Bespoke Outdoor Learning Day

Two children and a volunteer crouching in woodland looking under a tree stump
Nower Wood Nature Reserve

Bespoke Outdoor Learning Day

Bespoke Outdoor Learning Day - School Visits

For in-depth studies, we offer our bespoke tutor-led school visits. Our expert guide will take you through your tailored educational adventure.

Suitable for Early Years, Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3 groups, a Bespoke Outdoor Learning Day will include two 90 minute sessions where you will explore each topic comprehensively, tailored to your learning objectives. Led by a specialist tutor, these sessions are perfect for a deep dive and curriculum-specific learning.

What to expect

After choosing your topics from the session options (see further details below), a member of our team will contact you to gather more details about your booking and what you would like to get out of your day. We will liaise directly with you to ensure that all your groups’ needs are met and will create a bespoke plan for the day to share with your staff.

You will also receive comprehensive risk assessments and all the equipment you need will be provided on the day to make your trip as easy and stress-free as possible. You are also welcome to book a time to come for a recce before your visit to familiarise yourself with the site.

On the day, you will be welcomed by our team, introduced to the site and taken on an activity-packed adventure through the ancient woodland. You will have exclusive access to one classroom per 30 children for the whole day. Each room includes an interactive smart screen and its own double doors which open directly onto the reserve.

How to book

A Bespoke visit for EYFS/KS1/KS2 costs £13 per child and £16 per child for KS3. There is a minimum charge of £260 per class. Bespoke Outdoor Learning Days are available to book on Mondays.

For taster school visits for only £7 per child, we offer our Nature Discovery Days - find out more here. We also offer an Action for Nature and Wellbeing day for KS3, KS4 and KS5 - click here for more information.

To make your booking please contact our education centre on 01372 379509 or email education.centres@surreywt.org.uk.

Session topics

Our Bespoke Outdoor Learning Day consists of 2 sessions that last 90 minutes each - choose your sessions from the options below. Find a breakdown of each session at the bottom of the page.

EYFS timings: 10:00-14:15
KS1 and KS2 timings: 10:00-14:30
KS3 timings: 10:00-15:15

Session Name

Key Stage

Sensory Trail EYFS or KS1
Pond Dipping EYFS, KS1, KS2 and KS3
Minibeast Trail EYFS, KS1 and KS2
Tree Detectives KS1 or KS2
Plant Scientists KS1 and KS2
Habitat Walk KS2 and KS3
Orienteering Trail

KS2

Session details

Click below to see more details about each session.

Sensory Trail

Explore the woodland using all your senses along our trail, with activities designed to focus your attention and allow you to immerse yourself in nature. Feel your path along the blindfold trail, make magic with smelly potions, listen to the sounds of the forest, and see the world through a bug's eyes. All senses will be used, except taste which we save for lunchtime!

Pond Dipping

An exciting way to investigate habitats, food chains, learn about classification or even how to observe creatures closely and use keys to identify invertebrates that the students are generally less familiar with.  We will provide all the equipment needed such as pond nets, white trays, magnifying glasses, ID sheets, safety line. The session finishes in the classroom, taking a closer look at the creatures we find under the video microscope with our tutor!

If you are interested in viewing our safety video for pond dipping or a recorded video microscope, click here to see our Volunteer-led resources.

Minibeast Trail

Immersing yourself in the micro-world of minibeasts is one of the most effective ways of learning about nature and is universally loved by all ages. Handling creatures carefully develops empathy and understanding of how animals vary widely in adaptations to their habitat.

Classification, careful observation and identification are all skills which fit perfectly into this topic and as always, we provide all the equipment needed such as magnifiers, ID guides and sorting pots. Along the way around the woodland, students will get the opportunity to experience how minibeasts see the world.

If you are interested in viewing our 'How to minibeast video' or a recorded video microscope, click here to see our Volunteer-led resources. 

Tree Detectives

Become a plant detective! With lively games and activities, we will establish the functions of each part of a plant, build our own identification key and learn how to identify a range of plant species around our reserves. The children will then take on the challenge trail and test their new knowledge so that by the end of the day they will go home with a good grasp of the names and characteristics of a variety of key species.

If you are interested in viewing our 'How to identify trees in the winter' video , click here to see our Volunteer-led resources.

Plant Scientists

Discover the life cycle, structure and function of plants and become a plant scientist! Through exciting team games, we will follow the journey of a plant from seed to fruit. As we explore the reserve, we will use hands-on activities to understand the structure and function of each part of a plant, as well as learning about important processes including seed dispersal, germination, and pollination.

Habitat Walk

Walk through woodland observing a variety of habitats along the way, including ancient woodland, heathland, coppiced woodland, wetland, and grassland. Students will get their hands dirty investigating how soils can be different and their effect on the habitats around them. This session allows students to compare different habitats, no matter the time of year.

Orienteering

Learn how to use a compass to take bearings before venturing out in small groups for an adventure which will take you around the whole reserve! Along the way you will look for hints and decipher clues which will make an anagram of an animal which lives in the woods.

We will provide compasses and basic first aid kits with maps and whistles for each group leader. 

Visiting our Education Centre

Watch our introductory video before you arrive! Our Education team explain what to expect during your visit to Nower Wood.

Enquiries

Email: education.centres@surreywt.org.uk
Phone: 01372 379509