Exploring Nature: Educational courses at Crann Og

Mar 28, 2018 | forest school, Leave No Trace, Nature, Nature School

Exploring Nature: Educational courses at Crann Og

Exploring the educational side of Nature

The 24th March marked the beginning our Nature School 2018 at Crann Og. With a well attended class and a beautiful afternoon we couldn’t have asked for more. Plenty of fun was mixed with educational aspects as the children practised new skills. There was an introduction to compass reading for the older children and a hand drawn discovery map, marked with symbols, for the younger ones.

We welcomed back some familiar faces and a few new ones, too. It is fantastic to see this great interest in our own back garden! We hope to see a continued rise in interest in Forest and Nature School at home and around the world.

Ireland is home to the youngest population in the EU. With 25% aged 18 or under. Of this 25% it is estimated that 80% do not meet the Government Physical Activity Guidelines. Unchecked this will lead to serious impacts on the emotional, physical and mental well being among the youth.

Ireland has a diverse array of flora and fauna and a rich historical connection to nature. Forest School allows children to gain confidence for exploring and discovering the interconnectedness of their surroundings. Rebuilding this connection will have numerous and long lasting benefits for us as a society and also for the natural environment.

Certified Forest School Leader, Marion-Edler Burke will be hosting more classes over the year, with all dates here.

Spring is Coming 2018 | A beautiful day at the farm

Feb 22, 2018 | Accommodation, EcoTourism, Events, Holidays

Spring is Coming 2018 | A beautiful day at the farm

Warming up to Spring 2018

A warm hello from Crann Og!

With the days getting longer, our bones warming (just a little) and the life popping out of every corner of the farm it feels like spring has arrived – allowing all of us here at the farm to be out reconnecting and soaking up the sounds of nature.

We have just hosted our first workshop of the year and would like to take the opportunity to thank all the participants of the Living Willow workshop who braved the elements and brought the laughter with them – thank you!

We have a busy year planned with our Forest School, Nature Therapy, ReNature Retreats and Eco Holidays all focusing on returning guests to their roots through connecting with the animals (domestic, farm and wild), breathing the fresh country air and taking the time to unplug and slow down in to the rhythm of nature…

We are currently building a database aimed at all the music lovers out there, or in other words, everyone out there! The surrounding regions are rich in musical tradition and 2018 has some festivals that are worth stamping our feet about… and we want you to have the craic and dance along with us! This will help any Crann Og guests to plan their stay around the happening festivities.

Watch this space!

We are set for the coming year and hope to welcome you down on the farm.

All the best,

The Crann Og Crew

Teens + Nature = TEENature: Nature Smart Camps

Jun 11, 2016 | Events, forest school, Holidays, Nature, Nature School

Teens + Nature = TEENature: Nature Smart Camps

One of Ireland's best Summer Camps!

We host TEENature Summer Camps at Crann Og Eco Farm, County Galway Ireland in July and August.

These camps were listed in The Irish Times as one of Ireland’s 50 best things to do with kids this summer!

TEENature is a natural progression for teenagers from usual outdoor experiences into a deeper connection with Nature. Teaching is done by way of the Art of Mentoring and among many other benefits, leads to enhanced self esteem and self confidence.

In this era of high rates of obesity in teenagers, attention disorders, behavioural problems and depression, Richard Louv’s research has led him to coin the term Nature Deficit Disorders in his book “Last Child In The Woods”.

By exploring wilderness through playfully challenging activities, basic survival skills and community living on a camp site.

Teamwork, problem solving, building resilience and competent risk taking while developing physical fitness and motor skills are all integral parts of living in Nature.

TEENature is tailored to inspire enthusiasm and curiosity to learn from Nature, discovering facts and mysteries. Games and exercises help to expand sensory awareness, focus the mind and enhance relaxation and intuition.

Howard Gardener, Professor of Education at Harvard University developed the theory of 7 multiple Intelligences in 1983 and recently added the 8th, ‘Naturalist Intelligence‘, which he calls “nature smart”!

The Author, Mentor and Tracker Jon Young points out that Nature Connection is the foundation of a healthy and vibrant Culture as it is really through Nature Connection that we can deeply connect to ourself and then others.

Or as Sir David Attenborough put it:

”No one will protect what they don’t care about, and no one cares about what they’ve never experienced”.

Click here to read the full article.

Forest School Pilot Project

Nov 1, 2015 | Events, forest school, Nature School, Training

Forest School Pilot Project

October 2015

Throughout the month of October we hosted a big bunch of enthusiastic kids for Marion’s Pilot Forest School Program. This is to complete Marion’s certification as a Forest School Trainer.

Interest in the pilot program was strong and we were full to the brim with kids eager to learn and play in nature. It was a joy for us all who took part to watch the kids open to the process and become more comfortable playing, learning and being in nature. We noticed we had a few adult hangers on too, as the classes slipped by!

The kids learned about all sorts of stuff like:

shelter building
fire making
tree identification
wildlife watching and tracking
connecting with plants and trees
playing and sculpting with mud
playing with water
forest playground with low ropes, swings and climbing poles
blindfolded and animal mimikry games
camouflage and stalking

The program was such a great success and was enjoyed by all….and not just the kids! Visit our Nature School page for our full program of kids and teens nature schooling in 2016. We kick off in March 2016.

Forest School Teacher Training

Jul 13, 2015 | Events, forest school, Nature School, Training

Forest School Teacher Training

Nature is Our Teacher

It was our great pleasure to host the first Forest School Teacher Training in the West of Ireland, by Huathe Forest Schooling.

Not only did we host the training course of July 8th to 12th, but our Marion was also on the course as she continued her certification to enable our very own Nature School here at Crann Og. This will see a culmination in Marion’s training going back to her youth combining social pedagogy, natural living, bush craft and survival skills, and place based learning.

We are all very excited about starting up our Nature School in 2016, which will be prefaced by Marion’s pilot course in October 2015, which completes her certification process. We will all be involved and it promises to be a lot of fun! Details of the pilot course coming soon! Visit our Nature School page for all the updates and course dates.