River Schools

Connecting children with their local rivers

Mentored by

Rowan Wynne-Jones

Organisation links
Location address: Field725 Camping, Shepton Mallet
Chosen age group:

Ages: 18+ years

Available tickets:
Free workshop Free
Next date: None - Register your interest
A summary
In this workshop we will look at a range of ways to enabling children to engage with their local rivers, streams and ponds. We will provide participants with examples of different freshwater-based activities in which children enjoy partaking, including: pond-dipping; river surveying; mindfulness practices; activism and citizen science; and arts and crafts, such as weaving with freshly cut river-side willow. We will also discuss many aspects of best practice, giving particular consideration to: health and safety / risk assessments; biosecurity; engaging schools and teachers; and funding opportunities.
About your mentor
Rowan Wynne-Jones
Environmental Educator
Rowan is a qualified forest school leader, teacher and youth worker with over 20 years of experience working in a wide range of settings including schools, farms, woodlands and rivers. Rowan is currently Education and Community Engagement Officer at Cotswolds National Landscape, and working on the river catchment project, Everyone’s Evenlode. Everyone's Evenlode enables people to access and connect with their local rivers and ponds, and aims to inspire other outdoor learning practitioners to do the same. The EE team work in partnership with a large number of other organisations under the umbrella Evenlode Catchment Partnership. Rowan also runs her own forest school business, Dig & Delve, based in Gloucestershire.
Importance
Freshwater is a finite and precious resource, but it is increasingly coming under threat from a range of issues, including pollution and wastage. As pressure upon our rivers grows, the need for people to take stewardship over them increases; however, as only 2% of rivers are publicly accessible in England and Wales, a disconnect ensues. We aim to remedy this by helping create connections between people and their freshwater habitats via education, recreation and activism.
Learning aims
Aim 1
We will provide participants with examples of different freshwater-based activities in which children enjoy partaking, including: pond-dipping; river surveying; mindfulness practices; activism and citizen science; and arts and crafts, such as weaving with freshly cut river-side willow.
Aim 2
We will discuss many aspects of best practice, giving particular consideration to: health and safety / risk assessments; biosecurity; engaging schools and teachers
Aim 3
We will share our knowledge of current funding opportunities relating to freshwater education and access
Pricing information
Ticket nameFree workshop
Price£0
LEARNER REFLECTIONS0 reflections
Where we'll be
Field725 Camping, Station Road, Shepton Mallet, Somerset, BA4 4SZ
WHAT’S PROVIDED
Equipment
Safety
Enhanced DBS
Basic DBS
Risk Assessment
Public Liability Insurance
Safeguarding Training
First Aid Training
First Aid Kit

Please note

Please note, it is the responsibility of the booker to satisfy themselves about the adequacy of the safety measures. This platform is merely an introducer and does not verify the items listed here.

Cancellation Policy
Free bookings do not require refunds but as places are limited, please cancel if you cannot attend so that your place can be offered to someone else.

My experience consists of a leisure activity, on a specific date(s), and therefore the 14-day ‘cooling off period’ under the Consumer Contracts Regulations 2013 does not apply.

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