The School Travel Organiser magazine asked me to write a piece for them about a great school trip. I chose to write about when I took my GCSE Citizenship Studies class to Marwell Zoo, Colden Common, near Winchester.
www.marwell.org.uk
Here is what I wrote:
Why?
The AQA GCSE Citizenship Studies specification is developed around the principle of how citizens can try to make a difference in society. For part of this, students are required to undertake an investigation into a citizenship issue of their own choice which involves research, action and reflection. In class, we looked at a range of issues including environmental issues and conservation and who takes a leading role in campaigning for these issues, for example, charities, volunteers and pressure groups, and then discovered the important role that zoos have in conservation. As Marwell is within easy reach of the Isle of Wight, we decided to make a visit.
What did you do?
We visited Marwell Zoo’s website and saw that we could attend a workshop on Marwell’s role in conservation. This was perfect as it was exactly what we wanted to find out more about. We booked the workshop for 11 15am so that we had time to catch the ferry across the Solent, drive in the college minibus to Marwell and have a quick look around before the workshop. We also would then have plenty of time after the workshop to take our time in re-visiting all areas of the park.
The conservation workshop was excellent. It focused on the impact of human activities on biodiversity. Students got an insight into how Marwell Wildlife is helping to conserve threatened species both locally and internationally. The students gained an understanding of how a conservation charity meets its aims and strives towards future progress to protect threatened species and habitats. It was very informal and the students were able to ask questions.
After the workshop, we took our time walking around the park, looking at the information boards for each species. We understood more about what it meant to be ‘extinct in the wild’, ‘endangered’, and so on.
Why would you recommend it?
The visit was so easy to organise right from the start. It was easy to get the information I needed off the website so that I could plan which workshop. Booking was simple and not only did confirmation come through immediately, I received reminders of what was needed on the day: the timings; supervision; and expectations right up until the day of the visit. Someone was there to great us on arrival at the car park and then again at the entrance. Staff were very welcoming throughout the day. We had a mixed ability group, yet all students were kept engaged throughout the workshop.
Best part?
The day was so well-organised by Marwell Zoo that staff and students could relax and just enjoy it. We all learnt so much: how much is costs to run a zoo; how it is managed; who visits and why; as well as how the zoo manages conservation issues. The visit inspired students to research further when back at college.
