Castle Head. FIELD STUDIES COUNCIL KS3 Modules

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1 At we offer opportunities in both fieldwork and adventurous activities at KS3. Whilst we are able to offer these as distinct modules we also specialise in Eco-Adventure, which combines adventurous activities with environmental understanding. This allows us to use the activities as an opportunity to develop students understanding of the environment through experiential learning and the reviewing process. We will also provide the learning outcomes traditionally associated with adventurous activity such as personal development and team building. With courses longer than 3 days, we can also follow the John Muir Award to record the student s achievement throughout the visit by discovering, exploring, conserving and sharing a wild place. Our popular KS3 sessions are outlined below, however we are very adaptable and can tailor a course to suit your needs. Please note ation costs will be charged for offsite activities, if you have no. Fieldwork Modules NC Links Time Investigating Rivers During this module, students investigate the River Eea from its source in the Lake District National Park to its mouth at Morecambe Bay. Working in small groups, measurements are made of the river features and all data is recorded. The students also discuss the surrounding land use and management of the river and have the opportunity to produce field sketches and examine the impact of a river on its surroundings (please note for a half day course we don t start at the source). Investigating Coasts Morecambe Bay is a spectacular and beautiful coastal environment and a stone s throw from. In this module students investigate the main physical features of Morecambe Bay and the processes of erosion and deposition that affect the area. From view points and on local beaches, the group produce field sketches and discuss land use and how the environment has been improved or damaged. The Mountain Environment In this module the group visit the Lake District National Park to have first-hand experience of a mountain environment. The students explore the landscape; discuss how it has been formed, what it is like and what the local people do here. This leads to considering tourism in the National Park and its impact on the mountain environment. Tourism Tourism is the main income for many people in the Lake District National Park and Bowness-on-Windermere is a very popular destination. The group visit this location and examine why people go there and the impact it has on the environment. The group can investigate this further by taking a boat tour (at an additional cost) and discussing the types of tourism around Bowness and how it may need to be managed in the future to prevent this beautiful area from being damaged. Contrasting Localities Grange-Over-Sands is only a few minutes from and is a popular seaside resort. The students visit the seafront and the high street to make notes on the types of buildings and characteristics of the locality. The group compare and contrast Grange to their own home town, discuss how why people visit the town and begin to think how they would like to develop Grange in a sustainable way. Curious Creatures Pupils will explore at least one habitat in the grounds and identify and describe what they have found and suggest how they are suited to a habitat. Pupils will use their understanding to construct a food chain. we may undertake include mammal trapping, pond dipping and if conditions allow bat detecting and looking at owl pellets. Environmental games are also used to illustrate concepts in a fun and interesting way. Hydrology Coasts Human and Physical Geography, Science: Earth and Atmosphere Population and Urbanisation Population and Urbanisation, Use of natural resources Science: Material cycles and Energy, Interactions and to full day, offsite, Time: Full day,,,, 1

2 Freshwater Study The River Eea is investigated in this module from its source in the Lake District National Park to its mouth in Morecambe Bay. The students focus on how invertebrates and plants are adapted to the river environment. By sweep net sampling at the source, middle and mouth of the river, the group examine how the invertebrate populations change downstream and consider how they are adapted to their environment. This module may be tied in with the Geography river study. Science: Material cycles and Energy, Interactions and, Geography Modules NC Links Time Rivers An opportunity to follow a river downstream studying changes in channel characteristics and investigating the human use of this stream. Students will go ghyll scrambling. They will travel up a dramatic gorge carved by water to get a different perspective of a river environment, working together to overcome obstacles such as waterfalls and plunge pools. Tourism Whilst visiting the tourist honeypot, Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District National Park, students will investigate the impact that millions of visitors have on a sensitive environment, recognized for its natural beauty. Students will then get the opportunity to explore this environment from a different perspective by canoeing on Windermere. There is also the option to catch the ferry (at an additional cost). Hydrology, Physical Education: Outdoor & Population and Urbanisation, Time: Full day - half day river study and half day ghyll scrambling, Time: Full day - half day tourism study and half day canoeing, Climbing Activity Modules NC Links Time Rock Climbing An activity that usually takes place at our local, beginner friendly crag in Lindale. Participants will be asked to take on some responsibility for their own and other peoples safety. This approach enables young people to acquire new skills and face personal challenges whilst learning to work together and support each other. Indoor Climbing Wall has its own purpose-built artificial climbing wall in the sports hall. The holds are appropriately arranged for beginners. A usable resource whatever the weather is doing outside. Participants will be given responsibilities much like they would rock climbing outside, as mentioned above. High All Aboard A high rope activity in grounds which combines team work, communication and a good sense of balance. The challenge is to get 2 participants onto a small platform by climbing a 7 metre high pole, whilst being belayed by their team mates. Once both are on the platform participants will be able to test their nerve and trust through a number of exercises. Having completed the exercises the only way down is to jump! Jacobs Ladder Small teams of 2-4 climbers have to really pull together on this activity; only the best team working skills will ensure success! Students must work together to push and pull each other up a giant ladder of horizontally suspended logs; the challenge comes with the ever-increasing gaps between the rungs. The rest of the team are involved with the belaying; keeping the climbers safe using ropes. if, onsite if, onsite onsite 2

