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A lovely setting to get our John Muir Award Certificates, you can tell we are all really happy!

The New Roots - a poem by Alistair MacPherson I came late to the party, my invitation was formed. They said…Join Mister Muir on his ramble, it’s braw! Discover the Park, conserve and explore, I said…Aye why not I’m keen to see more! We picked our way through Menteith’s high seas, To Inchmaholme and the twisted trees. The ancient history of the priory felt, Kings and queens and stories telt. A picnic was shared, art and nature paired, The star of the show, a pine cone parade. We were mobilised in Callander To consider movement, How to discover the Trossachs, The buggy improves this. A path back in time, on an old railway line, To see the ruin of romans who once wined and dined. Lastly the trees, they sway and they move In Gaelic you’ll know them simply as ‘Craobh’ (kroov) Balmaha followed on a driech wee day, We’re telling visitors about a red squirrels drey! Fixing the signs, under beautiful pines The path it weaves and dips and winds. Down at the shore we picked up the litter, Prevent it from ending inside some wee critter. So where from here? Simply an award to cheer? Or did we learn? Ole JM ensures the countryside’s the concern. And once we depart from our day and take leave, The new roots are growing, forming shoots and trees. Wonder is found in country and town. To be shared with good friends and strangers abound.

The wonderful Sarah McNeil starts the sharing celebrations off in the best way - by reading a lovely passage from Muir's 'My Life with Nature' - Beards are optional folks!

The Volunteer, Engagement and Programme team needed a refreshing cuppa after their mornings volunteering at CHAS so it was perfect to spend time in the Forest School to have a fire and boil the Kelly Kettle for hot chocolate, and prepare for the reflections of the John Muir Award days

The Volunteer, Engagement and Programme team enjoyed a mornings volunteering with the wonderful CHAS in Balloch, helping to make new 5 star bug hotels for the local minibeasts in their amazing wildlife friendly garden.

Today we litter picked in our local community, it was full of rubbish after lunchtime! We learned how dangerous litter can be for animals & birds, it felt good knowing we cleaned up and they can be more safe.

Today we went to our local park and had a walk around. We visited the animals in the small petting zoo- We met Malkie the geese! & learned how chickens clean themselves. We also went to the pond and watched the birds & swans. We then did a couple of the mission explore book activities like the walking 1000 steps!

Experiencing winter in wild area