NPWS Education
The National Parks & Wildlife Service runs a series of Education Centres around the country. The Education Centres aim to raise awareness of the natural world and of conservation. Programmes are free of charge to schools, and to the general public. Each centre offers site specific programmes, but typically, they may offer Nature Awareness programmes to primary schools and ecology and geography fieldwork to secondary schools. They may also offer special events and tours for the public.
Aims of National Parks & Wildlife Service's Education Programme:
- To promote respect, understanding and care for heritage and particularly for the natural world.
- To encourage the development of environmentally friendly practices.
- To inform the public about the National Parks and Wildlife service and their role in conservation.
Education first started in Wicklow Mountains National Park in 1992 when an education programme was set up by Guide staff. The programme was operated out of the Information Office at the Upper Lake, Glendalough for 3-4 months of the year. By 1996 the programme was catering for up to 5,000 children each year. In 1998 a new education centre was established in a restored 19th century miners' cottage known as Bolger's Cottage beside the Upper Lake in Glendalough.
There are now a network of seven NPWS Education Centres around the country.
NPWS Education Centres
Wicklow Mountains National Park, Education Centre, Glendalough
Knocksink Wood Education Centre, Enniskerry
Ballinafad Education Centre
Ballinafad Education Centre is based in the North Midlands Regional office in Ballinafad, Co. Sligo. Teachers can select from programmes on: Bogs, Wildlife, Woodland and Hedgerows, Irish Bird Life, Farming for Nature , Turloughs and Bats of Ireland.
Postal address: Ballinafad Education centre, North Midlands Regional Office, Ballinafad, County Sligo
Phone: 071-9666704
Connemara National Park, Education Centre
The Education Centre is situated in the Park Visitor Centre in Letterfrack, Co. Galway.
Postal address: Connemara National Park,
Letterfrack,
Co. Galway
Telephone No: +353 95 41054/41006
Fax. No: +353 95 41005
Glenveagh National Park, Education Centre
Glenveagh Education Centre is based in Glenveagh National Park, Churchill, County Donegal. Teachers can select from programmes on: Nature Explorer, Woodland Habitat Studies, Minibeast Exploration, Wildflowers, Bogland Studies and Seashore.
Postal Address: The Education Centre, Glenveagh National Park, Churchill, Co. Donegal
Email: glenveagh-education@environ.ie
Phone: 071-9137698
Fax: 071-9137795.
Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, Education Centre
Wexford Wildfowl reserve's educational facilities include a interactive visitor centre, a fully equipped education room, bird hides, outdoor education trails and our new outdoor education area. The Raven Nature Reserve is used for sand dune ecology programmes. They offer specially tailored winter and summer programmes for primary and secondary schools, colleges and interest groups. Topics include bird, wetland and sand dune field studies, plus wildfowl and wetland workshops, wildlife discovery workshops and other programmes. They also offer a comprehensive outreach service. A full events programme of lectures and events for the general public takes place throughout the year.
Postal Address: Wexford Wildfowl Reserve, North Slob, Wexford.
Phone: 05391-23129
Killarney National Park, Education Centre
Killarney National Park Education Centre, Co. Kerry, is a non-profit entity operated by Cappanalea OEC in conjunction with National Parks & Wildlife Service. They offer programmes for all ages, including primary schools, post-primary schools, third level institutions, tour groups and youth groups.
Postal Address: Killarney National Park Education Centre, Knockreer House, Killarney, Co. Kerry
Phone/Fax +353 64 35960
E-mail: knpeducationcentre@eircom.net