What? No blog posts? Surely not!

But we were busy! Honest.

Sometimes life overtakes us all and that's what happened this year. As you know, everyone who 'works' for COOPT is a volunteer - they give their time, energy and creativity for free because they believe in the philosophy of COOPT. They believe in the power of the outdoors to enhance the play therapy experience and they believe in the importance of sharing their skills and experience to support others as they step outside.

We are all balancing our day jobs, family time and rest and recuperation alongside supervision commitments, our own CPD and COOPT meetings and planning. We wouldn't have it any other way but sometimes time gets a little short and things fall off the 'to do' list! In March we ran our online Best Practice course with 21 participants and are now in the throws of assessing their submissions of evidence of learning. But here we are, sweltering in the sudden heatwave and looking forward to some time off over the summer and then to our next Best Practice course in September - Sat 19th and Sun 20th of September, face to face at Path Hill Outdoors, Pangbourne Oxfordshire. We love working there with its woods, fire pits, outdoor kitchen and camping field - we even love the compost loos!

Many of our subscribers have already completed the Best Practice in Outdoor Play Therapy either online or at a previous face to face course. If you're a new subscriber and are interested in the September course, full details will be sent out in a new blog in due course and advertised on our facebook page. 'Til then, save the date and share it with interested colleagues and contacts.

We are fast approaching the mid point of the year and the longest day and shortest night when the sun is at the highest point - Summer Solstice, the triumph of light over darkness. The Celts believed this was a time to celebrate together, to honour the life giving force of the sun and consider the circle of life, the cyclical nature of our existence.

It is celebrated with the lighting of bonfires, symbolising both protection and renewal, over which couples can jump to bring fertility and fortune. Offerings to celebrate the earth's bounty and plenty are made with gifts of herbs, flowers and often milk left at sacred wells such as Chalice well in Glastonbury, Somerset.

In recent days we have surely felt the power of the sun, the giver of light and warmth, symbol of energy, action and rationality and a masculine energy to the moons feminine energy. Before long we will be approaching Lammas during August and reaching towards Mabbon, the Autumn Equinox. But for now we can enjoy the warm days and often warm nights and hopefully for many of you time away with family , friends or by yourself to rest and recover. We wish you well.