Spotlight on Nick Baker, naturalist and TV presenter
Nick Baker is simply a naturalist. His life-long passion and natural curiosity for anything living has led to a varied career as a field biologist, broadcaster and communicator of natural history.
Nick has over twenty years' experience hosting shows for the BBC, National Geographic and Discovery, including Springwatch, Weird Creatures and Ultimate Explorer. He has also authored ten books on the subject of wildlife and natural history.
Nick is a strong believer in the fact you can't protect what you don't value or connect with, and so, to this day he continues in whatever way he can to help others rediscover a natural empathy with the wild world.
Why are you supporting our Learning Beyond the Classroom Conference this year?
Nothing makes more sense - empowering both teacher and pupil and opening up a new and more stimulating way of learning, its win, win. What's not worth getting behind??!
Why do you feel young people should be learning in the outdoors?
Nick: We live in a world of self-created fear - The ever present fear of libel, strangers and health and safety has created a molly-coddled society, especially in the learning environment.
While some of this is real, many guidelines are misinterpreted by a generation of teachers/parents and many of the barriers we perceive are nothing more than playing to irrational concerns and fears. So much is made of these threats that the REAL COST is often over-looked. The current young generation is lining up to be the first ever with a life-expectancy less than their parents - this can be attributed to many physical diseases associated with a sedentary lifestyle. We are currently experiencing an obesity epidemic and the incidence of learning issues and mental health challenges in young people is also on the increase.
We can begin to solve many of these problems by thinking outside of 'the box' that is the classroom - to do this we all need to reconnect with outdoor environments and release their full potential. Unstructured learning areas and access to green spaces has been proven to alleviate and help with many of the challenges that modern life presents - many pupils are able to engage better with their learning and with each other, attention spans are lengthened and the potential for truly lifelong memorable learning experiences are to be had.
What will teachers at the conference learn from your talk and workshops?
The delegates at the conference will hopefully realise the potential that their own schools and communities have for cross engagement between students, the environment and the curriculum. Every day can be a field trip!
Book your place now to see Nick Baker in person at our 'Learning Beyond the Classroom' conference 2019 on 29th March 2019 at High Ashurst, Mickleham nr Dorking, Surrey.
*Special offer* for LBTC19 delegates - Nick Baker's ReWild Book. Our keynote speaker Nick Baker, naturalist and TV presenter, is giving you the chance to purchase your own copy of his book 'ReWild - The art of returning to nature' for £13.50 (RRP £16.99) at time of booking your place at our conference. Nick will personally sign your copy and you will be able to collect your book at the conference.
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