Falconry for Schools Project
Sponsored by the Countryside Alliance Foundation
Falconhigh’s mission is to enrich the learning journey of young people using birds of prey. The falconry for schools project aims to teach young people some of the skills of falconry and in doing so learn a little about the environment, conservation and enhance literacy, communication and number skills along the way.
The programme specifically offers a short course for secondary school students and can be adapted for students with special educational needs. It is hoped that the falconry for schools project will be integrated into the national curriculum with additional citizenship, numeracy, ICT and literacy benefits.
The course is mapped to the literacy and numeracy core curriculum and key skills level 1 in application of number and communication. However the course can be adapted for entry levels. The falconry for schools project aims to enhance learning using multisensory learning styles and, of course, take learning outside of the classroom, although some of the course uses ICT and classroom based resources.
The course can be used to enhance project work, science and history lessons and promote key skills or simply be used as an enrichment activity. The project is also an ideal opportunity to evidence social and emotional aspects of learning (SEAL) in school. In the near future it is hoped that the project will be part of national award schemes promoting outdoor learning and environmental education.
Birds of prey have an awe-inspiring grace about them and have a strangely calming influence. The technique of animal assisted learning or therapy has been widely documented to: inspire, reduce anxiety and loneliness, learn responsibility, increase confidence and social skills, concentration and attention skills and promote self-awareness.
Over the two days (or four half days) students will fly hawks and owls, learn leather craft, how to fit falconry furniture, knot-tying and training techniques. Subjects such as housing and husbandry, health and sickness, bird crime, diet and conservation are all covered.
The Countryside Alliance Foundation will pay for the cost of the instructors and travel for the first course at the school. Instructors Judy Wrighte and Philip Oldham are part of the Falconhigh display team who have thirty years experience of flying birds of prey. Judy Wrighte has been teaching biology and key skills for the last seven years, has a master’s degree in biology and has been Lantra assessed to own and fly birds of prey.
For a printable copy of the Falconry For Schools information CLICK HERE
Contact
To discuss your requirements please contact:
Phil: 07932 402279 or 02380 364895
Judy: 07855 161319 or 01264 352890
E:mail: enquiries@falconhigh.co.uk
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