places to sit. Have you been to the woods before? Or ready to come for longer? - Sign up for a 6-week Explorer Group We encourage families who have been to the woods, or tried a Taster session, to come for six weeks. - they will be at weekends and in the holidays. Then everyone becomes familiar with the place, each other , the routine and can make the most of what is on offer. We will work towards the John Muir Award, which is fun for the kids and gives us all a sense of achievement. Each session will include: - Circle time around the campfire at the start and end - An explore walk through the wilder woods with games or den-building - Crafts using natural materials - Cooking together on the campfire - Free play, exploring the camp area & mud kitchen - Learning about plants and animals of the forest We can provide waterproof coats and leggings for most ages for the session, so don't let the weather put you off! -Wild Explorer Parent and Toddler Group This is part of our Wild Explorers new funded project. For children under the age of 5 years old, to come to the woods and explore the natural world. These sessions are based on the Forest School approach and each week will have lots of child lead play. Transport will be provided (with social distancing and buses being cleaned between passenger uses) with pick-up points in Priorswood and Halcon.
Face-coverings must be worn by all adults. Our woodlands are home to roe deer, badgers, foxes, squirrels and other mammals. These carry ticks which can bite humans, so we recommend long trousers, proper shoes/boots and tops you can tuck in. We will provide insect replant to prevent them biting. Special attention needs to be paid to small children and in long grass/sedge. Information to download before first visit: Before you visit download this: What to Expect and Covid19 If you get bitten by a tick please read this leaflet before you remove it. Ticks & Lyme disease Leaflet lda_ticks_and_lyme_disease.pdf 
This projects is wholly funded through Somerset Community Foundation, who have supproted our work at different times over the years. Find out more about them here
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Dates and Times 2022
Forest Fun
Bookings link here (contact us first and will give you the code to book for free) 
6-week 'Explorer Group'
Six session dates starts on Sat 12th February 2022 and is fortnightly for six sessions. 12th February 26th February 19th March 2nd April 23rd April 7th May We ask families to attend all six Saturdays. Wild Explorers Parent and Toddler Group
Block of 3 weeks First Block starts 28th January 2022 28th January 4th February 11th February 
Block of 4 weeks
2nd Block starts 11th March 2022 11th March 2022 18th March 2022 25th March 2022 1st April 2022 Block of 4 weeks 3rd block starts 29th April 29th April 2022 6th May 2022 13th May 2022 20th May 2022 
Contact Us To let us know you are interested please contact Jenny Archard jenny@nerochewoodlanders.org 07541 080397 or Sarah Holdway sarah@nerochewoodlanders.org 07784 800641 |