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Today would see us diving (not literally) to the depths of new worlds with dragons, tigers and creatures that zipped, swam, turned and twisted while others lay still and almost motionless!! We were Pond Dipping with our Glasgow Countryside Ranger Friends Linzi and Fiona at the beautiful Wild Life Garden in Pollok Country Park.

We have been learning how to use a variety of tools and equipment and today was to be no different with nets to gather our amazing creatures and magnifying glasses and trays to view them at close range! There were so many names to remember from Water Boatmen, Diving Beetles, Water Scorpions and more! We found Tadpoles that would grow and makes their way up and out of the pond but were for now zipping around the pond packed full of energy!

We worked and learned in the Wild Life Garden as the sun fell in soft rays through the canopy above us. There were wild flowers bursting out all around as as shades of green and shapes covered what was once a barren winter landscape. We asked questions and Countryside Rangers Fiona and Linzi amazed us with their knowledge and the things they new about even the smallest and most amazing creatures that call the pond home. Our nets were fantastic and helped us to fill our research trays until they were bulging with living things. We transferred the creatures into magnifying viewing trays to have a better look and the summer sun meandered its way through the sky. The only thing we couldn't catch was the time and always another outdoor learning adventure had come to an end. 'Another Glorious Day, the air as delicious to the lungs as nectar to the tongue - John Muir'.

One of the most productive weeks for us this week! We got straight to work first thing, and by break time, the paths and work shop were tidied and swept, a new bench was half finished, and the new pond was filling up nicely! The newly planted meadow was watered, and before the end of the period, the group stood round the pool and proudly looked on at what they achieved. In the afternoon, the SLP group planted more wildflower and grass seeds, and through a few flower bombs around the garden. We are all excited to see our re-wilded space as it comes to life over the next months. What a great group of youngsters we have here at IHS!

Today would see our Glasgow Kelvin College Explorers heading back to the fantastic Seagull Life Trust Canal Cruises Kirkintilloch. With the help of our Friends from Glasgow Countryside Ranger Department this educational visit would allow us to see how the change of seasons can impact habitats. Seagull allowed us to step aboard not one but two of their beautiful vessels and off we went on another Active Learning Adventure. With Our Magnificent Support Worker (Maiden) Ellen we set off.

Setting off from the Marina in Kirkintilloch and out onto The Forth and Clyde our Professional Crews went in separate directions allowing us to take in as much as possible. Each boat not only had fantastic Skippers and Stewards but also Countryside Rangers who were able to point of areas of interest and allow us to learn through their knowledge, experience and story telling. As we sailed along we talked and listened, laughing at the quacking ducks as they busily went about their business while new families of swans calmly swan by.

Senior Glasgow Countryside Ranger Alison Greig and her Amazing Rangers allowed us to continue our Adventure into Nature and Outdoor Learning and for this we will be forever grateful. We ducked down from swarms of flies as they hurtled towards us in great black swathes and reflected on our last learning activity with these wonderful people when we dived to the depths of our imaginations during our Pond Dipping Learning Activity at Pollok Park. We decided that learning through Discussion, through looking, experiencing and sharing was they way that we would always do it.

However, every adventure that has a beginning must in doing so have and end and today was to be the end of this Fantastic Learning Adventure. Senior Countryside Ranger Alison Greig and her team of Fiona, Lynsey and Gavin have allowed us to experience so may things this year. They have allowed us to be creative and play a part in planning this things we have been a part of. We have investigated so many different areas of our environments exploring on land and water, in woodlands and gardens, through the seasons and out and on into adventure!!! Along with Community organisations such as Seagull Life Trust Canal Cruises, The Hidden Gardens Glasgow, Watch Us Grow Cumbernauld, The Sea Life Centre Loch Lomond and the John Muir Trust they have allowed us not only to Learn but to EXPLORE and we thank you for this. Adventure Is Out There - The Glasgow Kelvin Explorers!!!!!