Field Studies Council

Do you know someone aged 16-18 looking to study art and design at university?🎨 Introducing 'Art Camp', new for 2026! 👉 Book now: buff.ly/SnceYtb Join us for a 5-day residential experience designed for young people who are inspired by both creativity and the natural world. Throughout the week you will: ✨ Explore museums and discover fresh sources of inspiration ✨ Take part in hands‑on creative workshops ✨ Experiment with natural materials and develop new artistic techniques ✨ Follow in the footsteps of artists who have drawn from the landscape for centuries If you’re ready to grow your skills, spark your imagination, and create in the great outdoors, Art Camp is for you. This course is also suitable for the residential section of the Gold @DofE Dates: 📅 3rd - 7th August (Scotland) 📅 26th - 30th October (Suffolk) @FSCFlatfordMill

Think cold weather stops bumblebees? Actually, they are well-adapted for cooler temperatures: 🧥 Their dense layer of hair helps keep them warm. 🥶 They can shiver to raise their body temperature. ❄️ They can even produce ‘antifreeze’ (glycerol) to help in colder conditions. Help us track spring by recording when you see bumblebees in our survey: buff.ly/kiXgzac #SignsofSpring

🐞 There are seven direct effects participants experience during, and immediately after, engaging in Field Studies Council experiences. One of the outcomes we actively facilitate is time in and connection to nature. 🦋 🍃 All our outdoor learning sessions actively facilitate nature connection. Through encouraging observation, noticing, and quiet reflection, we aim to encourage the development of an understanding of nature, its systems and interdependencies, its vulnerabilities, and our place within it. 🐸Nature connection is one of the seven outcomes delivered by our outdoor learning experiences. 🌱To find out more about our approach to learning please visit our website: buff.ly/1U9XqWd

This week we are celebrating #WalesOutdoorLearningWeek! 🌤️ Spring is arriving in Wales, and our outdoor classrooms are coming alive! As the sun starts shining across Wales, our three stunning Field Studies Council centres are buzzing with new adventures, excited chatter, and brand‑new outdoor learning discoveries. 🌿✨ From coastlines to woodlands, our learners of all ages are stepping outside and discovering transformative nature-led education: 🌼 Margam Discovery Centre Margam Discovery Centre is a state-of-the-art, low carbon footprint building situated within Margam Park, an 850-acre country estate. Hands-on nature exploration is in full swing, from woodland mini‑beast hunts to eco-engineering challenges. 🌊 Dale Fort Dale Fort is set in a spectacular location high on the cliffs within the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, giving superb views over the sea. Learners benefit from the inspiring location, as the spring tides bring the Pembrokeshire shoreline to life. ⛰️ Rhyd-y-Creuau Nestled in the heart of Snowdonia, students are heading up mountain paths, exploring rivers and discovering the local wildlife as they explore this rugged Welsh landscape. You can find free resources and inspiring articles for getting outside with your group on the Wales Council for Outdoor Learning website: buff.ly/m2JtbVj Here’s to longer days, brighter skies, and unforgettable learning experiences across Wales. Bring on the sunshine! ☀️🌿

Bursary clearing for the Hyundai's The Great British School Trip is now live, giving schools another chance to secure funding for trips taking place. We are a venue partner, so funding can be used towards trips that have or will take place between 1 st September 2025 - 16th July 2026. Bursaries are available for UK-based trips only, and schools where 40% or more of students receive free school meals will be prioritised. Find out if your group is eligible: buff.ly/tCnEsy2

The campfire is just one way we find a pause in your busy residential: a safe, calm space for pupils to reflect on what they’ve learned, how they’ve grown and how nature shapes them. These moments matter - and they’re at the heart of +Adventure Re-imagine your next trip: buff.ly/eNZfllp

🌿 Are you looking for a spring escape this Easter? 🎒✨ Our centres have some last‑minute availability this April and May for sole‑occupancy stays! 📅 April dates won’t last long. ➡️ buff.ly/mhcqNmZ Choose the option that suits your group best: 🏡 Exclusive hire – full use of one of our residential centres, all to yourselves. 🛏️ Partial hire – a lower‑cost option with fewer bedrooms but still exclusive use of the building. Our centres are located in some of the UK's most picturesque landscapes with fantastic access to nature. 🔖 Special offer: Use code FSC10 for 10% off exclusive venue hire, or enjoy a 25% discount on partial hire.

