A Primary 5 class at The Community School of Auchterarder has become one of the first classes in Perth and Kinross to receive a “Wild Journey” award from Perth and Kinross Countryside Trust (PKCT) for their outdoor learning efforts.

The class were presented with their Bronze Award certificates by representatives of PKCT on Tuesday 11 November, and showcased all their hard work with autumnal displays and a photo presentation. The Wild Journey outdoor learning programme, created by PKCT’s Discovery, Learning and Engagement Officer Catherine Leatherland, provides a free flexible programme of outdoor learning opportunities that can be accessed online. Guides and resources are available for teachers, parents, or group leaders to help them deliver fun and meaningful outdoor learning with children of all ages. During the spring and summer months, participating classes and groups are also able to work with PKCT’s Discovery, Learning and Engagement Officer in person.

Led by Mrs. Connolly, Primary 5 pupils have completed two of the six Wild Journey activity streams, spending time on tasks such as clay animals, forest bathing, litter picking, videos about green spaces and nature collages over the opening months of the school year, becoming the quickest class in the region to reach the Bronze milestone.

Stephen Woollard (PKCT Chair), who presented pupils with their certificates said:

Huge congratulations to the class for earning their Bronze Wild Journey certificates, and for becoming the quickest class to reach this target. It’s brilliant to see the enthusiasm of Mrs. Connolly and all her pupils, it’s lovely to hear about how much they’ve enjoyed their time in nature. 

Our key goal as a charity to encourage people into the great outdoors, and we are proud that our Wild Journey programme has helped these pupils to do so.

The race to be the first class to Silver is now on!

Referring to the achievements of her class, Mrs. Connolly added:

I’m very proud of the class for their commitment and enthusiasm to our Outdoor Learning adventures. There have been moments of sheer joy and excitement, a wonderful sense of teamwork and community has developed.

We now plan to move forward in our role as Outdoor Learning ambassadors within the school, we will begin sharing these beautiful experiences with other classes. Not all classrooms have four walls – and I advocate for the hugely positive impact on learning, as well as on both physical and mental health which Wild Journey has given us the chance to do in a structured way.  

Catherine Leatherland (PKCT – Discovery, Learning and Engagement Officer) said:

Wild Journey was launched in 2024 and it has been great to see pupils off all ages and stages take part in outdoor activities. Mrs. Connolly’s Primary 5 class have become the second class in the area to achieve their Bronze certificates, following Aberuthven Primary, who were the first. 

We’ve also seen nursery classes and youth groups take part, and directly worked with over 400 children across 9 different schools and groups this year. It’s heartening to see so many young people enjoy their time outdoors. Learning doesn’t just take place in the classroom, and we are grateful to schools like The Community School of Auchterarder for enabling and inspiring children to experience nature in this way.

Anyone who would like to find out more about the Wild Journey programme can do so on the PKCT website HERE or by emailing [email protected]