FAQs for teachers organising a school woodland trip
What are the benefits for the children?
If planned carefully, a woodland trip can be highly rewarding for children. Besides bringing them into a stimulating environment, it offers learning opportunities in subjects such as botany, ecology and zoology, as well as art, history, maths and literacy. There is also scope for physical exercise. Lessons learned during an outdoor activity of this kind are likely to be remembered for a long time.
How long should we spend on site?
We recommend somewhere between 90 minutes and two hours. This is generally long enough for the children to gain an appreciation of the site and take part in six or seven different learning activities. These could include drawing pictures, listening to woodland sounds, collecting seeds, doing bark or leaf rubbings or playing educational games.
What is the recommended adult to child ratio?
We advise a ratio ofbetween one to six and one to eight. Adults taking part in a school trip must, of course, have passed a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) police check.
Do you recommend a pre-trip site visit?
If you or your colleagues are unfamiliar with the wood, or have not visited it recently, a reconnaissance trip is strongly recommended. This will allow you to identify:
- suitable parking for cars and coaches
- the most interesting and practical route through the wood
- potential hazards to avoid
- features of the wood you could link to a game or learning activity
- appropriate stopping points for breaks
- open spaces for games
- the location of toilets.
It may also give you a chance to speak to the wood’s owner or manager to learn more about its history and special characteristics.
What else should I do before the trip?
Since woodland trips don’t happen that often it is important to get the maximum value from the event. It is worth doing some research on the wood beforehand and having a clearly defined plan, which packs as many worthwhile activities into your schedule as possible. Needless to say, all the usual pre-trip procedures that apply to any school outing should be followed.
What is your health and safety advice to schools planning a woodland trip?
There should be at least one trained first aider in the party accompanied by a portable first aid kit. At the start of the trip children should be given clear safety instructions. These should include warnings about avoiding trip hazards, overhanging branches and dog mess. It should also be impressed on them that they are not to wander off on their own nor put anything in their mouths, no matter how inviting it might seem. To ensure a quick response to any emergency, adults should obviously bring mobile phones with them.
What clothing should the children wear?
This clearly depends on the time of year, but it makes sense for them to come prepared for changeable weather and to wear shoes suitable for the muddy and uneven terrain they are likely to encounter.
What other general advice do you have for the day?
Try to capture the children’s attention right from the start with an idea or a challenge that sparks their imagination. Give them things to think about or look for while they are walking around. Vary the pace, don’t stay too long on one activity and always aim to add an element of fun to the proceedings. A woodland trip can be a powerful enabler of learning, so be sure to make full use of it.
