Families can go wild (From The Northern Echo)

Families can go wild

4:02pm Friday 23rd July 2010 in

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PEOPLE will be encouraged to embrace the great outdoors by taking part in a new award scheme.

Durham County Council and conservation charity, the John Muir Trust, have teamed up to develop the John Muir Award in the North East.

The nationally recognised environmental award scheme encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, enjoy and care for wild places.

Participants complete four challenges- discover a wild place, actively explore it, do something to conserve it and share their experiences.

The award is free and open to individuals and groups and gives people the chance to learn new skills through outdoor activities, links in with the school curriculum and is designed to promote personal development and celebrate participants’ achievements.

The project which is funded by Natural England through Access to Nature, as part of the Big Lottery Fund’s Changing Spaces programme, will work closely with the county council’s Outdoor and Sustainability Education Service (OASES).

Katy Standish, John Muir Award regional manager for the North-East, said: "The John Muir Award is a fantastic opportunity for people across the region to appreciate the natural environment and preserve it for future generations.

"It is a valuable tool for any group interested in exploring the outdoors, from Scouts and Guides to schools and youth clubs, because of the different levels of involvement possible."

For details contact Katy Standish on 0191-373 9799 or email katy.standish@durhamlearning.net.