Course Information

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The Eco Challenge project consists of 3 elements. 

• 3 night Eco Challenge residential
• 3 sessions of Eco Challenge post course activity back at school or in the local community
• Evaluation

The Eco Challenge residential course is a specially developed programme of activities to help develop practical conservation and habitat management skills combined with outdoor and adventure activities to build self-confidence, team working and personal development.  The residential courses take place at FSC Centres throughout the UK.  

Eco Challenge Project Officers will offer support with specific course content to meet the needs of the students involved and to link with the post course activity that will be undertaken. Project Officers can also help you select the ideal time to go on your course to link with you desired post course activity and practical conservation modules. 

Please note: Information about modules are available as PDF documents, and require Adobe Reader to view.

Core Modules: Team development                  Ecoduction      Adventure Challenge  Conservation Challenge Team Challenge

Environmental Module Options: Choose from ONE of these : Human Impact on the environment  Habitat Investigations Environmental Art

Example Programme

	Morning	Afternoon	Evening
Day 1	Depart school	Team Development	Eco-duction
Day 2	Personal Adventure Challenge	Environmental Option	Night/dusk walk/
Day 3	Conservation Challenge	Team Challenge	Review
Day 4	Depart after breakfast

   
Day 1       

ARRIVAL: 12-1pm Lunchtime with packed lunch.  Tour of the centre and settle into rooms, allocate kit.

TEAM DEVELOPMENT    A range of activities, ice breakers and problem solving tasks will be presented to students to encourage positive relationships, effective team and review skills with peers.

Evening    Reflect on the afternoon’s activities and identify hopes, fears and expectations for the course. Students will explore the Centre and its sustainable and environmental practices through the means of the Ecoduction.

Day 2       

ADVENTURE CHALLENGE    Students will participate in an adventurous activity which will present them with a personal challenge.  Students will increase their self confidence and be able to empathise with others and support them in their challenge.

ENVIRONMENTAL MODULE OPTIONS    Schools can choose from the following modules to relate to their post course activity.

• HABITAT INVESTIGATIONS   e.g. freshwater surveys, woodland studies, mammal trapping
• HUMAN IMPACT ON THE ENVIRONMENT   e.g. habitat management, footpath study
• ENVIRONMENTAL ART   e.g. sculptures, junk modelling, willow weaving

Evening    Night Walk or Dusk Watch   Students will walk, watch, discover and explore the Centres surroundings where they will hopefully encounter some animals that live there and maybe take time to do some star gazing!

Day 3    

CONSERVATION CHALLENGE   Students explore a habitat and discuss the importance of protecting, conserving and managing it.  They will participate in a practical conservation task.  New skills learnt here will be used and developed during post course activities back at school.
Examples of activities: coppicing, fence, boundary building, footpath maintenance, pond maintenance.

TEAM CHALLENGE    Students are faced with a final team challenge to demonstrate team and personal skills developed over the course to complete the challenge effectively.
Example of activities:  low ropes, raft building, shelter building, orienteering, egg drop challenge

Evening    Course Review   The whole course will be reviewed and compared with the hopes, fears and expectations expressed at the start. They will make Eco Pledges to take back to home/school to continue their environmental awareness and link to the post course activity.

Day 4    

Depart Centre after breakfast to return to school

The Post Course Sessions

The post course sessions can take place in school, the grounds or in local country parks and green spaces.  They will be led by local countryside rangers or environmental organisations.  Below are some activities which may be undertaken.

ACTIVITY	DESCRIPTION
Environmental Surveys	Scientific surveys and recording of habitats and species.
Environmental Interpretation	Producing and constructing information signs/boards, maps and identification charts including the use of environmental art such as drama, music, storytelling, sculptures
Improvements to School Grounds	Improving grounds for wildlife and students e.g.  creating a wildlife garden, different habitats , seating areas or a vegetable patch.  Wildlife surveys can also be undertaken for monitoring.
Educational Visits	Visit a local countryside park or green space to raise awareness and enjoyment of these places close to home or school.  See practical examples of good management and interpretation and learn more about working in the environment.
Work with environmental organisations and countryside staff	Practical tasks working with environmental staff to help maintain and manage green spaces.  This could include pond clearance and maintenance, tree planting, coppicing, countryside furniture construction, sculptures, walling or footpath maintenance/creation.

Eco Challenge Project Officers are available to give advice on FSC Centres, residential activities and post course options. They will help make sure that you choose the best course and FSC Centre to complement your post course activities.

About the project