This week will develop students’ relationships with each other, themselves, and the world around them. Through a variety of challenges and activities they will discover what shaped the landscape, what lives there now and consider future scenarios.
Example Timetable
Day 1
Morning
Arrive midday
- Students greeted by FSC staff.
- Welcome talk and Centre tour.
- Pre-course meeting with FSC staff and teachers.
- Allocation of wellies/waterproofs.
Afternoon
Team Challenges
Learners will discuss the qualities of the perfect team member before putting their ideas into action completing a variety of activities which will test and strengthen their teamwork skills for the week ahead. (Health and Wellbeing)
Evening
Orienteering
Work in small teams to complete the orienteering course, find answers to questions on the local area, its biodiversity and history, and burn off some excess energy to ensure a good night’s sleep!
Day 2
Morning and Afternoon
Biodiversity and Interdependence
Learners will start by making observations and asking questions about a habitat, such as the local rocky shore or surrounding woodland. This will lead on to making a testable hypothesis. In small groups learners will plan and design an experiment to test their hypothesis. We will measure the biodiversity of the ecosystem, learn about energy flow and the adaptations of the organisms we’ve found, getting a closer look through microscopes. (Sciences)
Evening
Mammal Trapping and Dusk Walk
We will set humane traps for a variety of nocturnal animals, discovering their adaptations for survival and considering population dynamics over time.
Day 3
Morning and Afternoon
People, Place and Environment: Coasts: Processes and People
We will start by considering how Millport has developed over time to be the town it is today, answering questions such as who were the first settlers? Why did they settle here? Who visits now? We will investigate how history has influenced the town we see today. Students will be introduced to geographical investigative techniques such as land use surveys, environmental quality assessments, pedestrian counts and questionnaires. Additionally we will investigate coastal processes and landforms, evaluate a variety of coastal defences and describe their impact on the island. (Social Studies)
Evening
Presentations
Consolidating their knowledge of Millport learners will create a collage of their understanding of development, tourism and coastal processes.
Day 4
Morning
Adventure Exploration
Choose from a walk up to the Glaid Stone, the highest point on the island or a boat trip (please contact Centre staff to discuss this exciting additional option). (Health and Wellbeing)
Afternoon
Conservation
We will positively enrich the environment, reducing any negative signs of human activity and in small teams using tools safely to create habitats such as bird or bat boxes to put up in the school grounds. (Sciences, Health and Wellbeing)
Evening
Campfire
A chance to share your favourite moment from the week, tell a ghost story and perhaps toast a marshmallow.
Day 5
Morning
Bushcraft
A short walk from the Centre we will build shelters and practice a variety of bushcraft techniques including fire lighting and natural cord making.
Reflection on the course A chance to relive a few of the ‘best bits’ with a photo slide show. (Health and Wellbeing)
Depart at midday
Final farewell from FSC staff.
Please note: to ensure safe and quality learning experiences for students, the timetable may alter depending on weather conditions and local factors at centres.
Added value of this course
- Develop personal skills
- Have fun
- Be inspired by a passion for the subject
- Build friendships