Do you live in an apartment or in a house with a backyard?
A small semi-detached house with a little backyard and small front garden. My garden is my experiment – what I can grow I know local schools will manage the same sort of plants.I have about 70 different native plants and herbs growing there.
How do you incorporate nature everyday into your family’s life?
Well right now my 14-yr old son is hanging out at the local river with his friends. He took a toy water pistol with him. I let him go “free-range”. My husband is a harvesting manager and is in and out of many forests on a daily basis. If I’m not working outside, e.g. in a school or delivering training, I’ll make time for walking the dog.
How do you spend time outdoors with your family?
We walk the dog. Also my son plays football (soccer) so for many years both days at the weekends have included going to football matches and training. No natural connection but at least it’s fresh air and we visit some scenic pitches.
Do you work at an office or out of your home? If you are commuting how long is your commute?
My office is upstairs beside my bedroom. My husband’s office is in the conservatory – we both work from home. However I can be out and about anywhere in Scotland which is roughly the size of Southern Ontario.
Do your kids go to daycare or school? How much time do they spend outside while they are there?
My son goes to the local high school. He had one English lesson outside 2 weeks ago. The last one before that was 2 years ago. It was also English. I’m not counting PE lessons or football practice in this!
How do you spend time outdoors with your family?
We walk the dog. Also my son plays football (soccer) so for many years both days at the weekends have included going to football matches and training. No natural connection but at least it’s fresh air and we visit some scenic pitches.
Do you work at an office or out of your home? If you are commuting how long is your commute?
My office is upstairs beside my bedroom. My husband’s office is in the conservatory – we both work from home. However I can be out and about anywhere in Scotland which is roughly the size of Southern Ontario.
Do your kids go to daycare or school? How much time do they spend outside while they are there?
My son goes to the local high school. He had one English lesson outside 2 weeks ago. The last one before that was 2 years ago. It was also English. I’m not counting PE lessons or football practice in this!
What are your challenges that keep you from getting outside in your daily lives?
I think we do well in our own separate lives. However our precious family life tends to be focused on football which is not my choice but important to my son and husband.
What is the best outdoor activity that you love to experience where you live?
We have super beaches and coast here in NE Scotland. So visiting the sea at any time of the year is a pleasure. It’s funny when it’s possible to sled on snow-covered sand dunes. I also love walking up the hills.
In the US and in the rest of the western world there is a push to get children to spend more time outside; do you see any kind of movement supporting this where you live?
Yes but perhaps not quite in the same way. It’s the formal education sector and the play sectors where the biggest push is happening which is more unusual. However parent groups are making more noises generally and I’m beginning to see a growth in the structured outdoor activities sector – I often get phone calls from people starting up businesses or organisations that want to cater for getting children outside.
Juliet is a teacher and champion for getting children outside. Visit her website Creative Star Learning Company for courses, presentations and resources. For fun outdoor activities and great ideas for schools visit her blog I’m a teacher, get me outside here
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