What: Family Foraging Walk When: Sunday 8th September. 12 - 2.30pm Where: Shanganagh Park A free event, supported by Dún Laoghaire Rathdown County Council Join OWLS leader 'mouse' as he prepares for winter by looking for wild foods within the park. (This will be a non mushroom event as mouse fears has a fear of them). A fun event looking for tasty foods such as blackberries, late raspberries, apples, sweet chestnuts, elder berries and rosehips. Suitable for all the family. Email info@owls.ie or text 'mouse'087 32 999 36. To book a place, 4a meeting place or to find out more information.

What: Family Foraging Walk When: Sunday 8th September. 10am - 11.30am Where: Corkagh Park A free event, supported by South Dublin County Council Join OWLS leader 'mouse' as he prepares for winter by looking for wild foods within the park. (This will be a non mushroom event as mouse fears has a fear of them). A fun event looking for tasty foods such as blackberries, late raspberries, apples, sweet chestnuts, elder berries and rosehips. Mouse might catch a couple of insects for the children that are brave enough to try them. Boiled woodlice.. Also, although we can't eat them, Conkers too. Suitable for all the family and dog (no cats..!) Email info@owls.ie or text 'mouse'087 32 999 36. To book a place, 4a meeting place or to find out more information.

Cancellation. This evening's Family Sleep Out. OWLS Leaders have just been to the camping site and the field is saturated. With more showers due during the day and again this evening, we've made a call to cancel the camp-out. It would be too wet to enjoy - a big wet muddy mess that isn't fun! Keep an eye on posts - we'll try to organise another one before summer ends. Sorry, we were looking forward to it.

OWLS would like to invite you to join us for the OWLS Annual Family Sleep Out Tomorrow - Friday 16th August Turvey Nature Reserve, near the village of Donabate. From 6.30pm onwards - to Saturday morning. Or just come for the evening and spend time with us around the fire. Fee €5 per person. Children attending camp this week attend for free. Hire of tents €10 (we have x -person tents left) This is our annual event, to give staff a chance to meet and great many of our members/supporters in an informal gathering. We'll have a fire going all night for marshmallows and smoors, sing along, a night (no torches) walk, they will be live traps for moths and small mammals to identify in the morning, a bat walk and hopefully see and hear Headwig our resident Long eared OWL and his two young owlets that have been around the wood this last month. We'll also have the bbq set up and running, for anyone to bring along some food to cook up. For more information or to book a tent, place contact "mouse' at info@owls.ie or text 087 32 999 36.

Photos from OWLS Nature Club's post

A great first day at 'Trial of the Champions' camp! Competing to get their bases, winning immunity or not and building up their dens to survive attack. We had one hero survive a wasp sting too, only minutes into camp

Children – and now parents – are afraid of the unsanitised outdoors

https://www.irishtimes.com/life-and-style/health-family/parenting/children-and-now-parents-are-afraid-of-the-unsanitised-outdoors-1.3172311?mode=amp, 2 years old but still relevant and true

Photos from OWLS Nature Club's post

Our beloved OWLS dog Pepper is no longer with us.. After taking ill the last few weeks, it's with a broken heart that we had to put her to sleep yesterday. Quite a character and loved by all OWLS members who knew her. From sitting in the front of the car, loving a puddle and swim, with her head down in a bush smelling out a mouse to wanting to be held by the children. I don't think she thought of herself as a dog but one of the leaders. As we put her to rest, two owls flew over ahead, with one of them landing on a tree branch just meters away and stared down at the us as we laid the last bit of soil. A fitting goodbye for a much loved Pepper!

