EVERY teenager in Scotland will be given an annual "outdoor week" under a new plan to tackle the country's growing "cotton wool kid" culture.
The £10m-a-year scheme, which will be open to every 11 to 15-year-old in Scotland, is top of a "shopping list" of policy ideas which Conservative MSPs are to put before the Scottish government.
The SNP has already indicated its support for the pla
n, indicating that the pledge has enough backing to be pushed through Parliament.
Supporters of the outdoor activity scheme say it is required in a culture where the "cathedral space" of childhood is being reduced to a "shoebox".
It would guarantee all pupils at least one free, week-long outdoor adventure every year. The scheme has won the personal backing of former Scotland rugby captain Gavin Hastings, who said it would fill a void in the school curriculum.
Tory sources say the project was pencilled in during a private meeting of MSPs over the summer recess when they discussed their tactics in Parliament for the coming year.
Last year, in what was seen as a loose pact between the two parties, the Tories backed the SNP's budget after winning key policy concessions, including the speeding up of business rate cuts.
Tory leader Annabel Goldie came under fire for supporting the SNP budget, but the party leader insists that she will back Government plans that include measures they can support.
As a minority Government, the SNP require the backing of at least one of Labour, the Lib Dems or the Tories to get their plans through Parliament.
Tory insiders say that this year's "wish list" will be focused on the party's health and education policies, with the activity week at the top of the pile.
Other Conservative policies include a review of the controversial NHS 24 service, and a new system of "payment-by-results" in the NHS, under which patients would be able to choose the hospital where they get treated.
Alex Salmond is now putting the finishing touches to a new legislative programme to be unveiled next week.
A source close to the First Minister said: "We will publish our legislative programme when Parliament returns, and of course will look at ideas from wherever they come in the Parliament."
He added: "Of course, all opposition parties have to understand that in a fixed budget Parliament any extra spending in one area has to come from somewhere else – and they need to have the maturity to spell out these changes."
The plan for outdoor activity weeks was highlighted earlier this summer by Tory schools spokesman Liz Smith. She said: "This initiative would mean that every pupil in year groups P7-S3 should be entitled to a week's residential course in outdoor education."
"Education in an outdoor environment provides one of the most valuable and rewarding learning experiences for a wide range of pupils, regardless of background or ability.
"I firmly believe this would enrich the lives of the pupils, helping them to build confidence and self-esteem."
She added: "In particular, these activities teach pupils leadership skills, the need for responsible behaviour and how to deal with new challenges and risk factors."
Academics have been warning that countries across the western world are failing their children by giving in to excessive fears about the safety of the streets.
In Sweden, children under 11 were recently banned from cycling to school.
Former Scotland rugby captain Gavin Hastings has said that Scottish schools are "sorely lacking" such a scheme. He said he believed that most parents would welcome the scheme.
Under the Tory plans, the scheme would receive annual funding of £6m from the Scottish Government, with the remaining £4m coming from the private sector.
Scotland currently has four outdoor education centres, and these work with more than 20,000 youngsters a year.
The full article contains 648 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
