Using nature’s classroom to provide quality childcare and family learning experiences.
Our Corry Capers outdoor learning programme provides quality after school and holiday childcare in the woodlands next to the Growers Hub. Children connect to nature through play while they learn valuable nature friendly skills and develop their appreciation of the environment. The sessions are open to all children aged 5 – 16, and we are fully accredited by Scotland’s Care Inspectorate. Our latest Inspectorate report can be found here.
Sessions take place in a dedicated area of the woodland which the ‘Corry Caperers’ have made their own. We provide a generous ratio of staff to children. Under this qualified supervision, the youngsters have fun with activities such as building dens, making fires, hunting for bugs, pond dipping, planting, animal husbandry and creating natural art. In 2023 we developed a ‘Corry Crafts’ element with an emphasis on rural skills such as wood carving and weaving.
Another enriching part of children’s learning stems from visiting partners. These have included organisations such as Amphibian Reptile Conservation, Nature Scot’s Species On The Edge, the Bat Conservation Trust and the International Otter Survival Fund.
We are also developing family learning activities, providing inter-generational opportunities to connect with the flora and fauna of our local area. See our News pages for updates.
“A fantastic place for [our children] to socialise and learn. They have loved every bit of it!”
“The leaders are all great and clearly put a lot of effort into the sessions. A wonderful addition to the community!”
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Desire for an outdoor learning centre has long been identified as a key priority in our consultations with the community. With funding from the Aspiring Communities Fund, and support from the European Social Fund, a feasibility and requirements study was carried out in 2017-18. In December 2018 all the hard work paid off and the Aspiring Communities Fund awarded Broadford and Strath Community Company a further grant of £133,940 following a successful stage two application to run an outdoor learning pilot project.
The key aims of the project are to provide quality outdoor after-school and school holiday childcare in Broadford; to offer local and visiting children opportunities to connect with nature developing a greater awareness and appreciation of their environment; and to provide new employment and training opportunities for people in the local community.
How to get involved
We currently run after school sessions on a Monday (3.30 – 5.30pm) and Friday (1 – 4pm). If you would like to register your child for a place please contact us (see below) for an enrolment form.
We also offer engaging activities during the school holidays which currently run from 10am to 3pm – see our News pages and the Corry Capers Facebook page for updates.
There is a fee of £5 per hour with a 25% reduction for siblings. We are committed to ensuring that our service is accessible to everyone who wants to attend and have some funded places available; contact us to enquire about eligibility.
More information
Contact Tracy Keenan, Outdoor Learning Centre Manager: tracy@broadfordandstrath.org / 07939 655 783