Biology Camp

Please take a look at the example timetables on this page as the course content may differ slightly depending on location.

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
• 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.

See our Residential FAQs page if you’d like to know the answers to our most frequently asked questions.

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

Example Timetable

Day 1 
Arrive-12.00
Welcome, show in and ice breakers, ecology immersion session.
Team session (team games/orienteering challenge)

Day 2  
Full day investigation into biodiversity in a local environment, a chance to hone your plant ID and sampling skills.
Workshop – data analysis/statistical analysis

Day 3  
Full day investigation into succession and its effect of plant distribution.
Workshop data presentation/GIS skills

Day 4  
Two half day sessions looking at different habitats and how to sample within them.
Campfire end of course celebration.

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

Depart 15.00

Millport Field Centre

Day 1
Arrive- 12.00pm
Welcome, show in and ice breakers, ecology immersion session.
Team session (team games/orienteering challenge)

Evening
For the first night we will embark on spectrophotometry -  Using both traditional methods and technological alternatives for seaweed identification.

Day 2
Investigating invertebrates – comparing invertebrate adaptations and evolution in a range of habitats, from terrestrial to freshwater to marine – a great opportunity to hone invertebrate ID and taxonomic skills!

Evening
In the evening we will learn how to study nocturnal animals, using a range of techniques to track, detect or trap a wide range of nocturnal creatures

Day 3
In the morning, we will open our various traps and try to identify and analyse our findings. This will be followed by a microscopy session looking at a range of plankton samples, identifying them and completing scientific drawings.
In the afternoon, after a workshop on plant ID, we will compare the plant biodiversity of different environments, looking at the impact of invasive species

Evening
In the evening we will use the data collected so far to work on our statical analysis and GIS skills.

Day 4
We will spend the day studying animal behaviour, understanding how behaviours come about, and ways to study the behaviour of animals both in the lab and in the field.

Before dinner participants plan their own mini-investigations, to be carried out the next day, on a topic of interest to them.

Evening
We round off the day with a campfire and review of the course.

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

Depart 3pm

Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for participants, the timetable may alter depending on weather conditions and local factors at centres.

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

What to 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.