Connect With Natures Elements @
Elemental Outdoor Learning
Elemental Outdoor Learning aspires to connect people with nature for their mutual benefit. At the heart of our site is our fire circle, or hearth, where we gather for the age old practice of sharing warmth, community, drink, food and craic! Indeed we seek to bring this spirit of community and connection into all of our sessions, whether on or off site. Our sessions follow, as much as possible, the principles of Forest School in order to maximise the benefits for those who participate. A wide range of activities are incorporated into our sessions and these include, fire craft, campfire cooking, foraging, nature crafts, rope and knot work, rope swings, den/shelter building, whittling, simple tool use, nature study and restoration, mindfulness/nature therapy and celtic wheel of the year celebrations. All designed to improve wellness and health in all our participants.
For more information on Forest School see the Irish Forest School Association website
The journey so far...
On the 8 April 2024 Elemental Outdoor Learning held its first session in a field in Esker, Ballindine, Co Mayo! The start of something new here, but Elemental has been around for a lot longer. Essentially Elemental has been me, Ellie McEwan, working as a freelance Forest School Leader. My love of being outside started way back in childhood during long summer holidays here in Co Mayo on my Grandparents' farms. My enjoyment of working with children started when I Au-Paired in America, in 1996! I am a qualified Montessori Directress and completed my BA in Early Childhood Care and Education at Dublin Institute of Technology. In early 2015, following a move from the Midlands of England to Cornwall, I took the opportunity to give up my managerial role in Early Years Inspection work. This enabled me to spend more time with my then very young children and return to working directly with children. Cont....
Heritage in Schools Specialist
The Heritage in Schools Scheme is the Heritage Council’s national primary school programme delivered by a panel of Heritage Specialists, recruited and Garda vetted by the Heritage Council. School visits are part-funded by the school and the Heritage Council. You can find out more information and see Ellie's Heritage in Schools Profile here.
Once you decide that your school would like a fun, hands-on outdoor learning session delivered by Ellie either call 089 603 7974, use contact form or email info@elemental-ol.ie to agree the details and then book through the Heritage Council website.
Free consultation visits are available, with Ellie covering counties, Mayo, Galway, Roscommon and Sligo.
Forest School Holiday Camps
Days of holiday fun for children 5-13 years. These drop of days will be full of free play and our usual selection of bushcraft and Forest School activities. Longer sessions enable children to try out more, delve deeper into their imaginations in nature and further develop projects, such as dens/hideouts or whittling creations.
Drinks, foraged teas and campfire snack will be provided and children bring their own lunch and drink to suit their tastes and ensure they have plenty for the day.
Bright Sparks
After School Club
Join the fun and games at our outdoor after school club. Children, 5-13 years, will be welcomed onto our site to have fun in nature with friends, 4-6pm on Wednesdays during term time. There will be lots of free play as well as firelighting, games, campife snacks, foraged teas, nature crafts, den building and simple tool use. A perfect way for children to unwind after school and enjoy the rich benefits of being in nature.
Family Elements
Our midweek family session
Family forest school and outdoor learning sessions, Wednesdays during term time, 10-12pm, are designed for families to attend together. They are best suited to younger children (0-10 years) and their parents and carers. Your child is never too young for this group. Babies are richly stimulated by the gentle multi-sensory experience of being in nature. Toddlers adore exploring the mud kitchen and testing out their ever changing physical skills in a supportive community that helps them to manage risk and succeed. These sessions provide a wonderful opportunity for families to connect with and learn from each other. These sessions are child-led and focus on free-play, exploring nature and developing relationships with friends whilst having the opportunity to engage in a variety of optional woodland games and activities.
Each week there will be a cosy campfire with some delicious homemade campfire treats and hot drinks, singing and stories around the campfire, free play, seasonal crafts, mud kitchen and sensory play.
...to check out Birthday Parties / 1:1 Sessions and Team Building Days.
Want to join but need a different kind of session, timing or day of the week?
Tell us, we want to hear!
Maybe you want a session for adults only, women only or for children with specific needs. Maybe you would like a nature located support group for a particular time in your life, such a group for new parents, women in peri and menopause, dad's wanting to connect with young children... Or maybe a group we've never even thought of before! We do love a challenge so don't hold back....
So far we have had two requests for after school club to return on a Monday... if we have a commitment from more families we will be happy to put the club back on.
We have had request for adult sessions but these have not been well attended; so what type of adult sessions are you looking for? Forest School/bushcraft or Nature Connection & Wellness or Foraging and Campfire Cooking or Quarter and/or Cross-Quarter festivals events or something else? Regular sessions or one of events? What days and times work best for you?
So, use the contact form or let us know on 089 603 7974.
