Outdoor Education - Shropshire Wildlife Trust · Outdoor Education go wild with us! ... Listen to the talking rocks telling the story of Wood ... Hedgehog Hullabaloo An introduction

Outdoor Education

go wild with us!Explore – your local wild placesDiscover – wildlife on your doorstepExperience – the outdoors

► Complements the new curriculum

► Improves focus and concentration

while enhancing cognitive skills

► Has a positive impact on health

and self-esteem

Abbey Foregate Visitor Centre, Shrewsbury

Facilities

Our visitor centre in the heart of Shrewsbury is a haven for wildlife in a uniquely accessible location. The walled wildlife garden is particularly suitable for groups of younger children

and for older groups the centre makes a perfect base to explore the Reabrook Valley Local Nature Reserve.

Our nature reserves: a unique resource for outdoor learningWoodland, flower-rich meadows, hills, wild heathland and wetlands ringing with bird calls: our nature reserves are found throughout the county and together total 750 hectares. They protect rare and threatened habitats but can also be a gateway for children to experience the natural world.

Get in touch to find out more about reserves near you that are suitable for school groups.

The BoathouseVisitor Centre,Ellesmere

Facilities

The Boathouse occupies a beautiful spot overlooking The Mere. Each spring, herons nest on Moscow Island and our cameras catch all the action. Experts are on hand to answer questions and can provide educational sessions on these amazing birds.

The Mere has several shallow spots suitable for pond dipping; grassland habitats can be investigated at Castlefields and our own woodland reserve, The Plantation, is just a short walk away.

At your school: enjoy a wild experience from your own classroom!If you can’t make it to a wild place, why don’t we bring it to you? Most of our sessions can be adapted to work within your school grounds or at a park or wild place near to you. We also offer short sessions suitable for assemblies, after school clubs and can provide activities for part or full day school holiday sessions.

The Outdoor ClassroomIf you’re looking to improve your grounds for ‘learning in the natural environment’ we can offer a full consultation service. Charges

start at £40 plus VAT for a site visit but please contact us to discuss your requirements.

Wood Lane Education Centre, near EllesmereFacilities

Wood Lane is a man-made nature reserve on restored quarry workings. A visit here offers the unique opportunity to combine wildlife sessions with a tour of the working sand and gravel quarry, active landfill site and the largest material recycling facility in Europe.

Put on a ‘high-vis’ jacket to catch the tour trailer and marvel at the huge piles of sand, see dumper trucks carrying gravel, watch machines sort rubbish and guess where all the water comes from.

Sit in the Lapwing bird hide and look out over the wetland reserve; follow the baby bird trail from here to see chicks hidden in the vegetation.

Go dipping in the pond to discover the watery world of Wood Lane or wander through the grassland catching bugs.

Use the Forest School woodland as a base-camp for habitat investigations and den building.

Enter the Shelduck hide and shrink to the size of a water bug.

Listen to the talking rocks telling the story of Wood Lane’s Ice Age past.

In summer see the sand martins that visit from Africa.

Sink your hands in to the squishy sphagnum moss and smell the aromatic bog myrtle on the mossy green roof of the educational hide.Spot the heron fishing and the slow worm basking in our artist’s impression of the Meres and Mosses landscape.

Gaze out of the large observation windows onto the lagoons full of waders and waterfowl.

“A great mix of

learning about the

environment, nature

plus diggers!

Thank you.”

Teacher, Trefonen

Primary School

Early Years Foundation StageTwo hours £85 or half day £100Fun and exciting sessions cover the seven areas of learning and development. Active learning, investigation and problem solving through planned purposeful play are brought together in a mix of adult-lead and child-initiated activity.

Brilliant Birds Investigate and compare differences between birds. Build a nest using only your ‘beak’. Learn about camouflage, finding food and make a gooey birdfeeder to take home.

Terrific TreesExplore the woodland and learn to identify different types of tree. Use colour, shape and texture to investigate parts of a tree.

Beautiful ButterfliesAn introduction to the butterfly life-cycle through games, natural art and direct observation. Take part in a bug hunt and make your own butterfly feeder to take home.

Sensory Explorers Short games and fun activities focus children on using all their senses. Explore textures and shapes on a natural scavenger hunt and make a pongy, natural perfume.

Hedgehog HullabalooAn introduction to mammals: tracks and signs; where they live and what they eat. All communicated by games, natural art and our fascinating collection of bones, skulls and other natural artefacts.

