In June 2009, the town of Crieff in Perthshire, Scotland was the site of the Mindstretchers Enthusiasm for Nature Conference 2009. Following the World Forum programme in Belfast, 65 delegates from 12 countries across the world assembled at The Famous Grouse Experience distillery to listen to speakers whose work provided insights and inspiration into naturalistic play and learning environments and practices in Scotland and Europe.
The conference was opened by Claire Warden, Founder of Mindstretchers and European Leader of the Nature Action Collaborative for Children, with a presentation "Nurture through Nature, Creating Emotional Space for Young Children" that set the scene for Scotland and took the audience on a journey of motivational outdoor spaces.
Niki Buchan and Clare Nugent, both of Mindstretchers, provided further "Connections across Europe" in their talk on Danish and German examples of nature kindergartens and the play behaviours of young children in naturalistic environments.
Marc Veekamp, representing The Netherlands, stressed the value and importance of fledgling enterprises in his country through his presentation, "Groen is Grass - Nature in Dutch Early Childcare". Hermien Braakhekke's presentation "Playing in the Forest" reiterated the need for young children of all ages to be connected to nature.
After lunch delegates were transported to the scenic splendour of Loch Turret in the Scottish hills where they could stroll along the water's edge and settle in a calm space of their choice. This was an ideal opportunity to share thoughts and experiences through workshops facilitated by experts in their fields of naturalistic play for young people.
The sound of Scottish bagpipes drifting over the waters drew everybody back to the rustic boathouse where a number of ladies wanted to be photographed with the handsome piper in his kilt! A poster session with delegates from around the world sharing examples of good practice was followed by the lighting of fires and the opportunity for informal networking while cooking stickbread over the open fires and taking part in creative opportunities such as spoon carving.
Contrary to the information sent out the Scottish weather was stunning and the famous Scottish Midge was not much in evidence - so all the thermal underwear, waterproof coats and boots were not needed!
Day 2 saw delegates board buses and be transported to a variety of Mindstretchers sites that show examples of innovative natural play environments for young children. Whistlebrae Nature Kindergarten was the first such kindergarten in Scotland and delegates were able to explore the woodland site visiting the secret tunnel and use ropes to climb up the slippery slope! Auchlone Nature Kindergarten impressed visitors with its very naturalistic garden space, geodomic shelter with woodburning stove and the forest site where delegates found fairy houses as well as dens constructed by young children using materials from the woods and tools such as saws, loppers and mallets. Picnic hampers in the woods were enjoyed by all settling in informal groups to discuss experiences in an unhurried and natural environment. Mindstretchers Centre for Educational Excellence offered delegates the opportunity to walk through and experience naturalistic playscapes designed for children by children which offer a high degree of risk and challenge. Here they could lie in a meadow area looking up through the grass and poppies, find the underground dens, create mud pies and just absorb the views and atmosphere in the forest school site.
In the early evening there were tours of the Famous Grouse Distillery, the oldest one in Scotland, with whisky tasting before everybody gathered for a traditional Scottish dinner and Ceilidh. Memories were shared and promises of new friendships were made.
This really special conference event was diverse in the programme presented and rich in the motivational opportunities afforded for listening, seeing, networking and social time. It would be fair to say the learning continued long after the sessions adjourned!
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