LEARNING WITHOUT WALLS : FAMILY LEARNING IN THE ALLOTMENT WITH DADS AND THEIR CHILDREN

An exploration into the use of outdoor space and natural resources in family learning work with Dads and children.  Dads and male carers are often underrepresented in family learning.  The aim of this work was to provide a space where Dads and children could learn together and connect to the natural world.  This has many benefits for individual health and wellbeing but also community and global environmental outcomes. ‘ The attachment and meaning of a green place can encourage individuals to actively protect and engage in pro-environmental behaviour ’ (Vaske & Kobrin, 2001) In this exploration of work with Dads and their children at a community allotment and surrounding green space in the East End of Dundee we will seek to address some of the challenges and relevance of the spaces where we engage with individuals and communities.  Are we limiting our reach to communities if all our engagement takes place indoors in buildings and rooms, which often resemble classrooms? Why might the outdoor space be suitable when working with Dads?  Why work with Dads exclusively?  These are some of the questions we will delve into in our local small scale experience of learning without walls.