Education Volunteering for Gwent Wildlife Trust
 

Today’s children will play a vital role in the conservation of tomorrow’s world. Help them to appreciate the splendour of their countryside, so that they can safeguard it for their children.

Could you give talks to school children, help them create wildlife areas, or lead the way on guided walks?  Maybe you could help with the development of education packs for teachers, or run a WATCH event for the under 16s – we reckon that the adults have as much fun as the children!

Please note that everyone who works with children must have a CRB (Criminal Records Bureau) check.  This is free of charge and we would arrange this with you if it is required.
 

Needed NOW within the Education Team!

Preparing resources for school visits. Photocopying. Returning creatures to correct habitats when children have finished studying them. Cleaning equipment and /or centre. Assisting children with their explorations, drawings, investigations etc. Imparting expertise to visitors – children and adult visitors whether on school visits or events.

Creating displays. Leaflet distribution. Creating posters. Assisting with community visits out of normal office hours, particularly brownie groups etc. Documenting information to go onto website / newsletters. Creative volunteers may like to make props for us to use to assist with our education.

Helping with refreshments, particularly on event days.
 

Activities for Education Open Days

Preparing site – for example, strimming, clearing pathways, boardwalk maintenance. Car Parking attendants. Refreshments.  Assisting with Reen Dipping and Bug Hunting. Working on stalls / relieving those on stalls. Selling raffle tickets. Admissions. Helping with trails / tours around the reserve. Erecting and dismantling gazebos. Moving furniture and equipment.
 

Volunteer Support Field Officer

Those volunteers willing to commit regularly to assisting with educational visits will be offered the opportunity to work towards achieving the Gwent Wildlife Trust certificate in becoming a  Volunteer Support Field Officer.  In order to achieve the certificate, the volunteer would:

• need to offer a minimum of 30 hours work

• be subject to informal assessment by Trust staff.

Training for this certificate would include:

• familiarisation with risk assessments and protocols.

• information about the reserves: geographical, historical, ecological and environmental.

• training in safety procedures, techniques and identification involved in pond dipping, bug hunting, branch shaking and using quadrats.

• basic identification associated with birds, plants and other animals found on the reserves.

• correct and safe use of available equipment.

Many of these activities would involve job shadowing followed by practice under supervision.

If you think you could be interested in any of these activities, please look at the how to be a volunteer page.