The Outdoor Education (Wales) Bill would seek to make it a statutory obligation for local authority-run and grant aided schools in Wales to be providing funding to ensure the opportunity for at least one week of residential outdoor education for young people at some stage during their school years.
Canoe Wales has supported this proposal and are keen to see that future generations have the opportunity to experience a variety of activities, outside, in our natural environment. We discussed the Bill with Sam and supported him with its development.
We also used the opportunity to tell Sam about the work that goes into the development of young paddlers and how we keep them engaged with the outdoor environment. We also explained the importance of sites like the National White Water Centre, Tryweryn in developing outdoor opportunities for young people and the role that it plays in developing skills of paddlers in all disciplines whether they are recreational or competitive.
Sam was also keen to hear of the issues that some face getting access and is a supporter of increasing access opportunities to both land and water. He agreed that you can’t love and appreciate an environment that you can’t access so we look forward to Sam taking this insight back to the Senedd.
