Conservation and Zoo Keeping

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.

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

Slapton Ley, South Devon

Day 1: Arrival 12pm
Afternoon - Introduction to Slapton Ley NNR & Team Building
Evening - A virtual talk with Plymouth University about zoology careers. We will then finish up with setting up moth and mammal traps.

Day 2: Conservation at Slapton Ley

Practical conservation tasks around the NNR
An introduction to mammal trapping, moth trapping, and bat identification.
Evening - Camera trap and mammal tunnel setting. Bat Walk

Day 3: Life in the Ley

Freshwater invertebrate sampling followed by canoeing on Slapton Ley.

Evening - 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 - A campfire, a night tour and setting up camp.

Day 5: Departures 3.00pm

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.

Flatford Mill, Suffolk

Day 1: Arrival 12pm

Afternoon - Introduction to Flatford Mill and the Dedham Vale & team building games

Evening - Setting up moth and mammal traps.

Day 2: Minismere visit

An introduction to mammal trapping, moth trapping, and bat identification.

A trip to Minismere nature reserve to see in-situ conservation

Evening - Twilight Walk

Day 3: Trip to Colchester Zoo

Activities will include workshops in conservation, enrichment, and zoo management. As well as access to the zoo for half a day.

Evening – Taskmaster team games

Day 4: Colchester Zoo half-day

Participants will spend this half day with a team enrichment exercise challenge and a few more zoo-based activities

Back at centre a time to reflect on your time at the zoo with a project writing exercise.

Evening - A campfire.

Day 5:

Practical conservation tasks around the centre grounds.

Departures 3.00pm

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 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.