Purpose of your role

As an Education Session Leader Volunteer, you would take a group of around 20 children / school children and their teaching staff, leading them through 4 activities in a day visit to, either Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Coventry and The Parkridge Centre, Solihull. Sessions may include, Art in the Wild, Pond-Dipping, Teddy Bear Adventure, Den-Building, Mini-beast Hunting, Mammal Discovery and many more. Most Schools that visit us are KS1/Lower KS2 (Age 5- 8) although we do also cater for younger years 3-5 and older years, from 8-18. Visiting schools choose their activities from a choice of pre-planned sessions.

Tasks you will be involved with:

• Welcoming children onto site
• Teaching groups about pond dipping, den-building, mammals, mini-beast hunting, wild art and many more fun sessions
• Providing any first aid if required

Skills and abilities required:

• Experience teaching or leading organised activities for children (other Environmental Education, Scouts, Brownies, etc)
• An interest in the environment and wildlife
• Basic knowledge of the environment and wildlife
• First Aid (desirable)
• Confident speaker
• Relatively active, please note all our sessions take place outdoors
• Able to provide a reference and DBS Check (Former CRB Check)

You will be based at: Brandon Marsh Nature Centre, Coventry and/or The Parkridge Centre, Solihull

Times/days we would like you to be available: Weekdays 9:45am - 2:30pm. As many days as you wish.

Benefits to you:

There will be plenty of support and training given during your volunteering time with us. Each volunteer will get a copy of all our sessions so you can get to grips with our activities, you will be given plenty of opportunity to observe our current leaders until you are comfortable and familiar with delivering sessions and finally after an informal observation you will begin to lead your own sessions alongside us.

This is a great opportunity to gain more experience teaching and working outdoors.

The role is a great way to keep fit and active whilst enjoying the surroundings of both our Nature Centres. You will meet new people, we have lots of education volunteers and all chat during lunch. The education volunteers also arrange a social twice a year. This involves a walk around a local nature reserve followed by a pub lunch. You will also be invited to Trust social events including the Volunteers Christmas party.