The Parks Trust receives recognition from the Institute of Outdoor Learning for its Youth Ranger programme.
The Trust received an award in the Environmental Awareness & Action category at the 2018 Celebrating Outdoor Learning Awards. This aims to highlight innovative projects that encourage and enable more people to get out, be active, learn about and connect with the outdoors.
The Student Dissertation Award for the dissertation on; ‘A research project to study the reasons why Key Stage 1 schools use external providers for outdoor education over in-house provision’, completed by Outdoor Learning Coordinator Nicky Saunders as part of her BA Applied Education Studies degree.
The Outdoor Education Advisors Panel.
The winners were then selected by a public vote.
Youth Rangers is a volunteer group for young people aged 14-17 interested in gaining hands-on skills and experience in environmental work. The programme provides outdoor learning opportunities and challenges that will help prepare participants, both professionally and personally, for future studies and careers within the environmental sector.
Hannah Bodley, head of marketing, events and community engagement, commented: “We are very proud of our Outdoor Learning team for the fantastic achievement of winning the Environmental Awareness & Action award as well as being finalists in two further categories. This recognises the hard work of the team; who are dedicated to educating people of all ages about their local environment and all the benefits the parkland in Milton Keynes brings.