A groups of children and adults are sitting on a tarp in the woods, playing with sticks and bundles of wool stored in a wicker basket. They are crafting with the materials, using the wool and other materials to decorate the sticks. The children are varied in age range, with some of young toddler age and others pre-school / early school age. There are 2 adults and 6 children visible in the picture. They are all wearing winter coats and 3 of the children are wearing woolly hats.

From hesitation to leading the way...

A parent at our Wellwoods sessions told us how their son went from unsure outdoors, to confidently showing his dad around the activities.

Outdoor play helped build his language skills, his confidence, and his connection. Because play is never "just play" 🌿

Two young people are in the woods playing with in a 'mud kitchen' area. One is standing to the right of the photo, wearing dark blue trousers, a camouflage hoodie and gloves. He is pouring muddy water from a cooking pot on a large stone on the ground. The other, on the left of the picture and wearing a red hoodies and bright green waterproof overalls, is kneeling on the round and using a large spoon to dig into a large mound of mud.

This is about more than education. It’s about equity.

Not every young person has access to green space, supportive adults or safe places to reset.

Corporate sponsorship helps us reach young people facing disengagement or disadvantage in their education.

Want to support this work? Let’s talk.

A close-up photo of some buds on a tree, with blue sky in the background. Text overlays the photo that reads: Steady Ground Parent/Carer Wellbeing Group. Tuesday afternoons, RSPB Barons Haugh, Motherwell.

If you're caring for a child or young person with additional support needs, you often spend a lot of time explaining things.

Steady Ground is a space where you don’t have to explain.

Just come as you are.

🌿 Nature
☕ Tea
💬 Other adults who get it

➡️ Book here: www.bookwhen.com/outletplayresource

A young person is crouched in front of a fire bowl in the woods, using a flint and steel to light a bundle of kindling that has already been prepared. He is wearing a grey hoodie and black jacket - his hood is up and he is looking down, so we cannot see his face at all. He has managed to create a spark just at the moment the picture was taken.

Children and young people who freeze or try to please are often the easiest to miss - but they’re just as overwhelmed.

THIS is why we do what we do: creating safe outdoor spaces where children can regulate, connect, and grow in confidence.

An image of a tree canopy, taken from the ground looking up. The trees are partially in leaf, and the sky is blue.

Sunday Slowdown

Before the new week begins:

Step outside...
Look up...
Notice one sound

That's enough for today.

🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 KILTWALK 2026 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Our team are out training, getting the miles in 🥾

Every step helps us keep creating outdoor spaces where young people can build confidence, resilience and belonging.

If you’re able to, please consider supporting us.
➡️ Donate here: www.justgiving.com/team/outlet-...

Thank you

A close up of 3 people walking through the woods, the camera is positioned on the ground behind them so all we see are their feet and legs. One person is wearing brown walking boots and light-coloured jeans; another is wearing black walking boots and dark-coloured jeans; the person furthest away from the camera is wearing brown walking boots and shorts. We can see it is a sunny day, as there are patches of sunlight on the ground.

What actually happens at #WildWellness?

No trust falls. No awkward icebreakers.

Just time outdoors.

🌿 Nature-based activities
🌿 Space to think clearly
🌿 Gentle conversation
🌿 Practical stress regulation tools

Sometimes the most productive thing a team can do is pause.

Contact us for a chat.

3 images of Christine's kiltmaking efforts - the first is of the pattern papers laid out over the top of the fabric, which is a purple and green tartan. The second image is of the whole pattern before cutting and the third is of a finished kilt.

Forest School extraordinaire by day… kilt-making wizard by Bank Holiday weekend. 🪡

While most of us were eating our body weight in chocolate, Christine was hand-sewing kilts for our Glasgow Kiltwalk team.

17 days to go! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Support us here 👇
www.justgiving.com/team/outlet-...

A young person crouches by a small fire in the woods, she is sitting beyond the sticks that have been put down to show how to maintain a safe distance from the flames. She has long, light brown hair and is wearing a light pink top with long sleeves. She is holding a grill over the fire, toasting some bread.

Support isn’t support if it’s inaccessible. In recent years, waiting lists have grown while resources have dwindled. Needs are rising, and families feel abandoned.

