Going Wild about Scotland through January 2017

22/02/2017 in RZSS

January started off with some valuable development time in the office after we had all come back from our annual leave over the Christmas break. Our first school visits for 2017 were in the South Lanarkshire region with the following week being in North Lanarkshire, West Lothian, Glasgow and Midlothian before returning to South Lanarkshire. Unfortunately, the bus had to go in for emergency repairs but it was great that schools still wanted us to visit so after a bit of a struggle we fitted all the resources into our Wild about Scotland car and the sessions continued in the school classrooms!  

Pupils from Maxwellton Primary receiving their tree saplings for their school grounds

Fife, Glasgow, South Lanarkshire and Midlothian were on the cards for the following week. Our assembly is receiving very good feedback from the schools we visit which we are really pleased about. It is great to connect with the whole school and get everyone excited about our Scottish wildlife.

We also took part in the ‘At Home’ day at RZSS Edinburgh Zoo. This is a chance for the other departments in the Zoo to see what the Discovery and Learning department has to offer. It was a busy day with lots of people visiting to see what Wild about Scotland is all about and we were well received.

At the end of the month we took part in a training session on Celtic rainforests. An ex-Wild about Scotland Education Officer who is now working for Plantlife delivered the training. It was fascinating learning about the internationally important habitat which is found right here in Scotland. A typical ravine in Argyll can be home to as many as 200 species of mosses and liverworts! We have a plan to add what we learnt to our Seas, Forests, Mountains and Moor session, our Bonnie Beasts of Scotland assembly and our drop in resources.

We are looking forward to our first away trip of 2017 next month to Aberdeenshire as well as lots of visits to central belt schools too!

See you next month,

Kirsty and Rosie
(Wild about Scotland Education Officers)

 

Top comments from schools:

“Super engaging and enjoyable.” St Elizabeths PS, Hamilton

“Excellent day. Very well delivered. Children very enthusiastic.” Quarter Primary

“The children really loved doing something different. It delivered conservation in a fun, accessible way.” St Marys PS, Bathgate

 

“Thank you for an interesting and hands-on session.” St Brides PS

Hamilton pupils go wild for touring bus https://t.co/BC0s0m5yfs

— Wild about Scotland (@WildaboutScot) January 23, 2017