Contin camp fire trailblazer helps outdoor groups build skills; North Highland Outdoor Woodland Learning hails help of Forestry and Land Scotland with initiative

A camp fire session with a difference at a Ross-shire woodland is set to kindle the enthusiasm of outdoor groups in the area.

Teachers and outdoor professionals from across the Highlands attended the camp fire and food safety course organised at Contin by North Highland OWL (Outdoor Woodland Learning).

The course, delivered by members of the north-east OWL group gave those who cook for groups in the outdoors the skills and knowledge to improve on their practice whilst learning new techniques and reviewing important food safety issues.

OWL chairman Simon Harry said: "This is the first time such a course has been run in north Highland and was a great opportunity for teachers and leaders to hone their skills to ensure that whatever is prepared, stored and cooked in the outdoors is done correctly.

"This course gave those attending the confidence to bring camp fire cooking into their activity planning which will in turn benefit their groups immensely. A big thanks to Ian Alsop and his team at Forestry and Land Scotland at Contin woods for letting us run the course in the wood and helping with the site preparation”.

North Highland OWL group aim to increase the opportunities for young people to learn outdoors, improving health and well-being and increasing the opportunity to learn new skills. Anyone involved in outdoor learning in the area who would like to learn more about the work of OWL or to join the group can contact Simon Harry on simon.harry@forest_education.co.uk

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