Welly Wildlife StompGet your wellies on and go on a wild journey. Stomp in puddles, create a wild map and make a natural den for a very special creature.

Junior Dipping DetectivesExplore the underwater world and investigate the weird and wonderful creatures that live there.

Forest SchoolA programme of regular visits to the outdoor classroom. Child initiated learning offers a wealth of cross-curricular learning opportunities facilitated by experienced Forest School Leaders.

Key Stage 1 & 2All of our science and geography sessions include key skills for working scientifically and opportunities to experience and observe the natural world. Our half-day sessions complement each other so they can be combined to create a full day trip.

Darwin & the Dinosaur (KS1) Become a palaeontologist and discover dinosaurs using the extensive collections of Shrewsbury Museum. At the Wildlife Trust, look at present day animal tracks, signs and skeletons to work out who they belong to. Make a cast of animal footprints to take home. Shrewsbury only. £130

Who Eats Who (KS1) Food chains, food webs and energy flow. Learn how living things depend on each other to survive in their environment. Half day £100

Home Sweet Home (KS1) What is a habitat? What types of creatures can you find in a grassland and woodland? Look out for their similarities and differences. Take part in a range of games to introduce key concepts. Half day £100

Plantastic! (KS1 or KS2) From the shortest grasses to the tallest trees, discover the secrets of what plants need to grow. Look for evidence of different stages of the plant lifecycle and use pictures and keys to identify different plants. Half day £100

Beaks & Feet (KS1 or KS2) Ever wanted to be a bird? Now you can! Dress up as different birds and learn about their special adaptations. Compare your costume with real birds. Wood Lane and Ellesmere only. Half day £100, full day £200

Dipping Detectives (KS1 or KS2) Explore the underwater world and investigate the weird and wonderful creatures that live there.Half day £100

Magical Minibeasts (KS1 or KS2) Investigate the diversity of life by looking at land based invertebrates (minibeasts). Use a variety of capture methods to identify creatures and compare different habitats. Half day £100

Bushcraft Skills (KS1 or KS2) Explore wonderful woodlands whilst learning some crucial survival techniques. Develop communication, organisational and team skills with fun challenges culminating in a campfire celebration. Half day £100, full day £200

Earthwalks (KS1 or KS2) Join us on a magical, sensory trip, experiencing nature’s smells, textures, sights and sounds. Create a record of your experience using journey sticks, nature crowns and stillness poems. Half day £100, full day £200

Natural Art (KS1 or KS2) Explore your local surroundings and collect materials for colourful crafts, big art and natural sculptures.

Forest School (KS1 or KS2)A programme of regular visits to the outdoor classroom. Child initiated learning offers a wealth of cross-curricular learning opportunities facilitated by experienced Forest School Leaders.

River Rangers (KS1 or KS2)A fully interactive, flexible programme which focuses on the riparian (river) habitat; the issue of human impact on our rivers and conservation of water as a finite resource. This programme can be included in the ECO-Schools accreditation. Full days £200 each

Secrets of Waste (KS2) An exciting day exploring sustainability issues, recycling, food chains and energy flow. Complete practical challenges in the nature reserve, recycling centre and landfill site then use the clues to solve the Secrets of W. A. S. T. E. Wood Lane only. Full day £200

Rock Stars (KS2) Take a tour of the quarry at Wood Lane to find out about rocks and minerals, quarrying and the formation of the landscape. Carry out practical investigations to compare properties of different rock samples and sort into different rock types. Wood Lane only. Full day £200

Classification & Identification (KS2) Identify key characteristics of living specimens and artefacts through direct observation. Discuss ways of grouping them. Use keys and come up with your own method of classification. Half day £100, full day £200

Darwin & the Ape: Evolution and Inheritance (KS2) Use the extensive natural history collections at the Shrewsbury Museum to investigate evolution, adaptation and extinction. At the Wildlife Trust compare adaptations of animals to different habitats and how variation in offspring over time can make animals more or less able to survive in particular environments. Shrewsbury only. £130

All of our workshops can be

adapted to suit different age

groups.

Key Stage 3 Our Key Stage 3 sessions are designed to provide you with additional expertise and opportunities to engage your pupils with practical activities and observations of the real world. We are specialists in biodiversity, ecosystems and interdependencies but can also offer a wealth of activities that support the key skills needed for working scientifically.

