Education Activities

 

South Yorkshire Community Woodlands

Environmental Education on your doorstep

The Ranger team in South Yorkshire work with local communities to help them explore, manage and enjoy their nearby countryside sites.  If you’ve got a Forestry Commission Community Woodland on your doorstep we can:

Help you plan a self-led visit – The rangers can meet you on site or at your school / group base to discuss ideas for self-led activities in your local woodland.  We also have an activity box loan scheme call “Ranger in a Box” which can be borrowed from the Ranger Offices in Doncaster. 

Organise a ranger-led visit – We are keen to encourage new groups to come and discover their local sites or get involved with ongoing site projects.  We can provide ranger-led activities including environmental education, guided walks and conservation tasks.

To talk about arranging a school or group visit to your local community woodland contact
South Yorkshire Community Rangers on 01302 820278 or download our Environmental Education Booklet (pdf).

Ranger in a box

Ranger in a box is aimed at schools, youth and community groups.
The boxes, which are based in Doncaster, South Yorkshire contain all you need to lead a range of countryside based activities.
There are a wide range of titles which are ever growing, all aimed at helping groups explore the natural world - whether it be outdoors or indoors.
The titles range from kite flying to minibeast hunting and shelterbuilding to teddy bears picnics. There is something for everyone. It couldn’t be easier!

So how do you get your hands on them?  Contact South Yorkshire Community Rangers where they will be able to provide you with a list of the current boxes, which are available for you to borrow.  All we ask for is a £20 deposit.

Dalby Forest

Guided visits are available to schools and groups during the season, usually March to October exculding the summer holidays.  There are two sessions available each day Monday to Thursday, these are 2.5 hours duration and are subject to availability.  Sessions are either morning (10.00 am – 12.30 pm), afternoon (1.00 pm – 3.30 pm).

The information below outlines the activities available or you can download Programme of Educational Visits to Dalby Forest (pdf) for details on all activities on offer.

A range of activites is available covering Key stages 1, 2, 3 and above.

Schools wanting to organise their own visit to the forest are very welcome.  There is no charge for groups using the forest but vehicles entering Dalby Forest Drive will be charged at the current rates (see section on charges).

Self-guided groups are more than welcome to hire equipment boxes subject to availability (please see later sections concerning these facilities).

We also have 2 rooms on the Low Dalby site that can be hired to perform classroom or indoor activities. The Community Resource Centre (CRC) is situated in our courtyard complex and the Education Room is located within the new Visitor Centre. Both rooms have their own kitchenette, flip chart and projector.

Equipment for Hire

We have the following educational equipment available for hire:

Stream Studies    -    This box contains stream dipping nets, collecting trays and identification sheets to study the habitat of the stream.  There are also metre rules and tape measures, along with worksheets for investigating the flow rate and width and depth of the stream.  All you need to supply is pupils equipped with wellington boots.

Mini-Beasting    -    This box contains all sorts of collecting pots, pooters, magnifiers, sweep nets and a white sheet, along with identification charts and what to look for guides.

Junior Orienteering Maps - Packs of maps and work sheets for our Seivedale site.

This equipment is subject to availability and is on a first come first served basis.  The cost of hire is £10 per session (2½ hours).
Please ring the District Office and reserve the equipment before you send any payment with your booking form.  When you collect the equipment you will be asked to sign for it, agreeing on the contents and accepting to pay for any damages that occur.

Staff wishing to make a visit to the forest should initially telephone the Forest District Office on Pickering 01751 472771 to provisionally book a date and request a booking form.

Charges for Ranger-led School Visits - £50.00 per session for 35 children.  An extra 5 children can be accommodated @ £2.50 per child.

Admission charges for vehicles for Self-Guided groups and Ranger-led visits to Dalby Forest -
Coaches - £25.00 each
Minibuses - £12.00 each
Cars - £7.00 each

Hire of Equipment - £10.00 per session

Orienteering Maps - Adderstone Rigg (for new large course) - £2.00 each

Please note, our Ranger Service is very busy with schools all through the summer term.  Most summers there are only a few days when we do not have schools.  Book early to avoid disappointment.