10 tips for outdoor learning in wet or cold weather
One thing is for sure when you go out of your way to do outdoor learning - is that you have to be prepared for the weather. Now I can tell you I literally hate being cold and wet. But after years of experience dealing with music festivals including an epically muddy Glastonbury, I am now bringing my festival experiences into my forest school learning.
So please read this “happy campers ten top tips” and kit everyone up, if you want to ensure you and your kids stay warm and dry while accessing nature in all weathers, especially as we move into autumn and winter. Afterall, some of the most beautiful natural experiences can happen just after its stopped raining.
Get fitted with some wet weather trousers. Wet weather trousers literally transform your outdoor experience. If you don’t believe me, read ReWild Yourself by Simon Barnes who makes the best case for everyone owning a pair of “magic trousers” I have ever read. If it rains, you can pop these on and stay dry. If it stops raining, you can still sit on the wet grass or mud and still stay dry and clean. This opens up many many more outdoor experiences to you, such as sitting still for a long time, which means you can engage in outdoor meditation or quietly watching wildlife whatever the conditions. They are transformative. You can get quite swanky ones too that are very easy to put on and off even over shoes.
Get a good showerproof weather jacket or poncho. I have a good quality poncho as I find it's very flexible. I can throw it over my head and cover my head, shoulders, body, the top part of my legs, most of my arms and also any bags I am carrying. It has a little peak in the hood meaning a shower is also directed away from my face. Even better - a poncho is really portable and can pack down into a small space. I’d definitely recommend getting one for autumn and spring, when you can layer over a jumper and leave your coat at home.
Get some waterproof walking boots. Wellies are fine if you intend to potter rather than walk, but if you are traipsing about and (like me) have issues with your feet, waterproof walking boots offer better support as well as protection against the wet than standard wellies.
Invest in some merino thermals or a proper ‘base’ layer. I hate the cold. HATE IT. So I have learnt to layer. Merino is the best as it's light and thin but helps keep you warm while also wicking away sweat. My son has bright orange thermals which he loves, which also double up as a pumpkin Halloween outfit!
If you intend to be outside in downpours invest in a tarpaulin. These are relatively lightweight, can be packed down into a small space, and can be tied to trees to create a dry space to wait in until the worst of the rain passes. Alternatively stay put and do an activity underneath!
Accessorise for your extremities. Invest in great gloves, socks, hat - and possibly a handwarmer too. I prefer waterproof gloves, and two layers of socks - a thin one with a thick pair pulled over the top. In terms of handwarmers, try to get the old-school ones which include lighting a charcoal bar and then placing it in a metal casing. Much more eco as they are reusable, than the single user ones that heat up when they come into contact with the air.
Don’t forget a decent waterproof bag! If your poncho doesn’t cover it make sure you have a bag that can withstand the elements, or at least pop your stuff within a black binliner before you use your usual non waterproof haversack.
Invest in a cold weather coat. If you intend to be out in the very cold, and possibly in the very wet, a poncho will not cut it. Research which coat will work best for your needs eg will you also walk long distances in it, possibly use it on the roads, have it on for a long time etc. I have one which has a waterproof jacket and a detachable fleece underneath (warm layer) which is multipurpose.
Learn to light a campfire fire. Sometimes, the best outdoor activities involve helping yourself stay warm. Lighting a fire, cooking bannock bread or making warm spiced apple juice, or using the fire to make charcoal for drawing, are all perfect for cooler, darker days. There’s also nothing nicer than sitting around a fire together, simply telling stories. Lighting a fire is easy if you have the kit with you. Matches or a fire steel, some cotton wool and vaseline for tinder, and some kindling and fuel. Do bother with some fire safety training, however before you light fires with children.
Give up sometimes! If it's just too cold, too wet, or you and the kids just don’t feel like it, I think it's fine to remember that not all outdoor learning has to be done outside! For example, you can forage berries on a dry day, and then use them to make a necklace or freeze them to make ice cream later on, when you are snuggled up indoors. At the end of the day, outdoor learning is as much about noticing, touching and learning about natural things as it is about understanding and experiencing nature outdoors.
