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The Irish Peatland Conservation Council actively promotes environmental education and in particular the study of peat and bogs in schools. Each year we organise a series of in-service courses for teachers and instructors from education centres.

Over the years we have published a variety of curriculum based resources that study the ecology of peat and bogs and the issues concerned with their conservation and development. These materials for both primary and secondary teachers are introduced to the classroom via a series of in-service courses run in liaison with teaching centres and teaching groups located around the country. We are committed to training 100 teachers annually.

The courses IPCC run provide a tremendous opportunity to give individual attention to participating teachers, and to provide resources, skills, guidance and stimuli to allow them to successfully introduce bog studies to their classes.

The course format includes both indoor and outdoor activities. An inter-disciplinary approach is used. A sample programme is outlined below. Please contact Dr Catherine O'Connell, Head of Education, IPCC, Lulymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare. Tel 045 860133 if you would like to attend. You can contact Catherine by e-mail by clicking here

Peatland Roadshow School Visits

Under the joint Heritage Council/INTO Heritage in Schools Scheme, primary schools can invite IPCC's Peatland Roadshow to visit the school. The event takes 2-3 hours and includes an illustrated slide show and model making workshop on peatland wildlife. The workshop is delivered by Catherine O'Connell and aims to get young people interested in bogs, their wildlife and conservation.

If you would like to book a visit under the scheme please contact Dr. Catherine O'Connell at IPCC at Tel 045-860133.

Aims of the Courses

Bogs in the Classroom courses aim to provide teachers with the resources and expertise they need to introduce practical bog studies to their students. All teachers receive tailor-made teaching publications produced by the IPCC. Training is given in field studies methods including quadrats, transects, pond-dipping and the use of keys. Dr. Catherine O'Connell, Head of Education, Irish Peatland Conservation Council is the course tutor.

Dates and Venues 2004

• Wicklow Mountains National Park, September 2004

Course Programme (10am - 3.30pm)

Introduction
1. Introduction and resource distribution
2. Discovering the Wild Boglands Video presentation & questionnaire
3. Plant identification & adaptations to the bog habitat using keys
4. Field Trip to a Local Bog

• Introduction, Ice breaker and Resource Distribution
• Discovering the Wild Boglands Video Workshop
• Plant Identification Practical with the aid of Keys
• Field trip to a bogland area to undertake the following:
  * Studying wet and dry areas of bog using quadrats
  * Conservation Evaluation of peatland
  * Pond dipping and food webs
  * Peat bank time line
  * Bog Biodiversity species checklists
  * Models of Bog Formation
  Follow up and discussion of results

Booking is essential as numbers are limited to 15 people per course.