Conservation and Zoo Keeping

Participants will start the week at Slapton Ley Field Centre, exploring the range of habitats in our National Nature Reserve, canoeing on the stunning Slapton Ley, and getting hands-on with vital conservation work.

The second half of the course offers a rare behind-the-scenes stay at Dartmoor Zoo, with expert-led workshops including on animal training, handling, and conservation. Participants will get up close and personal with the zoo’s animals, from reptiles to big cats, before setting up camp right in its centre. On the final morning, students will learn about zoo management and take part in an enterprise challenge.

Participation in this course may be used to complete the residential requirement for Duke of Edinburgh Gold and/or the John Muir Conservation Award.

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.

Transferable skills that are likely to be covered in this residential:

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

We want to ensure participants get to share in their experience with those of a similar age. Please consider what age the attendee will be on the course date and check they fit into the age category when booking. 

If the attendee is under 18, the booking must be made by a parent/guardian. When you book, it is essential that you enter the age and attendees name in the Order Notes at the checkout.

When attending the residential dates which welcome 16-18 year olds, all participants will be expected to follow the behaviour and conduct rules which will be in place to safeguard young people.

If these course dates do not suit you, we run similar courses at many of our other centres.

Day 1: Arrival
Introduction to Slapton Ley NNR & Team Building

Day 2: Conservation at Slapton Ley

Practical conservation tasks around the NNR
An introduction to mammal trapping, moth trapping, and bat identification.

Day 3: Life in the Ley

Freshwater invertebrate sampling followed by canoeing on Slapton Ley.

Evening activities will include a virtual introduction and Q&A with Dartmoor Zoo in preparation for the following day.

Day 4: Arrive at Dartmoor Zoo

Activities will include workshops in conservation, animal handling, enrichment, and zoo careers.

Evening activities will include a campfire, a night tour and setting up camp.

Day 5: Departures

Participants will spend their final day with a 'close encounters' session and an enterprise challenge.

Departure may be arranged from Slapton Field Centre, Dartmoor Zoo, or Totnes train station.

• 
  Expert Tuition
• 
  Free Wi-Fi
• 
  Full Board Accommodation
• 
  Hot and Cold Drinks
• 
  In Course Transport
• 
  Picnic Lunch

What shall I bring?  

• Boots or wellingtons
• Waterproof jacket & trousers
• Hat and Gloves for warm and cold weather
• Wash kit
• Suitable clothing for the time of year
• Small day rucksack
• Head torch
• Water bottle and lunch box

This residential is only open to young people who will be aged 16 - 18 years old at the time of attending. 

We want to ensure participants get to share in their experience with those of a similar age. Please consider what age the attendee will be on the course date and check they fit into the age category when booking.

If the attendee is under 18, the booking must be made by a parent/guardian. When you book, it is essential that you enter the age and attendees name in the Order Notes at the checkout.

When attending the residential dates which welcome 16-18 year olds, all participants will be expected to follow the behaviour and conduct rules which will be in place to safeguard young people.