Education Centre News
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Ticks and lyme disease
When visiting the National Park and any other areas in the countryside where there are deer and sheep it is important to be aware of ticks and the health risks that they can pose. If you would like to learn more please visit the address below. http://www.hpsc.ie/hpsc/A-Z/Vectorborne/LymeDisease/.
News
- Dates for 2012 Junior Ranger Camps & Environmental Easter, Summer & Halloween Camps
- Exciting Ways to Teach Nature & Science
- Discover Sensors
- Discover Primary Science information
- Pre - School Nature Visits & Workshops
Junior Ranger Camps and Environmental Easter Camps, Summer Camps & Halloween Camps
Killarney National Park Education Centre has been running Environmental Summer Camps for 7 to 12 year olds since 2006.
This year again we will be running the residential Junior Ranger Camps. These will be based in the Arthur Vincent House and will be for 10 to 14 year olds. The children will go on bat walks, watch badger setts, do bird watching, follow tracks and signs of birds and animals and gather weather data and do some astronamy.
The Junior Ranger Camps will run over a three day period from 3pm in the afternoon of the first day through to 12 noon on the last day. One camp will be in July and the other in August. We will advertise the dates when they have been finalised. Please contact us for further information, on 064 6635960.
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Camp Dates for 2012
The Easter Camps will run from Tuesday April 10th to Firday 13th April.
The Summer Camps will run from Tuesday 3rd July to Friday 6th July, from Tuesday 17th July to Friday 20th July and from Tuesday July 31st to Friday August 3rd.
The Holloween Camps will run from Tuesday to Friday of the Autumn Mid-term break.
Each camp is four days long and runs from 9.30 in the morning to 3.00 in the afternoon each day.
The children who take part get to experience nature close up and learn about some of the plants animals of Killarney National Park. They will use mammal traps, pooters, nets and other equipment and explore the ecology of the park through many games and fun activities such as scavenger hunts, doing the “un-nature trail, the bat and moth game, treasure hunts, pond dipping, and planting trees.
The children also get to make a number of things to bring home such as bird nesting boxes, bat roosting boxes, wormeries, bug houses and other “crafty” items. More in our Activities for All section.
Please ring us on 064 6635960 for a booking form if interested in taking part.
Book your 2012 or 2013 activity now
Looking to get involved? Are you a group leader or teacher who would like to do an exciting eco-activity or course? Check out our activities secton and contact our friendly staff to discuss options as we now take early bookings for next year. We tailor all of our courses to meet the specific needs or abilities of the individual group. For further information, call us on +353 64 6635960
Killarney National Park Wins BioBlitz 2011
Killarney National Park Education Centre was buzzing with activity from the 20th - 22nd of May all in the name of science.
A team of ecologists, some as young as 3 or 4, some not so young, some very experienced and some complete novices all worked together to record 1088 different species of plant and animal within the boundary of the National Park within a 24 hour period.
The team comprised of national park rangers, education centre staff, botanists, ecological consultants, students, families with children, jarveys, boatmen, fishermen, college lecturers, members of different groups such as Killarney Nature Conservation Group, Lough Leane Anglers, Munster Moth Group, Bat Conservation Ireland and BirdWatch Ireland.
Our very impressive tally at the end of the 24 hours
Some of our jubilant team
Base Camp
Waiting for the numbers to be tallied up.
For further information on the BioBlitz event log onto www.BioBlitz.ie
For further details and booking please ring 064 66 35960
Discover Sensors Training Day
Killarney National Park Education Centre has been selected by Discover Science & Engineering to take part in their Discover Sensors programme. Discover Sensors supports the use of sensor technology in hands-on scientific investigations by Junior Science students. The programme is designed to provide students with an experience of "real science", supporting the investigative approach promoted by the revised Junior Science syllabus.
Tom Bolger from Discover Sensors training staff from the Centre
As part of the initiative Killarney National Park Education Centre will be developing new ecology fieldwork courses for the Junior Certificate science students using sensors and data logging equipment. Discover Science & Engineering is managed by Forfás on behalf of the Office of Science and Technology at the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment. For further information, visit www.discover-science.ie
Exciting Ways to Teach Nature & Science
This course is approved by the Department of Education.
"Exciting Ways to Teach Nature & Science" is primarily outdoor-based, and is intended to enlighten the participants as to the basics of ecology, to experiment with various nature activities and to explore a variety of habitats which can be used for nature study. On completing the course the participant should have a broad knowledge of the natural world and a wealth of stimulating ideas for nature study sessions for children.
The course is based entirely within Killarney National Park and is run by the Killarney National Park Education Centre, which specialises in outdoor nature study. Staff are experienced tutors and ecologists. Each day comprises a brief indoor workshop followed by an outdoor field visit - total course time 4 hours per day. Each day's activities are finished by 2.00pm, so you'll have plenty of free time to explore Killarney and its environs.
The course is non-residential, although Killarney, as one might expect, has a wealth of accommodation to suit all budgets! For information on accommodation it is suggested that you might contact the Killarney Tourist information Office on 064 6631633 or email info@corkkerrytourism.ie
Participants may be required to drive short distances to the locations of field sessions, so a car would be an advantage, but not essential as we can put you in touch with drivers with space. Registration takes place on the first day at Knockreer House but booking a place is essential as spaces are limited.
Junior Ranger Camps and Environmental Summer Camps & Halloween Camps
Killarney National Park Education Centre has been running Environmental Summer Camps for 7 to 12 year olds since 2006.
The Junior Ranger camps are for 10 to 14 year olds, they are residential and are based in the Arthur Vincent House. They will run from 1st to 3rd July and from 22nd to 24th August. The Junior Rangers will go bat detecting, visit roost sites, watch badger setts, do bird watching, learn tracks and signs of animals and birds, do some astronamy and play loads of environmentally themed games.
The Summer Camps will run from Tuesday 5th July to Friday 8th July, from Tuesday 12th July to Friday 15th July and from Tuesday August 2nd to Friday August 5th.
The Holloween Camps will run from Tuesday to Friday of the Autumn Mid-term break.
Each camp is four days long and runs from 9.30 in the morning to 3.00 in the afternoon each day.
The children who take part get to experience nature close up and learn about some of the plants animals of Killarney National Park. They will use mammal traps, pooters, nets and other equipment and explore the ecology of the park through many games and fun activities such as scavenger hunts, doing the “un-nature trail, the bat and moth game, treasure hunts, pond dipping, and planting trees.
The children also get to make a number of things to bring home such as bird nesting boxes, bat roosting boxes, wormeries, bug houses and other “crafty” items. More in our Activities for All section.
Please ring us on 064 6635960 for a booking form if interested in taking part.
Discover Primary Science Information
Award Applications are due, closing date 31st March 2011, click on the image above to go to the application form at www.primaryscience.ie
Details on the Discover Primary Science award are available in the Activities for Schools section. Book your class place for the school year now by calling us or emailing our centre.
Pre - school Nature Visits and Workshops
During 2010 Killarney National Park Education Centre worked with Kerry County Child Care Committee to run a number of Nature Days in Kerry childcare facilities and run workshops for the child care providers.
Participants of workshop
Using Mirrors to get a different perspective of a tree
The Bat & Moth Game
Looking at minibeasts collected by the children
Using the insect viewers
Feeling the badgers coarse fur
Feeling the squirels soft fur.
Using egg boxes for the colour game
Planting a tree
Ready for a minibeast hunt
Planting sunflower seeds in flowerpots made of newspaper
Planting a tree