Kids need help now, not in months. Outdoor play is far from a clinical fix, but it can offer regulation & connection. Now. Today.

Four children are crouched round an area of dirt in the woods, the camera is positioned above them looking down as they are all using magnifying glasses and their hands to explore what is in the dirt.

"In spring, at the end of the day, you should smell like dirt."

Margaret Attwood

A young person wearing a blue all-in-one-waterproof suit and walking boots is lying in mud in the woods, smiling at the camera.

When someone says “But what if they get muddy?”

And you realise they’ve missed the whole point.

🤎 🤎 🤎 🤎 🤎 🤎 🤎

A young person wearing a grey hoodie is crouched on the ground with an OutLET staff member sitting across from him. The staff member is supporting him to split sticks of kinding with a knife, as part of preparing to build a fire. There are already some sticks of kindling sitting in a metal bowl beside them.

Teachers are being asked to do more than ever.

Overworked. Stressed. Managing behaviour instead of supporting regulation.

Many want to use outdoor learning - but face barriers.

The real question isn’t why teachers aren’t doing it, but why the system isn’t supporting it.

What do you think?

A young person wearing pink trousers, a purple hoodie and walking boots is using a hand swing in the woods. She is hanging upside down, with her feet securing her position against the bar and the ropes. She is giving a thumbs-up sign to the camera. Another young person, in blue waterproofs with the hood up, is looking off to the side behind her.

In 1971, around 80% of UK children (aged 7-8) walked to school alone.
Today it’s closer to 9%.

Childhood hasn’t become more dangerous - it’s become more restricted and screen-based.

Children need chances to test themselves, take manageable risks and learn judgement.

Freedom builds resilience.

#Wild Wellness: where nature sparks true connection. This is what togetherness looks like.

Perfect for organisations looking to do staff wellbeing differently.Ditch the burnout for nature.

Contact us to chat about how we can support you to support your team

#EmployeeWellbeing

A person wearing an outdoor fleece, woolly hat and gloves is standing in the woods under a green tarpaulin. He is smiling at the camera and holding up a square frame to his face, that has been made from sticks, using string to lash them together at the corners.

Outdoor learning isn’t a trend. It’s part of the answer.

Schools are under pressure and staff are stretched. Outdoor learning won’t fix everything - but it can change the rhythm of learning.

If 2026 is the year to try something different, join our #ForestSchoolLeader course.

➡️ outlet.scot/train

A young person wearing a blue fleece, jeans and a backpack is crouch down beside some bushes, looking at something on the ground or in the bush using a magnifying glass.

Children in spring:

LOOK!

LOOK AT THIS!

NO WAIT - LOOK!

But honestly? Same, kids. Same.

A young person is in the distance in the centre of the photo, partially obscured by a tree in the middle of the woods. A sunbeam is streaming down onto them, almost like a spotlight.

No stage. No script. Just a moment in the spotlight.

This is what space to be looks like. 🥰

A young person with short dark hair and wearing a black waterproof jacket is in the woods, working on assembling a structure using two sticks and some string. He is holding a large stick vertically and a smaller one across it horizontally, and looking down at his hands as he ties some string at the intersection.

Not every child thrives with a pen on paper.

When school feels overwhelming, the message can become “something’s wrong with you.”

What if we shifted the focus to the environment?

Outdoors, through play, children build skills, confidence & regulation - at their own pace.

One month to go until the Kiltwalk! 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

Our team are walking to support young people whose needs aren’t being met by traditional systems find confidence, connection & belonging outdoors.

Every step supports a young person.

Support the team: www.justgiving.com/team/outlet-...

A young person with black hair, wearing black jeans and a grey jumper is climbing a tree. He looks about age 5 or 6. He is holding onto a horizontal branch with both hands and looking downwards.

Six years on from the first lockdown...

Babies & toddlers of 2020 are now the classroom. A new study shows many face developmental delays in speech, movement & social confidence.

The most valuable support we can give them is play, nature and unstructured time.

Read more: outlet.scot/blog

A white enamel mug sits on the ground in the woods, beside a small campfire. There is text overlaying the photo that reads: Wild Wellness - Wellbeing Programmes for Organisations and their Staff.

