On this day 15 years ago, The Great Out-tours opened its doors!
🌳 🔎 🐾🦉🌼 We began with a simple but powerful vision – to inspire people to the sights, sounds, scents and textures of the natural world.
From humble beginnings back in 2011, under the vision of our founder, John Brooksbank (AKA Farmer John), we have grown into a vibrant hub of multi-award-winning outdoor education and unforgettable experiences.
Over the past 15 years we have focused on two amazing client groups:
1️⃣ Children in primary education.
🌱 Delivering our national award-winning Four Seasons Activity Club Programme in primary schools.
🐾 Through our multi-award winning Outdoor Learning Programme, bringing curricular ‘outcome led/assessed’ countryside learning, rural skills-building & wildlife conservation awareness directly to school classrooms.
🌳 Inspiring thousands of children through hands-on seasonal learning experiences.
🦉 Creating unforgettable animal encounters bringing both farm and wild rescue animals to schools.
🦈 Partnering with brilliant conservation trusts to deepen wildlife/environmental learning with school learners.
2️⃣ People living with additional needs, learning disabilities, dementia, mental health challenges and life-limiting conditions.
🌿 We are immensely proud of our award-winning Wealden Four Seasons Activity Programme, delivered at our Woodside Environmental Education Centre. Through seasonally-focused land-based activities, participants actively partake in:
🐑 Animal care.
🌳 Farm, woodland & orchard management.
🌿 Sustainable countryside skills.
✨ As a result, our clients have grown in:
🌟 Confidence.
🧭 Independence.
🎓 Career-linked skillsets.
💚 Wellbeing.
😍 Across every programme, our mission has remained constant:
✨ To enrich lives through dynamic outdoor learning & experience.
✨ To nurture connection to the countryside and each other.
✨ To inspire stewardship through the belief that our green and great world brings out the very best in everyone. 💚
🙏 To every school, family, adult learner, care provider, community partner, supporter & not forgetting our AMAZING STAFF TEAM — THANK YOU! 🙏 You are all a KEY PART of this story.
1️⃣ Here’s to the next chapter, and we hope you will all continue to walk this wild, wonderful path with us. 🚶♀️🚶♂️
2️⃣ Here’s to continued growth. 🌱
3️⃣ Here’s to another 15 years of discovery, adventure, learning, laughter, nature-filled days AND TO LIVING THE SEASONS OUTDOORS! 🍃