Alice Holt is an ideal location for a wide range of sixth form studies and for the team building days which many schools and colleges find helpful in integrating new students at the beginning of their sixth form courses.We have a professional team of qualified teachers with the expertise to plan and lead programmes for your students or to help you develop study programmes to use yourselves with your students at Alice Holt. The forest also offers excellent scope for students needing to undertake independent research for coursework.
Alice Holt is particularly suitable for studies in Geography, Environmental Science, Biology, Leisure and Recreation, Travel and Tourism, Countryside Management and Learning Outside the Classroom for Childcare and Childhood Studies students. Our Team Tactics programme is ideal for all students as it enables them to develop their understanding of what is involved in working with others and to learn something about their own strengths and weaknesses - it's fun, too!
Study Opportunities
The following sections outline the main subject areas which can be studied during a visit to Alice Holt. We will work with school and college staff to devise the most appropriate programme for your students. We are able to lead the day's activities in most cases but the option exists for schools to run their own visits and our staff are able to advise on suitable locations and provide relevant information beforehand.
Geography
Students can undertake fieldwork in both Physical and Human Geography from ecosystem studies, including soil studies, to visitor profiles and human impact on the environment. Our staff can facilitate or lead group study visits to the forest and provide background information for individual fieldwork studies.
Biology
Ecosystems, human impact on the environment and sustainability are examples of areas of study for students at Alice Holt. The diverse nature of Alice Holt forest makes it particularly suitable for comparison of ecosystems within the forest.
Environmental Science and Countryside Management
Opportunities for studies in Environmental Science are similar to those in Geography and include microclimates, ecosystems, conservation and forestry. Led visits focus on the planning and management involved in forestry today, particularly in Forestry Commission woodlands. They also include a consideration of the importance of trees in relation to climate change and sustainability. Students can also gather environmental data from a selection of locations within the forest which they can use to compare ecosystems.
Leisure and Recreation, Travel and Tourism
The forest, now a part of the South Downs National Park, attracts local people and tourists. Students can investigate recreation provision, learn about the management of an outdoor recreation site and consider many aspects of leisure and tourism provision including financial considerations, conflicts of use, risk assessment and facility inspection, staffing and development for the future. Our programme, 'Managing Land Use in the Forest' is particularly appropriate.
Programmes
The following are programmes which we have developed for use with students in sixth forms and colleges and they are suitable for students aged from 16 to adult.
Managing Land Use in the Forest
Students consider the opportunities and conflicts involved in managing sites where recreation, conservation and commercial timber production co-exist. Students are encouraged to take into account the necessity for sustainable management and the role of trees in relation to climate change. They gather information about Alice Holt Forest from staff through an introductory talk and guided walk and they may also undertake their own survey work. Information gathered at Alice Holt can be used to inform studies of land use management in other contexts. This is normally a half day programme and is ideal for Environmental Studies students and for students of Countryside Management. The half day's study can be combined with a half day's Team Tactics.
Team Tactics
This is a lively programme involving a range of challenges to be tackled by teams of between 6 and 10 students. The concept of team work is discussed before undertaking the challenges and students are given the opportunity to evaluate their performance. Activities include such things as walking the plank, 'casualty' evacuation and crossing the swamp, followed by shelter building or orienteering in groups. Both shelter building and orienteering can be incorporated into the day if required.The programme can also be adapted for a half day and combined with another programme.
Learning Outside the Classroom
This is a half day programme for students of Childcare and Childhood Studies. Reasons for learning outdoors are considered and students take part in a range of woodland leraning activities which they can adapt for use in their placement settings and use in their future careers. Early Years and KS1 activities are normally included but those for KS2 and beyond can be included if relevant. This is a very practical course which provides students with ideas and skills. It normally forms part of a whole day visit with Team Tactics as the other half.
Similar full and half day courses are available for teachers and Early Years practitioners.