What is the real cost of employee burnout?

Burnout leads to:
➡️ Absenteeism
➡️ 'Presenteeism'
➡️ Increased staff turnover
➡️ Reduced creativity

Wild Wellness helps teams reset through nature-based sessions, supporting regulation, focus and connection.

Invest in prevention. Contact us for a chat.

A young person is sitting on a stool in the woods, whittling a stick using a knife. He is wearing blue waterproof trousers and a blue hoodie, and is smiling at the camera. He is holding the knife in his right hand and has it positioned at the end of the stick, which he is holding in his left hand. Text overlays the photo which reads: Limited spaces for school programmes from August! Contact us now!

Planning for the next school year?

We have limited spaces to partner with schools for outdoor learning. From embedded Community Ranger support to targeted intervention and one-off play days, we support wellbeing, engagement & confidence for young people facing barriers.

➡️ office@outlet.scot

A hammock has been erected between two trees, with sunlight coming in through the gap. We can't tell that there is definitely someone in the hammock, but it does look as if it is holding some weight. The photo is overlaid with text: 'Steady Ground Parent/Carer Wellbeing Group, Tuesday afternoons, RSPB Barons Haugh.

Consider this your permission slip.

To sit by a fire.
To drink tea while it’s still hot.
To have some breathing space for an afternoon.

Steady Ground supports parents and carers through gentle, nature-based sessions.

You matter too. Book your free space: www.bookwhen.com/outletplayresource

Three young people are sitting in different positions on the same fallen tree. On the left, one young person in a blue and pink hoodie is sitting upright and facing to the left. In the middle, one young person in blue waterproof trousers and a black jacket is standing upright and facing to the left. On the right, we can just see the legs of one young person who is lying face down and facing to the right. We can also see another young person standing on the other side of the tree.

#NeurodiversityCelebrationWeek

Not everyone experiences the world the same way - and they shouldn’t have to.

When environments change, young people can thrive. Outdoors offers space, freedom & connection - where strengths are the focus, not struggles.

A young person is looking out from a 'den' , which is a large hollow within a tree trunk. He is wearing shorts and a red and white jacket. We can see his face and the right side of his body, the rest is hidden by the tree trunk.

The impact of the cost of living crisis doesn’t stop at the school gate.

Schools are seeing the impact every day: overwhelmed, dysregulated pupils struggling to focus.

School staff can’t absorb this alone.

Maybe part of the answer is more space for play, movement and learning in nature...

An OutLET staff member is kneeling on the ground in the woods with two young people. He is watching as the young people work together to split wood using an axe and mallet. The young person on the left is holding the axe, while the one on the right holds the mallet. They are splitting a log which is being held in place on the ground in between them.

The best thing about our #ForestSchoolLeader training?

Our trainers are still doing the work.

Working with young people every week in schools, woodlands & communities - so what we know about support needs, trauma & regulation comes from real practice.

Limited spaces on our next course in May 🌳

We're only 17 days into March, but it’s already been a busy month at OutLET...

Symposiums and sector networking, new partnerships, launching a new programme, empowering parent & carers with bespoke training, growing our #Kiltwalk team — and 38 woodland sessions delivered across #Lanarkshire 🌳

Two hammocks in a row in the woods, one is red and one is blue and green. There is sunlight on the ground, streaming in through the trees. It looks calm and peaceful.

You can’t build resilient teams with exhausted people.

Burnout isn’t a personal failure - it’s what happens when systems allow no space to reset.

Wild Wellness gives staff time in nature to pause, reconnect and return with clearer focus.

Thinking differently about #StaffWellbeing? Let's chat.

A close up of a young child's hands holding 3 daisies. We cannot see their face, but they are wearing a flowery dress and pink sandals, and standing on grass.

The news has felt heavy in recent weeks.

For some in our communities these conflicts - new and ongoing - are more than distant headlines.

When the world around us is so uncertain, moments of calm, connection and care matter more than ever.

We're at this brilliant event in Glasgow today, hosted by Stramash.

The question is no longer WHY we as a nation should be providing all kids with #OutdoorLearning. It's HOW we do this well - and sustainably.

Great to connect today with colleagues exploring the future of the sector in Scotland!