The main focus of the countryside rangers and the planetarium director throughout the week in term-time is educating children on school visits. To this end the staff at the park have put together an education pack, designed for use by teachers in the classroom or on self-led visits, which is available for a minimal fee from the staff (link to page).
In addition to the entire outdoor environs and the heavens above us the park has two buildings dedicated to teaching children: the planetarium and the railway carriage schoolroom. All equipment is provided by the park free of charge for school visits as long as it is available. The library resources of the planetarium are also available to teachers by arrangement with the planetarium director.
The planetarium is a unique teaching resource within the area to help in educating children about the world around them and encouraging them to look after this fragile planet we call home. The dome of the planetarium comfortably accommodates 60 children and as well as being used to project the stars can show other media such as videos, DVD’s, slides and computer graphics and simulations providing an experience unavailable even in most cinemas.
The railway carriage is a classroom that can hold a maximum of 35 children plus staff. It is imaginatively designed and partitioned into the main area and a reading/wetland room. The carriage houses a 72 inch SMART whiteboard and associated computer system that is an excellent teaching aid and which doubles-up as a Virtual Visitor Centre touchscreen terminal. A microscope can also plug into the computer systems in the carriage to show in detail the pond life within the wetland room. Arts and crafts materials are also available for activities within the carriage and it provides an excellent base for school trips when visiting the park, particularly when eating packed lunches indoors should the weather be inclement.
The carriage can also be booked as a base with a planetarium visit , provided it is available. To book a planetarium visit please call the planetarium director on (01740) 630544 and for an environmental and ecological visit contact the countryside rangers on (01740) 630011. A joint visit can be arranged by contacting either.
