Year 8 trip to Ravenstor YHA, November 2024
Last month we took 29 Year 8 students on this fully funded trip which was part of Generation Green, a DEFRA funded initiative to introduce young people to the importance of protected landscapes: www.yha.org.uk/generationgreen
The first activity was an introduction to the National Park and the concept of a protected area, how they came about historically, who lives and works in them, the benefits and impacts of the people who visit them.
This was achieved through role playing of the various characters, farmer, quarry worker, property developer, local couple trying to buy their first house, a hiker, an elderly pensioner with deep roots in the community etc then playing a version of the hot air balloon game, by asking who would you get rid of out of all these folks with competing interests? With the outcome of a way of understanding how all these needs must be met with respect towards the environment to coexist without harm to nature, and why it is important to preserve these places for everyone.
Students also took part in a Mini-Beast Hunt and nest building, which allowed them to consider the importance of insects in relation to a healthy ecosystem.
This was a lovely cross-curricular activity; a hunt for, and an observation of, what was present in the environment. Students used scavenged materials to build a nest around a small tube with a lid, which was then filled with hot water to measure temperature before and after leaving outdoors for ten minutes. The boys carried out an investigation into the effectiveness of the natural materials to retain heat and thus preserve life.
There was also shelter-building - where boys were given scenarios to build shelters for: rain forest conditions, an extended stay, wildlife observation and high winds - and and fire-building using firelighters.
This was a safe way for students to get involved with fire building with the use of metal trays, fire strikers, cotton wool pads, ball of wood shavings and kindling. The use of the fire striker provided opportunities for looking at the science behind the spark.
Students also took a scenic walk along Bellamy’s Bank and the Monsell Trail:
And created environmental art works including leaf bugs of their own design, for which they described the insect’s habitat and adaptations.
At the end of the trip, each student had completed their own “Passport to Nature”, which included a brief record of their experiences and the filling out of a pledge to nature.
Edwin in 8K writes:
On our trip to the Peak District we stayed in a youth hostel called Ravenstor. Our very first activity that we did was an introduction to the national park and the people that live and work there. I played the role of an angry farmer! There was also a quarry worker, a rich property developer, a local couple trying to save for their first house, a hiker, a local pensioner, a gift shop owner, and a cyclist. We learned about their lives and situations and some of the issues that are important to them in the national park.
The other activities we did on the trip included, nest making, den building, fire making, and we got our own passport to nature to fill out. In it we had to make a pledge about how we can help nature in the future. The pledge I made was to plant wild flowers and let bits of wood rot for insects to live in. I would also like to say that our rooms were so comfortable and that is was a really great trip!