3 Vertical Challenge A high rope activity, much like a vertical obstacle course, with students encountering different elements as they climb higher and higher. Can you climb up the vertical challenge? The rest of the students keep climbers safe by belaying and learning a new skill. Crate Stack Students work in pairs to build a tower of crates whilst standing on top of the tower. How high will they get? The rest of the team help by belaying; keeping the climbers safe using ropes, and by passing the climbers more crates. Sea Level Traverse An exciting adventurous activity that is held at a famous local beauty spot called Humphrey Head. This is an impressive outcrop of limestone that is surrounded on three sides by sea or sand depending on the tides when you arrive. Students are provided with a first-hand opportunity to explore and discover this unique habitat. Students can: venture to the top of the headland; scramble along, around and over rocky obstacles at the foot of the cliffs; hunt for fossils; look for crabs or shrimps and learning about the history of Morecambe Bay. Ghyll Scrambling A very popular activity that takes place at various locations including Church Beck in the famous Lakeland village of Coniston. You will find yourself in a dramatic setting, working your way upstream against the current. Success requires effective teamwork and determination; during this activity students can learn about the characteristics of the upper course of a river and the unique habitat which they are journeying in. if, onsite if, onsite Water Activity Modules NC Links Time Canoeing Canoeing is an exciting, adventurous, competitive and recreational activity from which much of the enjoyment and adventure come from the natural environment around you. We use open canoes because they seat 2 to 3 students and so promote teamwork. They provide an exciting opportunity for young people to recognise the importance of good communication and patience. With one of our qualified instructors you will make a journey upstream or downstream on the River Winster from the Centre or on Coniston Water. Raft Building Rafting has a long standing tradition at. We supply a selection of 45 gallon drums, wooden spars and ropes for lashing and after a discussion on buoyancy, stability and steering, the group then set about building a raft to their own design. This activity has a strong teamwork element and the success of the raft will depend on the whole team s ability to work together. to full day or evening session, onsite or, onsite Land Activity Modules NC Links Time Orienteering has an orienteering course, set up by one of the North West s top coaches. The activity begins with the basics of map work and navigation using a few simple games and route finding techniques. This leads individuals to a variety of courses of gradually increasing difficulty. At the heart of the activity there is scope for individual progression and achievement. 3