Photos from OWLS Nature Club's post

OWLS Weekend of Public Events and an Activity Day Camp - Wild kidz. This Sunday 21st July. A Public Event. Make a Butterfly Feeder. Corkagh Park 10 - 11.30am. Supported by South Dublin County Council - Free event. Want to attract butterflies to your garden? Why not try making your own colourful feeder to encourage these beautiful insects! This is a fun and easy craft activity suitable for young children aged 4 and up. Then later on the same day -Sunday 21st Butterflies, Bees and Climate Change. Cabinteely Park 12.30 to 2pm Learn how climate change is affecting some of the smallest but most important group of creatures! Then look for different types of bees and butterflies in the park. Suitable for all the family! Monday 22nd. Day Camp. 'Wild Kidz' Turvey Nature Reserve. 9.30 - 2,30pm. €15 per person. For ages 6 plus. This day camp is for the child that loves exploring the outdoors. We'll be making things out of natural wood, throwing things, sneaking up on things and toasting things (choccie biscuit smoors). A fun day out, where getting muddy is a must.... For more information or to book a place, email info@owls.ie or contact/text 'mouse' on 087 32 999 36

Photos from OWLS Nature Club's post

OWLS has recently received funding from Fingal County Council to run a 'A Social Inclusion Summer Activity Camp - Theme: Robin Hood'. Turvey Nature Reserve, near the village of Donabate. Monday 29th July - Friday 2nd August 10 - 2.30pm daily. Coach pick up and drop off, from Kinsealy shopping center. This camp is open to children living within the residential areas of Kinsealy, Drynam, Melrose and Holywell in North Dublin, who wouldn't normally get an opportunity to take part in Summer camps There are spaces for up to 60 children. Aged 6 plus. Theme: 'Robin Hood'. 'Mouse' (me-OWLS leader) as the evil sheriff, plan to become the ruler of the land - but I need as much gold as I can gather. Those attending the camp will be part of Robin Hoods gang and forest folk living in fear of the evil 'Sheriff', in having to pay daily debits or risk being thrown in the dungeon.. Each day will through role play, will consists of craft activities, archery, games, fire making and cooking off an open fire in the form of a story, with each day building on the last. In hope that on the Friday, the wicked sheriff mouse, heee, heee will prevail and rule the land or Robin Hood and his/her men will turn the tide and will overthrow me and then place me in the stocks at the end of the week. (save your rotting vegetables). This will be a fun outdoor camp finishing off with a banquet or optional family sleep out. The camp is organised and will be lead by the OWLS team. OWLS is a Childrens Nature Charity (www.owls.ie) with a focus on engaging young children with the outdoors in a fun way. To find out more or to book a place, email Info@owls.ie to receive a registration form. This is a social inclusion service camp and is only open for children living within the four residential areas.

Photos from OWLS Nature Club's post

What: Public Event- Family Bug Hunt.! When: This Sunday 7th July, 10 - 11.30am Where: Lucan Demesne This is a free event supported by South Dublin County Council. Come along and join 'mouse', as we arm ourselves with bug jars and nets and then stroll through the park looking out for mini-beast. A hands-on, family fun event, discovering insects. Participants will receive a common insect Id chart at the end of the event to take home. To find out more or to book a place, contact 'mouse' at info@owls.ie or text 087 32 999 36. Leaving your name, and no of participants wishing to attend. A meeting place will be given on booking.

Photos from OWLS Nature Club's post

What: Rockpooling When: Sunday, June 16th at 12.30 Where: Sandycove Beach This is a DLR Biodiversity Event Join us as we discover life in the rock pools! We might find starfish,crabs, anenomones and much more!! We will be using nets, buckets and spades to get up close and person with the creatures that live in the pools. Fun for all the family! For more information or to book a place contact Clare (aka Turtle) by email at education@owls.ie

What: Make a Nature Crown When: Sunday, June 16th at 10am Where: Waterstown Park, Palmerstown Supported by South Dublin County Council Make a headpiece that is fit for a King or Queen. We will be going on a nature walk around the park collecting leaves, flowers, feathers and anything cool or colourful we can find to use to design our own crown to take home! This event is suitable for all the family! Email Clare (aka Turtle) at education@owls.ie to book a place or for more information

Brilliant day yesterday with the team volunteering at OWLS for #globalserviceweek #givingback #symanteclife #charitywork