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For immediate release 25 January 1996
An exciting new video pack to help school teachers and instructors from outdoor education and adventure centres use bogs as an educational resource has been published this week. The Wake Up To Bogs Training Video and Hand Book has been produced by the Irish Peatland Conservation Council (see Editor's Note 1) with the support of the Department of the Environment for Northern Ireland and an Environment Awareness Award.
The 20 minute training video filmed on bog locations in Kildare and Wicklow and in St Helen's School, Portmarnock includes preparations for the course, demonstrates field studies techniques and goes into school to see how one group presented their bog project (see Editor's Note 2).
"It is a professional training course in 20 minutes" says Dr Catherine O'Connell, co-ordinator of IPCC's training programmes "and an eye opener for instructors in adventure centres who have been bog trotting for years without ever getting to grips with the educational value of a sod of wet peat. The video will stimulate people to use bogs in a new way while the accompanying hand book is there to answer most questions they might have."
The 40 page hand book is photocopiable and goes through the practicalities of preparing for a bog course in a centre or school such as the materials and equipment needed. Nine activity sheets are included relating to field studies that can be done on any bog, model making of bog formation and plant and animal identification dials. In addition 6 appendices give valuable tips on how to make a conservation display, how to carry out an environmental audit, what sites to visit, outline study programmes in a variety of school subjects at primary and secondary levels and shows how to break the ice with a visiting group.
The new pack is also invaluable as a refresher course for teachers to use just before they start a bog study programme with their classes each year.
The Wake Up to Bogs pack can be ordered from the IPCC at 119
Capel Street, Dublin 1, Tel. 01-872 2397 for £25 inclusive
of postage and packing.
EDITOR'S NOTE 1: The Irish Peatland Conservation Council is
a national charity and is entirely supported by voluntary contributions.
Conservation projects include: purchasing bogland nature reserves,
providing resources and training for teachers and education groups,
repairing damaged bogs, fostering a positive attitude towards
bogs, and encouraging lifestyles in harmony with the environment.
The IPCC can be contacted at: Capel Chambers, 119 Capel Street,
Dublin 1. Tel: 01-872 2397. Registered Charity Number: CHY6829
EDITOR'S NOTE 2: Specifically the video covers the following
activities: the steps involved in the formation of a bogs and
how to construct a simple model to show these, how to prepare
for a field trip or outing to the bog, multi-sensory exploration
of the bog, plant studies using square frame quadrats and transects
ageing a peat bank left behind by turf cutters, pond dipping to
study mini-beasts and an example of the type of school project
undertaken based on a visit to the bog.
EDITOR'S NOTE 3: The work of the Irish Peatland Conservation
Council is supported by the FÁS Community Employment Program.
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