Plants, Bees & Ecosystems (KS3) In the morning learn about plant reproduction; flower structure; types of pollination; fertilisation; seed / fruit formation and dispersal. Then take part in a fun investigation of dispersal mechanisms. After lunch we use bees as our starting point to look deeper at insect pollination; the interdependence of organisms in an ecosystem; the importance of invertebrates for crops and food security and the impact of human activity on the environment. Full day £200

Shifting Sands (KS3)Three full day sessions held at Wood Lane nature reserve which can be booked together or separately. Climate Change: compare weather and climate; contribute to national studies. Sustainability: develop an understanding of what sustainability means and take part in a lively debate. Industry vs Conservation: compare the operations of the quarry at Wood Lane with the nature reserve on reclaimed land. Take a first-hand look at how human activity can change the environment. Full days £200 each

Outdoor AdventuresFrom 9 years old

Research shows that access to outdoor activity has a positive impact on health, learning and behaviour (improving focus and concentration while enhancing cognitive skills), social skills, self-esteem, physical fitness and creativity.

The John Muir AwardThe John Muir Award aims to encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, enjoy and care for the planet’s wild places in a spirit of fun, adventure and exploration.

Our experienced John Muir leaders provide a varying level of support from one-off practical conservation days to taking care of everything needed to achieve your award.

We provide 5, 10 or 20 day programmes that immerse you in the landscape. Discover a wild place. Explore its wildness through nature walks, fossil hunting, living history re-enactment, habitat investigations, bog bouncing, storytelling and sensory activities. Conserve it through practical management activities. Share your own interpretation of the landscape using creative writing, art, music and drama.

Practical Conservation Tasks We can arrange guided, practical conservation days at many of our nature reserves. Activities will vary depending on the site and time of year. Full day £250

“learning outside the classroom contributed significantly to raising standards and improving pupils’ personal, social and emotional development” (Ofsted 2008)

Teacher TrainingShropshire Wildlife Trust offers a seasonal range of training workshops to boost your knowledge and confidence. We can also organise training for staff meetings or PD days. Ask for our CPD brochure.

Forest School taster sessionsWe can introduce the Forest School ethos during taster sessions for children or staff. Our Level 3 Forest School leaders deliver sessions in wild places all over Shropshire; several of our reserves have dedicated Forest School areas or we can work with you in a suitable location close to your school. Contact us to discuss your requirements.

Duke of EdinburghPlacements take part in practical projects such as grounds maintenance or gardening at our visitor centre in Shrewsbury.

Work experienceApplications are invited between October and December for placements in June and July.

School holidays, after school clubs & special eventsShropshire Wildlife Trust hosts discovery days and special events for families all over Shropshire. We can also support events organised by schools, groups or clubs or visit children’s clubs in the holidays.

Wildlife Watch is the junior branch of The Wildlife Trusts and the UK’s leading environmental action club for kids.

A teacher, whole class or environmental club can join up to be Wildlife Watch members and receive the same exciting wildlife goodies as our individual members: a starter pack and four issues of Wildlife Watch magazine a year. This is packed full of amazing pictures, puzzles, competitions and you get a fantastic free wildlife poster with each issue.

Wildlife Watch members can complete challenges to gain Wildlife Watch Awards (Hedgehog, Kestrel and Nature Ranger); ideal for eco-club organisers looking for new activities for their groups.

We also have a really wild website and a monthly e-newsletter full of wild ideas and nature-spotting tips.

To sign up go to www.wildlifewatch.org.uk

Wildlife Watch is an exciting way to explore nature and get closer to wildlife

@ShropsWildlife

How to bookShropshire Wildlife Trust has over 25 years experience of delivering inspiring activities that get children outside and engaged with the environment.

We work with you to put together an itinerary that meets all your learning objectives. That includes taking care of all the things that make organising trips a chore – so you can relax and enjoy the visit as much as your pupils.

► Our activities are fully risk assessed and delivered by experienced, first aid trained and DBS checked staff.

► For every booking we provide a teacher’s pack containing risk assessments, a detailed itinerary, a kit list and letters for parents.

► All resources, tools and equipment are provided.► We offer access to unique, protected, wild places across

Shropshire all year round. ► Pre-visits can be arranged for teachers.

This brochure has been produced with funding from the Tudor Griffiths Environmental Fund.

Simply phone or email Ellie Larkham to discuss your requirements and book your session.

01743 284 284 [email protected]

Shropshire Wildlife Trust, 193 Abbey Foregate, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, SY2 6AHwww.shropshirewildlifetrust.org.uk

Artwork by MA Creative Ltd. Photos by Tom Marshall, Emma Bradshaw, Ben Osborne, Amy Lewis and Hannah Farley