Reframing how to work with Behaviour and Stress in the Outdoors

Who should attend

Anyone wanting to deepen their understanding of ‘behaviour’ expressed by learners (of any age) and how working outdoors within a natural space can be a catalyst for change. The course is suitable for Teachers, Teaching Assistants, Early Years Practitioners, Outdoor Educators, Forest School Practitioners, Home School Educators and Play Workers.

Aims and Course Content

This 3 day course will unpick theory, look at real life case studies, outdoor activities and chats round the fire! The days will be participatory and crammed full of tips, ideas and activities that can be used in any natural setting. There will be time and space to consider specific issues that participants may be encountering with specific individuals in their care. Importantly the course will encourage participants to look at themselves and ways of self-regulating in order to regulate other learners in the groups we work with in the outdoors.

We will also be exploring how natural world setting can be essential for emotional regulation. The underlying ethos/methodology of the course is one of problem solving through difficulties and working with learner centred and ecological centred practices.

The course will cover:

• What do behaviours communicate and reframing ‘challenging behaviour’ – what does anxiety, ‘stressed behaviour’ and socially/ecologically engaged behaviour look like?
• The 3 C’s – Models for working with behaviour, including choice theory.
• Why outdoors? – What needs does the natural world cater for?
• Interventions & De-escalation – ways of working with behaviours
• A ‘needs – based’ approach and what needs the outdoors satisfy
• How to work with various ‘needs’ from neuro-typical through to various ‘attachment’ needs, including ASD, sensory attachments and many other ‘labels’!
• Working with brain, body and place – how the nervous system works. Co-regulation and self-regulation – the essential body based approaches
• Self- care – Looking after ourselves
• Reviewing policy & procedures relating to behaviour and safety. Working in partnership with our client groups