The school summer holidays are here and its is time to proudly reflect on another fantastic year for Project Kingfisher. Come rain or shine, our dedicated Education Team have been busy connecting over 5000 school children with nature. Highlights of the year saw students helping to plant our new wetland, Chamber Meads, creating lasting memories through hands-on experience, and our Education Officer winning the Peter Spillett Award.
Educational Experiences with Project Kingfisher
Project Kingfisher offers a wealth of educational experiences, including assemblies, interactive walks, and river dipping sessions for school children and youth groups. The sessions span the Beverley Brook, Wandle, Hogsmill, and River Mole, ensuring accessibility for many schools in the South East. We offer activities and opportunities to support teaching and to help inspire pupils’ love of nature through learning.
Connecting Young People to Nature
At the heart of our sessions is the aim to connect young people to their local environment and its wildlife. Through activities like creating natural art, listening to birds, and making promises to support the river, we inspire students to appreciate and care for their surroundings. Additionally, we link our sessions to the National Curriculum therefore reinforcing classroom learning and hands-on experiences that make the natural world come alive.
Positive Feedback from Teachers and Students
We received 100% positive feedback on our sessions with one school creating a podcast about their experience which highlights the inspirational impact of Project Kingfisher. Here are some of the wonderful comments we’ve received from teachers:
“Project Kingfisher is perfect for introducing children to our rivers. The delivery and content engaged the children, and they had an absolute blast!”
“The assembly entertained and engaged children from Years 1-5 equally. It was visual, full of information, and involved children in activities throughout.”
“Our second time river dipping, and the classes loved it both times. The project is well-organised, links neatly to the curriculum, is superbly resourced, and knowledgeably run. As a teacher, this is exactly what we look for on an afternoon trip. It offers fun and exploration in the outdoors that isn’t often experienced by children these days. Great fun for all, even the accompanying parent helpers.”
“The river assembly and the interactive walk linked beautifully with pupils’ learning at school. They enjoyed being guided by an expert, which helped them think about the importance and sustainability of the river.”
And from the children themselves:
“That was fun! Can we go in again?”
“It was so much fun! The best trip ever!”
“I loved listening to the different sounds of birds and nature.”
“I loved making a promise to make sure that the tributary will keep flowing and not dry up!”
Book Your Session for September
As we gear up for the new school term, we encourage you to book your sessions with Project Kingfisher. Give your students the opportunity to discover the wonders of their local rivers and develop a lasting connection with nature.
For more information about our education sessions, visit our Project Kingfisher Education Page or email us at education@southeastriverstrust.org. Schools in Crawley can also join us for special sessions at Gratton’s Park on the Gatwick Stream through our “Our River Our Water” programme.
Why Choose Project Kingfisher?
- Hands-on, curriculum-linked learning
- Expert-guided river experiences
- Engaging activities that foster a love for nature
- Positive feedback from teachers and students
Don’t miss out on this enriching experience – book your Project Kingfisher sessions today!