Children planting small plants in a garden bed with shovels.

Who is it for ?:

Groups of Primary school children (5 - 11 years old), up to 6 children.

Where does it take place ?

Sessions take place in the school grounds. Occasionally it happens inside if the weather is very bad or if the activity is more suited to being inside.

What happens in sessions?

Sessions vary depending on the needs of the children and school. Generally sessions start with a ‘check in’ with all the children before an activity starts. For examples of activities see the list below. The focus is always on their well-being and personal/social growth but is done through nature and the outdoors.

Workshops can be created to suit schools needs and could be with a literacy, history, numeracy, science, art or drama focus.

When do sessions take place:

Sessions are weekly, last an hour and take place during the school day.

It offers all learners opportunities to achieve and develop confidence and self esteem through hands on experience through nature.

A rectangular shadow box with green moss, three yellow leaves arranged to resemble a butterfly, a yellow flower in the center, and small pieces of wood and dried lemon slices placed around

‘Thank you for your innovative and inspiring work. You have created a unique space in Muddy Boots for children to share the deepest emotions about their lived experience. No mean feat!

- Michael Bradley, Headteacher, Merton Abbey Primary School, London.

“Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.”

— Quote Source

Seven white pieces of paper laid out on a wooden surface, each decorated with various colorful flowers and petals, arranged in a line outdoors with grass beneath.

A tree trunk with the word "LOVE" carved into it, with each letter stacked vertically.

Child's hands placing a face-made sculpture onto a tree trunk, with the sculpture resembling a smiling face with two daisies for eyes, a pine cone for a nose, and a twig for a mouth, surrounded by grass and outdoor plants.

Children outdoors around a tree stump, collecting and holding mud and berries in small cups, wearing waterproof jackets and boots, with a red and white striped barrier tape visible.

Muddy Boots for Schools

Muddy Boots supports the development of social skills and increase emotional well-being of children. It is designed to bring children together under the umbrella of shared interests to interact, socialise, make new friends, help each other and learn new skills. It is planned to support the needs of those individual children.

Examples of objectives are:

To increase children’s confidence

To increase and improve children’s friendships and relationships with others

To learn problem solving skills

To explore nature

To learn about self-regulation and strategies that can help them when dis-regulated

Examples of Muddy Boots Activities:

· Large dens using natural materials/den kit

· Fairy houses/dens

· Making a wormery

· Apple bird feeders

· Growing vegetables and flowers

· Drama games

· Mud painting

· Potions and perfume

· Mudpies/mud kitchen

· Puppets

· Minibeasts

· Games

· Story telling

· Art activities through nature

Outdoor scene with a makeshift tripod made of three sticks tied together, holding a black pot suspended over a small fire pit with unburned wooden sticks and twigs, and some trash around.

A camo fabric backdrop supported by trees, with three tires placed in front on a tarp, and an air blower in the foreground.

Freshly harvested potatoes in dark soil with green plant stems and leaves around.