One of our education leaders Steve Ashton teaching pupils from Catcote school how to use tree identification sheets on a visit to Summerhill site near Hartlepool.
Credit: Tolly Sinclair
Working for wildlife and people
For
years, education and training have been at the heart of Tees Valley Wildlife
Trust. Giving people the chance to enjoy and understand their own environment is
both worthwhile in itself and bodes well for the future of the environment.
Our education team works across the Tees Valley to engage children and young
people in environmental education & outdoor activities. We offer a range of
education services, from work with school groups at Margrove Heritage Centre and
on our nature reserves, to improvements to school grounds.
Our varied training schemes range from paid apprenticeships and Intermediate Labour Market positions to volunteer graduate posts and New Deal placements. If you are interested in volunteering for the Trust, in any capacity, or if you would like to know more about becoming a trainee contact us
Schools Education Programme
Download the latest Programme here
There are programmes available for all ages from Reception to Year 9. All programmes have strong curriculum links. The activities are hands-on and involve active learning. An outline is given below; for further information please contact us and ask for full details to be sent.
Our tutors review the SAT syllabus with lively workshops looking at aspects of: Life processes, Living things, Green plants and life cycles, Identification using Keys, Habitats and Adaptation, Food webs and Variation.
For our younger visitors. Helping them explore nature in new ways and, and take their first steps to understanding the fragility of the life support systems of our planet. We look at the needs for life of all living things - shelter, water, air and food. Children share a big book story, play active games, and explore the natural environment through special sensory activities, following the trail of their missing teddy bears.
This session is offered to nursery to Year 2 children.
Plants and animals (Biodiversity)
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One of our education leaders Steve Ashton teaching pupils from Catcote school how to use tree identification sheets on a visit to Summerhill site near Hartlepool. Credit: Tolly Sinclair
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Walk around the woods and fields near the centre concentrating on the wide variety of plants and animals, and we will introduce pupils to identification techniques for animal and plant groups.
Habitats
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Pond dipping at Coatham Marsh Nature Reserve in Redcar. Credit: Steve Ashton
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Visit the Margrove ponds, search grassland and walk through woodland. Compare these three habitats and the wildlife they support. Use scientific keys to identify plants and animals.
Seed Investigations and Plant Life Cycles
Collect a variety of seeds. Engage in a series of games and investigations about methods of seed dispersal and plant life cycles.
Look at Landuse
Mapping and Orientation
Carry out orientation tasks and try your hand at some orienteering. Test your compass reading abilities. Plot habitats on the base map provided and learn simple mapping symbols.
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Steve Laskey helps a young pupil from St Peter’s School in Brotton to construct his bird box. Credit: Steve Ashton
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Other activities may also be able to be run on your school grounds, please contact the trust to discuss possibilities.
After School Clubs
Are you considering setting up your own environmental after school club or looking for activities to do with an out of school club? Why not consider involving the Tees Valley Wildlife Trust, we can provide a series of fun and hands on activities linked to wildlife which can take place either on your site or a local green space. Contact us for more details
Trust Membership
The Trust also offers a unique membership scheme which means your school is supporting the work of the Wildlife Trust and also can access arrange of services
When you join the Tees Valley Wildlife, you get a welcome pack and certificate plus 6 mailings a year. You get:
· 10% off all schools workshops.
· Wildlife Link for teachers – Bulletin of projects, publications, events and other initiative relevant to anyone engaged in education about environmental issues or biodiversity. It includes photocopiable activity sections.
· 3 mailings a year to include 5 copies of “Watchword” Our children’s magazine packed with wildlife features, environmental stories, quizzes, competitions, cartoons and news. A great way to make topics accessible to all.
· 3 mailings a year to include 5 copies of “Wildlife Extra”. Mini- magazines that fold out into an A2 full sized colour poster. Each issue concentrates on a particular them and is packed with advice on taking positive practical action to benefit wildlife and our environment
· Natural World. The Wildlife Trusts magazine that informs readers about UK conservation through news reviews and features relating to the work of “The Wildlife Trusts.
· Greenbits. Tees Valley Wildlife Trust’s own publication packed with local news and details about the Trust work.
· Access to phone advice on Biodiversity and Environmental Education issues
· Opportunities to take part in free workshops linked to Trust projects
School Subscription to TVWT costs £40.00 per year
Surestart Goes Wild
Since April 2004 the Wildlife Trust has been working closely with two local Surestart groups, the Dormanstown and Coast Surestart and the Greengates Surestart. The trust education team have been leading monthly activities with these two centres.
This collaborative project hoped to attract a target of 100 families with children who had not experienced the natural world previously and to encourage greater participation in regenerating the local environment. To date the club has seen regular involvement with over 110 adults and 250 children.
Project activities have included bat-detecting nights, walks around local reserves and trips to Washington Wildfowl Centre, Dalby Forest, Otter Trust Pennine Reserve and Portrack Marshes. Many more have been planned for the coming year including trips to Souter Lighthouse, Sutton Bank and Coatham Marsh.
The trust is also about to start leading a Surestart Goes Wild and Active group. This biweekly afterschool club will be for youngsters aged 5 – 9 and will offer a range of practical work on a new allotment and wildlife garden intermingled with a wide variety of walks in the Redcar area.
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Youngsters from Dormanstown and Coast Surestart group enjoy a game at Wynyard Woodland Park. Credit: Steve Ashton
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Andrew Fenton from Dormanstown and Coast Surestart group said “ The year to date has proved to be an overwhelming success which has allowed for even more families to join in the fun activities provided. Each month we now see whole families come together to explore venues for the very first time such as Dalby Forest and so excited by what they have seen are returning time and again to relive the experience.”
If your pre-school group would be interested in joining us for similar sessions please contact us.