Mud Pies ran three weeks of fun during July. We looked for bugs, climbed huge tree trunks and made mud pies, camouflage capes and some wild weaving creations - see the Gallery for some of the evidence!
New school term - August 2010
Weekly classes will be running throughout the 2010/2011 school year.
Aberdeen City classes take place on Mondays, with Aberdeenshire classes running on Tuesdays.
August to October 2010
There are two sessions running between the start of the new term and the October holidays.
Aberdeen City - Countesswells Woods, Aberdeen
Session 1: Mondays 23 August to 13 September (4 weeks) - 10 to 11.30am or 1 to 2.30pm - £28
Session 2: Mondays 20 September to 4 October (3 weeks) - 10 to 11.30am or 1 to 2.30pm - £21
Countesswells Wood is on the outskirts of Aberdeen, between Cults and Kingswells and opposite Loanhead Equestrian Centre. It has pine, fir and beech trees, stones and logs to clamber on and over ten fantastic dens to explore courtesy of a recent Forestry Commission workshop. The new Dobbies Garden Centre also isn't far away for lunch or afternoon cakes!
Aberdeenshire - Scolty Woods, Banchory
Session 1: Tuesdays 24 August to 14 September (4 weeks) - 10 to 11.30am or 1 to 2.30pm - £28
Session 2: Tuesdays 21 September to 5 October (3 weeks) - 10 to 11.30am or 1 to 2.30pm - £21
With walls to scramble over, burns to splash in and secret paths to explore, we're going to have lots of fun at Scolty Woods! Banchory has great cafes and delis,
a fantastic independent bookshop, a funpark, friendly ice cream shop
and even a museum. Woodend Barn, just out of town, has a top restaurant
(with inspiring allotments next door) and CrathesCastle is only five minutes away. So make a day of it - come to Mud Pies and have fun along Deeside!
Mud Pies are for two to five year olds and their parent or other carer, i.e. children who are not yet in Primary 1.
The classes are held weekly and run in session blocks lasting half a school term, usually between 4 and 6 weeks. Each class lasts 90 minutes and will involve up to
15 children and their adults.
Sessions run throughout the school year and are held in specially selected woods within Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire. Aberdeen City sessions are held on Mondays with activities in Aberdeenshire taking place on Tuesdays.
Classes times: 10 – 11.30, repeated again at 1 - 2.30pm
What’s involved?
After an initial welcome to each
day's theme by the session leader, the children will explore the wood
for fortyfive minutes to look for interesting items. The group will then arrive at
the ‘nature den' (a temporary tarpaulin shelter) to take part in further activities
and games for another thirty minutes. Everyone will then leave together,
fifteen minutes prior to the end of the session, to make their way back, by
another route, to the car park.
Classes
will be based around a loose theme each week, and will involve a range of fun,
seasonal activities, such as collecting leaves, identifying trees and birds,
spotting colours and shapes or hunting for minibeasts. Classes will also involve
making something from the natural treasures collected. Planting seeds which
have been picked up in the woods to take home and look after will also feature
in each session.
Not just for children!
Parents/carers are expected to play an active role in the session. This is an ideal opportunity for children and their adults to enjoy quality time while learning together about the environment. Mud Pies hopes all participants will be inspired to carry on exploring nature and replicate some of the activities outwith Mud Pies.
How much?
Classes are paid for in session blocks. Each class costs £7, so a five week session costs £35 per child. Adults go free. Payment (online or cheque) is made prior to the start of the session.
What about older children? Can my child’s nursery or school book a session?
Mud Pies are for families with children aged between two and five (not yet in P1). Mud Pies aims to work with schools, nurseries and playgroups in the very near future. Please get in touch in the meantime to discuss your group’s requirements.
Thanks to:
- the Forestry Commission Scotland for making the fantastic Countesswells Woods, Dunnottar and Scolty Woodland Parks and Back O'Bennachie available for Mud Pies.
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