Countryside educational packs & school trips

Educational packs

  • the Woodlands and Countryside team provide a series of educational packages and resources which can be hired and tailored to your individual schools needs
  • this service is based from the Sandall Beat Environment Centre in the heart of Sandall Beat Wood next to the Racecourse
  • during your visit you can hire one of our Countryside Rangers for £68.20 per half day or £136.40 for the full day to deliver any of the following units
  • our staff have over 10 year's experience working with schools in the Doncaster area as well environmental and teaching qualifications
  • we also have experience of work with groups of all abilities

 To book:

  • tel: 01302 736020
  • or email:country@doncaster.gov.uk

Courses

Survival Skills Units

Introduction to Shelter Building - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - foundation to secondary
Learning objective - to explore and understand the importance and options for survival shelters
Overview

  • group discussion about survival priorities and different types of kit which can be bought 
  • demonstration on different types of short term survival shelters 
  • chance to build your own creations

Advanced Shelter Building - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective - build upon the previous knowledge to better understand long term shelter requirements
Overview

  • discussion about camp layout and shelter options 
  • build a group shelter using all natural materials 
  • individually build either campsite furniture or advanced shelter

Campfire Cooking - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - foundation to secondary
Learning objective - practical session preparing and cooking various foods over an open fire
Overview

  • group discussion about campfire cooking and safety issues 
  • hands on practical session preparing and cooking food 

An extra charge of £1.20 per person needs to be included for materials and food

Advanced Camp Fire Cooking - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective - to investigate different options for preparing food
Overview

  • preparing your own cooking fuel 
  • discussion and practical session about different types for cooking methods that can be used 

An extra charge of £1.20 per person needs to be included for materials and food

Navigation/Orienteering - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 1 to secondary
Learning objective and overview - to learn how to find a direction with and without a compass. How to read a map and orienteer around Sandall Beat Wood

Introduction to Camp Fire Making - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective and overview - to understand fire and its safety requirements. Collecting and preparing different types of materials ready for use

Advanced Fire Making - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective and overview - to investigate different options for making fire and their requirements, including fire by friction

Introduction to Knots - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective and overview - learn how to assess which knot you need and how to tie them as well as making your own survival bracelet
An extra charge of £2 per person needs to be included if the participants want to take a survival bracelet they have made home with them

Importance of Water - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective and overview - to explore the importance of water, how to collect it and make it ready to drink. This practical session involves the participants constructing water collects as well as building your own water filter

All of the above can be booked as individual units or as a ten session programme including an introduction session

Art Based Units

Leaf Art - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Foundation to secondary
Learning objective and overview - practical session using leaves as an inspiration to create and finish a number of projects

Introduction to Salt Dough - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Foundation to Key stage 2
Learning objective and overview - learn the basics for making Salt Dough and its strengths and limitations. Practical session making your own materials before undertaking a series of projects

Conservation Units

Mini Beast Hunting - Duration 2 hours
Module suitability - Foundation to secondary
Learning objective and overview - study and investigate different types of creatures and their requirements for life in a woodland habitat. Set up a number of different experiments before investigating the data as well as collating a species inventory

Woodland Habitat Management - Duration 2 hours to full day
Module suitability - Key stage 2 to secondary
Learning objective and overview - practical hands on session carrying out woodland management skills. From safe use of tools to researching the theory behind such activities. Session can include

  • loppering path edges 
  • loppering Rhododendron 
  • coppicing trees 
  • other tasks can be organised depending upon individual requirements

Costs and times

  • our most popular package is 'Shelter Building' and 'Camp Fire Cooking'
  • typically a Primary School will aim to arrive around 10am and leave about 2pm with a 30 minute lunch in the middle
  • morning session covers different types of survival shelters before the children have a chance to practice building their own
  • afternoon session builds towards cooking a three course meal
  • pupils will be involved in preparing various meals including baking bread before sitting around the fire pit to cook
  • typical cost of this package for a class of up to 30 pupils is £166.40.  This breaks down to £133.40 (exc VAT) to hire a Ranger for the day and a £30 budget to purchase food etc
  • the team can also offer programmes and one-off activities for a wide range of ages, interests and abilities
  • advance booking is essential and you are advised to give as much notice as possible to help us meet your requirements

Other facilities

  • classroom- our classroom can house up to 35 people with a seat and desk space.  It has its own heating and power supply as well as a sink 
  • play park 
  • sensory trail 
  • toilet block 
  • picnic area 
  • parking
Last updated: 28 September 2023 13:18:21

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