Our Dee Estuary Teacher Training Program
The Our Dee Estuary Teacher Training Program offered teachers from around the estuary a chance to learn about what the estuary has to offer their students and build confidence when talking about the natural world with their students.
In 2022 16 teachers from both English and Welsh schools came together to learn about the estuary. Through the John Muir Award the teachers participated in a capacity building structured learning programme using digital media and involving practical sessions. They learnt about wildlife and water of the estuary and how best to communicate this information to their students. The program was delivered by Our Dee Estuary project staff alongside partner organisations.
In 2024 Our Dee Estuary project staff, in collaboration with Education staff from Cheshire Wildlife Trust, ran Beach School training sessions for teachers at Wirral Country Park in Thurstaston. Cheshire Wildlife Trust offers support to teachers in the form of training and resources. If you would like to know more, you can email them at education@cheshirewt.org.uk
For more inspiration, anyone can join Cheshire Wildlife Trust’s Wild Network. A lively Facebook group complemented by a monthly newsletter from the team at Cheshire Wildlife Trust.
John Muir Award
The John Muir Award is a program designed to take people on a journey of discovery through the natural world and anyone can sign up either individually or as a group. Teachers and their students can participate as a class exercise as it can be very easily incorporated into a number of different subjects such as Science, English and Art.
John Muir (1838 – 1914) was one of the founders of the conservation movement and over 387,500 people have achieved their John Muir Award since its launch in 1997.
The John Muir Award involves
the following four challenges:
- Discover a wild place
- Explore it
- Conserve it
- Share your experiences
There are 3 types of award
with varying time commitments:
- Discovery (equivalent of 4 days)
- Explorer (equivalent of 8 days)
- Conserver (equivalent of 20 days)
The students will receive a workbook to complete and a certificate upon completion of the award. It is hoped that the program will show the students the opportunities open to them for further study and future careers. The Dee Estuary offers the perfect place to undertake this award with plenty of wild places to explore.
For more information, visit their website:
www.johnmuiraward.org/achieving-the-award
