With summer on the way, Charlene Duncan, our Education and Community Outreach Officer, writes how now is the perfect time to book sessions with Project Kingfisher, the South East Rivers Trust’s river education programme.
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What’s new with Project Kingfisher?
Sessions for schools and youth groups
During the Covid pandemic, we have found a number of ways to use our Project Kingfisher programme to educate young people about rivers.
These have included home education activities and virtual assemblies to eventually being able to offer site visits again. We are pleased to say that we now are up and running with a programme of river sessions and assemblies.
While outdoor sessions have been on offer since September 2021, there has been limited availability.
We have recently increased our capacity to deliver these sessions and have brought back the ever-popular River Introduction Assembly.
With the weather improving, now is a great time to get in touch to book your river education session. Sessions are available for primary schools as well as clubs such as Scouts and Girl Guides.
An outdoor session at a river © South East River Trust
Curriculum links delivered
All our sessions are based around the theme of ‘My Local River’ and have both science and geography curriculum links.
They relate to topics such as: Rivers, Living Things and Their Habitats and My Local Area.
While the river sessions give children a meaningful and memorable first-hand experience of rivers, the assemblies are a great interactive introduction to an important local habitat.
Children assess the river © South East River Trust
Sessions from assemblies to river dipping
The sessions have been designed by an experienced teacher and can be tailored for Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 pupils. The offer includes:
- River Introduction Assembly that raises awareness of the local river and the wildlife that can be found there.
- Interactive Walks that can be delivered on any suitable stretches of the River Wandle, Hogsmill, or Beverley Brook, introducing children to the river in their area with games and activities.
- River Dipping Sessions are delivered on our key sites with river access that allows children to get up close with the river animals that live beneath the surface.
The assembly and walk sessions are free, while the river dipping sessions cost £150 for a two-hour session or £210 for two sessions booked for the same day.
River dipping © South East River Trust
Fantastic take home message
The sessions all include a valuable take home message – the river is an important habitat that we all have a responsibility to protect.
Sessions look at some of the key threats such as climate change and low flows and empower young people to take positive steps to combat these threats.
Children are directed to our Junior River Rangers webpage that provides follow up activities. By completing just three activities they can earn a certificate and badge and become Junior River Rangers!
For more information, visit our Education session page or email: education@southeastriverstrust.org
Children receive take home messages © South East River Trust