Cambourne Community Education Service
Educational opportunities
Schools have the following services available to them in Cambourne:
- School visits
- Teacher training
- School grounds advice
- School membership
School visits
Cambourne Community Education Service offers a variety of programmes for school groups of all ages. Education staff help plan visits, offering flexible and creative learning experiences.
The following two programmes have been developed for Cambourne Greenspaces covering the two main habitats:
Wetland programme
Using Cambourne’s lakes, ponds and reed beds to explore adaptation to environment and relationships between species.
Pond dipping (all ages) - Basic identification of species, also looking at adaptations to the environment and simple food chains.
Wetland doctor (KS2) - Measurements looking at the ‘health’ of the water carried out alongside pond dipping to look at how this affects what species are able to live there.
Woodland programme
Using Cambourne’s established and newly planted woodland areas to explore diversity of species and habitats and the importance of linking corridors.
Tree spotting (all ages) - Identification of trees, measurements and estimates of size, with the potential to lead into art projects.
Tree detective (KS2) - As above with a mini-beast hunt to highlight the link between diversity of trees and diversity of animals.
This programme can also be used to look at corridors between woods and how species travel between separate areas of woodland.
School and community groups can also choose from a variety wildlife themed games and even get involved in the management of the reserve as well as participating in guided walks, talks and activity-based sessions on wildlife and conservation.
Additional information for teachers and community workers can be found at Your day at Cambourne.
To arrange a visit or discuss the programmes, please contact Jenny Mackay on 01954 713516 or email jenny.mackay[at] wildlifebcnp.org
Teacher training
Many teachers are interested in taking their students outside of the classroom. The Wildlife Trust education staff are experienced field teachers who can help train teachers in leading outdoor education for their students. Advice, training and support can be provided to teachers with orientation sessions and workshops. Schools and community groups are encouraged to use Wildlife Trust sites and other green spaces for learning outside of the classroom experiences.
School grounds advice
We are also able to offer advice on developing school grounds into spaces for wildlife that can be used to enhance study across right across the curriculum.
School membership
The Wildlife Trust offers a special programme for schools who wish to support our work and learn more about helping wildlife. Please follow the link for more information.