Community
COMMUNITY
What we do
We run pop up play events in public parks and woodlands across Moray for children and families.
We work with schools to provide outdoor learning and Forest School sessions for individual children, small nurture groups, whole classes and sometimes whole schools.
We host parties at our site at Duffus Estate.
We hold our own events, like our Elf and Fairy Fair, and we attend events run by other organisations too.
Contact our community team by sending an e-mail to:
Since 2011, we’ve been running nature inspired pop up play events for children and families in parks and woodlands.
Waddle Toddle
Waddle Toddle is a 45 minute session where families with very young children can learn and play together and socialise with other families. Our practitioners set up a small number of activities and families in an accessible public park or green space. Families can rotate around the activities or stay at one, depending on what their child/children would like to do. Activities may include loose parts play, nature crafts and exploration and messy play. Some Waddle Toddles also include a story and a take home craft.
Nature Play
Nature Play is a FREE 2 hour session of outdoor play for children and families in an accessible public park or green space. It is suitable for families with children up to age 12 and includes a number of activities such as loose parts play, bushcraft (eg. den building, whittling), nature exploration and nature inspired crafts. It is child led and a practitioner is present throughout the session to talk to families, support play and provide guidance on the activities. Families can come and go as they please during the session. We provide free snacks such as fruit and biscuits.
Forest School for Grown Ups
Aimed at lone and lonely parents, Forest School for Grown Ups is all about building confidence in the outdoors and creating an opportunity to connect with others.
There will be a range of activities each week – crafts, camp fire, tool use and games – which will be shaped by the interests of the group.
Moray Communities Mental Health and Wellbeing Fund has funded this project for a year. This means that it is free to attend and we have a small budget to help with travel expenses for anyone that needs support with this.
Alternative Curriculum
Moray Council’s flexible framework aims to cater to the diverse and changing requirements of children young people. Earthtime is one of a small number of providers who have contracted with Moray Council to provide services aimed at improving the quality of life for children and young people through our learning opportunities in the outdoors.
The Moray Council flexible framework delivery is in progress. We look forward to being featured in Moray Council’s Community Asset Map and guide to accessing services under the Alternative Curriculum. For enquiries about the Alternative Curriculum, please contact your child’s Head Teacher.
School Groups
Earthtime is a recognised Forest School provider. We were the first recognised Forest School provider in Scotland and our status is reviewed and awarded annually by the Forest School Association, based upon our delivery of their six principles.
https://forestschoolassociation.org/
We provide Forest School sessions for schools as an individual or small group session.
Activities in our sessions include den building, working with tools, fire lighting, cooking on the fire, bushcraft, nature based arts and crafts and learning about the natural environment through being in the outdoors. The hands on activities increase observational skills, stimulate senses and build confidence, independence and self-esteem.
Our practitioners support, rather than direct the sessions. Learners lead their own learning and development on their own terms through play and taking opportunities for informed risk taking. The benefits of Forest School are holistic and they transfer to all other areas of the learners’ lives, improving behaviour and performance and planting the seed for a love of the outdoors from an early age.
While we offer introductory sessions over 6 weeks, Forest School is a long term process and is intended to run over 24 weeks.
Parties
Our parties take place outdoors at Duffus Estate and are best suited to children aged 3 to 9. Earthtime parties are filled with fun, nature based activities and every party is unique.
Duration: 90 minutes
Price: £185
Numbers: 12 children (plus 2 adults)
Please contact community@earthtime.co.uk for more information or to book
PARTY THEMES
Bug Hunters
Dens & Hideouts
Enchanted Forest
Back in Time
The party was amazing, thank you so much! Everyone there commented on what a lovely idea it was. It was amazing letting them experience things they wouldn’t normally get to do, as well as letting them run free without worry!
feedback
We love to hear your feedback on our events and activites.
We absolutely loved coming to the outdoor play session! The staff were so friendly and caring, one of my boys found a muddy puddle and was enjoying splashing freely, he got a bit stuck and one staff member was so gentle with him, helping him get unstuck. I loved that all resources were open ended and the kids were able to use their imaginations and play how they wanted to. I’ve always known they prefer being outdoors but I’ve never seen them so happy or such an amazing set up as Earthtime and I’m genuinely now contemplating moving them to an outdoor nursery/school. Thank you so much ladies.
FOREST SCHOOL
What children and young people say:
”I love it. I don’t really like school so Earthtime is way better. I’m good at the games here.”
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“I wish Earthtime was carrying on forever!”
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”On a Wednesday he is much happier going into school (which is a problem for him) and is much happier overall, he has less meltdowns and looks forward to it; it’s a highlight for him.”
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“He is keen to leave the house to come and his confidence around others is better. He can now deal with others’ differences more easily.”
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“She is not scared of bugs anymore and counts down the minutes until the session starts. She is happier before and after.”
what TEACHERS say
“ There was a routine to the sessions, which the group benefited from. The leader was very gentle with the pupils and they responded well to this. The leader was responsive to the interests of the group. For example they showed an interest in hide and seek and social games, so the following week she made up a similar game which the group really enjoyed.”
Find out more about our nursery and school age childcare
Email: nursery@earthtime.co.uk
Call: 01343 200 206