Biology Camp

Are you considering studying biology, or ecology at university? Do you want to enrich your field experience and explore some of the possible career pathways?

Ecology is about questioning how ecosystems work and the interactions between the organisms within them. This residential is set in quintessential Constable Country in the Dedham Vale AONB, where you will meet other students from around the country and use a range of scientific approaches to explore the complex relationships in a variety of ecosystems.

Our residentials also give you the chance to develop a range of transferable skills. These types of skills help across many areas of life and are particularly good for including in job or education applications. Here are some of the transferable skills that are likely to be covered in this residential:

Communicating with others
Working as a team
Managing your time
Taking the lead
Resilience
Reliability
Keeping focused
Problem solving
Decision making

Our centres are operated in a fully Covid-secure way and accommodation will be in suitably shared rooms based on the current government guidance.

The course is suitable for Duke of Edinburgh Award Gold residential. Always check with your leader before booking.

Tutor: Field Studies Council Staff

Courses are led by experienced Field Studies Council staff.

Bookings must be made by over 18’s but if booking for a young person please ensure you enter their name and age in the Order Notes at the checkout.

Example Timetable

Day 1 – Arrive at 1pm for welcome, show in and ice breakers, ecology immersion session.
Evening session: team session (team games/orienteering challenge)

Day 2 – full day investigation into biodiversity in a woodland environment, a chance to hone your plant ID and sampling skills.
Afternoon/evening session: workshop – data analysis/statistical analysis

Day 3 – full day investigation into succession and its effect of plant distribution (one of: salt marsh or shingle ridge) with opportunities for coastal bird watching.
Afternoon/evening session: workshop data presentation/GIS skills

Day 4 – two half day sessions looking at rocky shore and freshwater ecosystems and how to sample within them.
Evening session: campfire end of course celebration.

Day 5 – Participants undertake small scale local investigations as a progression of what they have learnt throughout the week. These mini- investigations will then be presented to the rest of the group.

End of course review. Depart at 4pm.