Young people don’t need to be glued to their digital devices this school holiday but could be having an adventure in the great outdoors instead.  Local activity provider Get Out More is launching a new forest school programme in Ilkley just for young people.

As the long summer holidays draw near many parents will be wondering how to keep their older children entertained and not spending all their days staring at computer screens.  The new forest school group will give young people aged 10-15 years an opportunity to develop outdoor skills such as bushcraft, tool work and campfire cooking, in the company of people their own age.

Get Out More CIC Managing Director Annie Berrington says: “I have two children of secondary school age and know how hard it can be to find them things to do in the holidays.  We have been running very popular forest school programmes in Ilkley since 2011.  Some of these children have grown up with us so we are pleased to be able to offer our first Ilkley programme for 10-15 year olds.  Our older children group in Bingley love being with people their own age and being able to practice more advanced skills like knife work and cooking meals on the campfire.

The summer holiday forest school will run on 23&24 August from 10am-3pm each day. All sessions will be led by qualified forest school practitioners, who are looking forward to starting off this new group and hoping they will prove as popular as the long-running holiday forest schools for 5-11 year olds.

Forest school practitioner Ruth McBain, who will help run the sessions, says “I’m really excited to be leading our first Ilkley holiday forest school for older children.   The moor is a great place to hang out, learn new skills  and enjoy the summer.  We hope to welcome some new faces and those who have been to our other groups and are ready for a new challenge.  Forest school is a perfect opportunity for young people to develop life skills such as team work, communication and developing self esteem, in a fun and safe environment”

The sessions, which will take place in woodland on Ilkley Moor have the approval of Bradford Council and will provide support for the area and ancient woodlands because part of Get Out More’s commitment is to invest its profits into the communities in which the social enterprise works. In the past this has included donations to local woodlands friends groups, woodland conservation work and supporting disadvantaged children’s groups to access nature.