Call for outdoor education to resume for Edinburgh pupils, giving boost to Bonaly Scout Centre

SCHOOLS bosses in the Capital are facing calls to restart outdoor education and help throw a lifeline to the city's struggling Bonaly Scout Centre.

Bonaly Scout Centre can currently only offer day visits led by groups themselves

Outdoor adventure centres across the country were forced to close during lockdown and residential trips are still not allowed, so Edinburgh pupils are denied the chance to go to the city council’s own centres at Benmore, near Dunoon, and Lagganlia, near Aviemore.

And the Scouts’ Bonaly site, which would normally welcome young people to camp in its grounds from many parts of Scotland, is restricted to day visits and self-run activities.

But Tory councillor Jason Rust, whose Colinton/Fairmilehead ward includes the Bonaly centre, wants the council to work with the Scouts to explore potential opportunities for outdoor adventure days for young people next year.

And he has tabled a motion calling for such an initiative which will be considered at the full council meeting on Thursday.

He said: “It would be ideal if there was a positive way to bring the young people, facilities and funding together and achieve something memorable for them during these challenging times.

“With Benmore and Lagganlia substantially closed, Bonaly within the council area would be an ideal location. This would be a massive boost to the centre at Bonaly too which is facing a really difficult time and effectively lying idle.

“Obviously we all hope that by next spring massive steps forward will have been taken from a public health perspective and that restrictions may be eased in order but to allow for the usual residential outdoor activity weeks, but meantime we need to come up with imaginative and resourceful solutions and I am delighted that the centre is being so proactive in this regard so that opportunities for young people are not lost.

“There are a whole range of potential objectives such as building confidence with basic outdoor skills, understanding the environment and the rewards of volunteering and so on. These can be achieved through umpteen activities within the grounds and local area such as orienteering, tree planting, hillwalking, path restoration. It can be a win for all concerned.”

Today’s education committeeq will debate a separate motion from Green councillor Steve Burgess, urging a review of the suspension of outdoor education by third-party providers in a bid to start it again after the October break.

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