4 Mountain Days Within easy driving are the southern fells of the Lake District. The Coniston fells, in particular, make for a great day out in the mountains and includes tarns, peaks and breath-taking views. Other options include Langdale, Loughrigg and Caw. One of our experienced and qualified mountain leaders will accompany each group. Multi-day expeditions with overnight camps can also be organised. Local Fell and Evening Walks s location between coast and mountains provides a tremendous variety of venues for walking. These can vary in length and activity depending on the group s abilities, experience and the prevailing weather conditions. An experienced tutor or qualified mountain leader, depending on the walk being undertaken, will accompany the group. Walks can be designed with a particular theme such as natural history or purely as a physical challenge with fun in mind! Camp Your students can experience the fun of a night camping out whilst staying within the Centre grounds. The Centre has a range of 2 4 children sized tents. Meals can be taken as usual, although a supper snack can easily be made and enjoyed at the camp site. Sleep mats are provided but students will need to bring their own sleeping bags and torches., Physical Geography Activity Challenges, Physical Geography Time: Full day,, full day or evening session, can walk from centre or Time: Evening and overnight, onsite Team Building Modules NC Links Time Problem Solving A series of thought provoking games and activities requiring teamwork and cooperation. This activity is becoming more and more popular because of the benefits that can be derived from encouraging young people to work together, consider problems, discuss possible solutions and most importantly, to learn from their mistakes. An excellent first session to a course to get groups thinking on a teamwork theme! An experienced member of staff will encourage the group to develop by following a logical progression through a series of activities and reviews. Lots of fun even if you do not succeed first time! Low Ropes Course has a purpose-built Low Ropes Course which is designed to encourage the students to work as a team to overcome the obstacles which they are faced with. The group have to work together to get everybody around the whole course without touching the ground. It is often a series of problem solving exercises to give a structured progression of teambuilding tasks. The low ropes course includes balance beams, rope bridges and scramble nets. Obstacle Course Based in the woods in the Centre grounds the obstacle course consists of a series of challenges of varying degrees of difficulty. This can be a timed event for either teams or individuals, or completed as a whole team challenge. It is often a series of problem solving exercises and/or the Low Ropes Course to give a structured progression of teambuilding tasks and individual challenges. The obstacle course consists of tunnels, balance beams and cargo nets. Night Line We have a purpose built Night Line Challenge, which is designed to encourage the students to work together to build trust and communication. The whole group work together to lead around a rope course whilst blindfolded. if combined with other activities or evening if combined with other activities or evening 4

5 Environmental Modules NC Links Time Environmental Art Individuals will explore the natural environment by communicating visual information through the use of a range of natural materials. The introduction will involve the students in the use of their senses to gain their own personal connection with their surroundings. This will lead onto a more focussed piece of natural sculpture using the style and traditions of land artists such as Andy Goldsworthy as a source of inspiration. Students are encouraged to work collaboratively. A range of options such as willow lanterns can also be chosen. Bush Craft A survival session on site at. After a briefing on some key points of building natural shelters, students get the freedom to plan, design and build their own structures. Students can work in small groups or as one large team. Learn how to light a fire without the use of matches! This on-site activity can be adapted in many ways: students can learn how to use steel strikers or the more traditional friction-fire lighting using a bow drill. Demonstrations and key safety points are shared before students can give it a go themselves. Once the fire is lit, the team can also be tasked to boil a kettle of water on the fire for everyone to enjoy a hot drink at the end of the session! An excellent means for reviewing and reflecting on a week at! Colour and Light This module is an investigation into the relationship of light, shadow and colour. On an adventure walk the students explore through a variety of activities which teach the pupils the properties of light, its source and how objects make shadows. They consider all the colours that make up white light and embark on colour investigations in the environment by making rainbow cards, experimenting with camouflage and learning about warning colours. Tracking in the Woods Eggerslack Woods is a local semi-ancient woodland and the setting for tracking, an exciting and informative activity. The session starts with activities to raise awareness about our senses and how these are used by animals to hunt for prey or to avoid being hunted. Camouflage tactics are discussed before the group undertakes activities to reinforce these predator-prey ideas. Sensory Walk This activity involves using all the senses to explore and discover nature. A variety of fun and interactive games are used; encouraging students to really focus on particular senses. This activity can take place in the ground of, or can be done on a local walk, for example Eggerslack Woods. There is also a link made to wildlife and the environment and the necessity for creatures to have such heightened senses. Art & Design Design & Technology, Use of natural resources Science: Light waves Science: Material cycles and Energy, Interactions and Science: Light waves, Material cycles and Energy, Interactions and or Time: Half day, onsite if combined with other activities or as part of local walk, onsite or session, offsite or as part of another or 5

6 Additional Modules *The following activities are available but, due to higher costs, do incur an extra charge per head Caving In this activity you will explore the nether world of the Yorkshire Dales. The cave systems are usually wet and always unlit, providing a unique opportunity for team building and self-discovery by placing young people in such an alien environment. This is a powerful and unforgettable shared experience in a unique setting amongst fascinating, limestone rock formations. Horse Riding Horse riding takes place at Witherslack Equestrian Centre which is run by a highly experienced and qualified team of instructors. The stables have a good range of horses and ponies so all shapes and sizes of humans are catered for! Participants ride out in ability groups and no previous experience is. Although Castle Head subsidises this activity, there is a modest surcharge. NC Links Time to full day, with 1 ½ - 2 hour ride, 6