Peterborough Community Education Service
Educational Opportunities
The Wildlife Trust in Peterborough offers a variety of programmes for school groups from pre-school to post 16, including Really Wild Days Out, Wildlife Watch membership, school grounds assessment and teacher training opportunities.
Wild Play Project
Wild Play Project is creating exciting play and adventure opportunities for children in the natural environment. Wild Play sessions are available free of charge to after school clubs. For the latest Wild Play events please click here. For more information on the Wild Play Project, please click here.
Wildlife Watch
Wildlife Watch is the UK’s leading environmental action club for kids aged 8 to 12 years old. Wildlife Watch groups usually meet once a month. It is a great opportunity to take part in a number of exciting activities including mammal tracking, bird watching, natural crafts, mini-beast hunting, survival skills and more! We also have special membership deals for schools who wish to set up their own Watch group.For more information on Watch groups in your area click here.
Greenwatch
Greenwatch groups are for young people aged 13 years and above who are curious about the natural world and keen to get involved. Greenwatch groups normally meet once a month, so it’s a fantastic opportunity for people to take part in conservation tasks and projects and meet new people. If you’re a school that wishes to set up their own Greenwatch group, then we have special membership deals to suit you. For more information on Greenwatch groups in your area click here.
Teacher Training Opportunities
Many teachers are interested in teaching their students in an outside environment. The Wildlife Trust’s staff are experienced field teachers who are eager to pass on their skills in leading outdoor education. The Wildlife Trust wants to encourage schools and community groups to use their green spaces for ‘real world’ learning. We can provide advice, training and support and the confidence for teachers to teach in their green spaces. For more information, please get in touch with Rachel Price.
Case Study – Northborough School
Northborough Primary School contacted the Wildlife Trust because they wanted their staff to view their school grounds as a living classroom and use it as a valued resource. A programme was designed with this in mind and a whole school wildlife day “Our school grounds ‘nature reserve’” was conducted in November 09. We encompassed activities such as bird watching, leaf hunts, mini beast hunt and art activities that taught the children about what can be found in their school grounds but also included activities that the staff could recreate at a later date.
School grounds assessment and advice
School grounds are a wildlife and educational resource just waiting to be explored. They can also be vital wildlife corridors helping to create a big vision for wildlife; Living Landscapes . We can help equip teachers to develop grounds through advice packs and management plans. Please click here for an example school grounds plan.
School outreach programmes
A range of outreach programmes available, from assemblies to classroom sessions, within the school environment. For a comprehensive guide to all programme charges, please see our Education and Community pricing policy 2010-11.
Family learning and outdoor play events
The Trust offers a huge array of events from training workshops to family learning events. For the latest upcoming training workshops please click here.
Forest schools
Forest schools provide a unique participant-lead learning experience for people of any age. The programme takes place in a safe, supportive and stimulating natural environment.
Really Wild Days Out
Really Wild Days Out is a suite of education activities including pond dipping and species identification delivered by experienced education officers and trained volunteers. Peterborough schools can choose from a number of different local sites all within the district and A-level visits can be undertaken at John Clare Country Project sites. Click here for a Really Wild Days Out brochure. We prepare up-to-date risk assessments for each site to help plan your visit and we ask you to attend a pre-visit session in preparation. Please click here for an example school visit briefing.
Education and community pricing policy 2010-2011
To arrange a visit or discuss a Really Wild Day Out, please get in touch with Rachel Price, the Community Wildlife Officer for Peterborough.