John Muir Resources for Teachers

These educational resources are perfect for all teachers looking to introduce their pupils to the outdoors.

John Muir Education Pack – This resource aims to help teachers understand outdoor learning opportunities, and give confidence to use outdoor spaces for teaching a wide range of experiences and outcomes.

The pack for Second Level encourages structured learning in the outdoors, along with a deeper understanding of John Muir’s writings and philosophies. The pack can be used flexibility as stand-alone activities to cover certain aspects of the topic or as activities leading into each other as a programme of learning. The Second Level pack can help with an introduction to the John Muir Award. John Muir Education Pack – Second Level

The pack has been created by The Rural Connect Project which is all about reconnecting local communities to the rural environment through community engagement events, workshops and online resources

Outdoor Learning Resource Guide - This new Outdoor Learning Resource Guide summarises the many benefits of Outdoor Learning, and contains useful information and website links for further information.

John Muir, Earth – Planet, Universe - A graphic novel based upon the life of John Muir has been produced by the Scottish Book Trust with free copies going to every secondary school in Scotland. It’s also available for anyone, anywhere to download as a PDF version. Teaching support notes and pupil activities also accompany the book. John Muir, Earth, Planet, Universe brings Muir’s story to life in a new way, and is intended to develop a deeper understanding and awareness of the natural environment and the importance of protecting wild places.

New John Muir Way website – Find out everything you need to know about the UK’s newest long distance route, by visiting the new website. There are maps and information for each of the ten sections of the 133 mile route, which runs between Helensburgh in the West and Dunbar on the East.

Education Scotland John Muir Learning Journey – this learning journey is available on the Great Scots page of the Studying Scotland website. It has been designed to link in with the Social Studies curriculum at Second and Third Level

Professor Discusses 21st Century Challenges for Africa.

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Professor John Briggs will explore some of the challenges facing Africa as it enters the second decade of the 21^st Century in a talk in Glasgow on January 10th. Where are we now with the HIV/AIDS epidemic? What about the supposed failure of small-scale agriculture – is it time for radical action? Any what about the failure of aid to transform the lives of Africans – is it time for even more radical action?

John Briggs is Professor of Geography at the University of Glasgow.

This talk is part of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society’s ‘Inspiring People’ talks programme.

John's current research interests focus on the relationship between the use and management of natural resources and sustainable rural development in low income countries. A particular interest revolves around questions about indigenous environmental knowledge systems, how these are constructed and re-worked, and how these inform a better understanding of sustainable rural development. 

Current work is being undertaken among Bedouin communities in the south-east desert of Egypt and in the semi-arid areas of north-west South Africa.

John Briggs is Professor of Geography at the University of Glasgow

He also has a research interest in the impacts of structural adjustment policies in Africa on peri-urban development in the major cities. This has involved field research in Tanzania, as well as the development of a rather more theoretical view in collaboration with colleagues in West Africa.

John’s talk “21^st Century Challenges for Africa” will take place at Renfield St Stephens Church Centre, 260 Bath Street, Glasgow, G2 4JP. Tickets are £8 for adults, (redeemable if buying membership) and free for students, under 18s and for RSGS members. Tickets are available on the day from the venue. For more information about any RSGS talks this season please visit www.rsgs.org/events/