For ecologists looking to improve their river habitat knowledge, our new immersive residential course develops a practical understanding of riparian habitats, their condition and site preparation. Ideal for strengthening your approach to Biodiversity Net Gain assessments and freshwater habitat evaluation. Learn more and book your place: buff.ly/3686PHR

🌿 New for KS3: Inspire the next generation of eco engineers. Our brand-new Green STEM: Eco Engineering Challenge courses go live this week to give your students hands-on experiences that bring science, sustainability and real world problem solving to life. 👉 Check out the options available: buff.ly/mVzhvok ✨ Choose from either a 3 or 5 day programme, with exciting options such as: 🔹 Energy and Water - Sustainable energy solutions, plan, design and create a Solar- powered device 🔹 Sustainable Shelter and Survival: - Challenge: Design and build an eco-shelter using natural/recycled materials 🔹 Conservation and Biodiversity - Conservation activity (tree planting, habitat creation, invasive species removal) Our courses are designed to help your students explore, investigate and build confidence outdoors while developing skills for a greener future. 🌱 We would love to discuss with you how this can be tailored to your group and the outcomes you need. 🦋 #STEM #KS3 #SecondaryScienceTeachers

Is it frogspawn or toadspawn in your pond? Here’s how you can tell the difference. 👇️ 🐸 🟢 Frogspawn is found in jelly-like clumps floating near the surface. 🟢 Toadspawn is found in long gelatinous strings wrapped around plants. Learn more about the amphibians of the UK with our guides and courses: buff.ly/8jw6zdZ

Do you live near one of our day centre locations? @FSCLondon, @FSCAmersham, @BishopsWoodCent or @FSCEppingForest?🌲🌲 This spring, our teams are offering a range of opportunities to step outside, enjoy the fresh air, and get closer to nature. From hands‑on learning experiences to family-friendly events, there’s something for everyone looking to explore the season and connect with the natural world. 🌺 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Family activities 🌱 Nature experiences for adults 🙋‍♀️ Volunteering opportunities 🤗 Open days 👉 Find out more about our day centre locations and what they offer: buff.ly/qg1EOPq

Spring insects are starting to appear… have you spotted any of these yet? 🐝🦋 Many insects emerge in spring after sheltering through the winter, taking advantage of the first warm days to forage on early blooming flowers. 🌺 Want help identifying what you see? Our entomology beginner pack includes three guides for just £10: buff.ly/ct6AsEH

Lawns don’t usually grow much over the winter but as we get into March many of us will be ready to tidy up our gardens. An early mow can benefit wildflowers hiding amongst the grass too. Before the first lawn cut of spring, you should make sure temperatures are at least 8-10 degrees, the lawn isn’t waterlogged, and there are signs of new growth in the grass. 🌱 Your first lawn cut is one of our ten indicators of spring. Tell us when you first get your lawnmower out this year! buff.ly/kiXgzac #SignsofSpring

At Field Studies Council, we know that science isn’t something you learn from a textbook, it’s something you experience, hands-on, with all your senses. As British Science Week draws to a close, we’re celebrating the power of fieldwork to build real scientific understanding. We are proud of all our learners, who build confidence and understanding in many ways, including: 🧪 Collecting and analysing data in real ecosystems 🌱 Applying techniques such as surveying habitats and identifying species 🌧 Observing natural processes like rivers, coasts, carbon cycles and water cycles 🏞 Exploring diverse environments at our UK-wide network of field centres Fieldwork gives young scientists the chance to ask questions, test ideas, and see the natural world in action, helping to build skills that stay with them far beyond the classroom. 👉 Explore fieldwork opportunities for schools: buff.ly/RsuqHrM

If you still need to book your Gold Duke of Edinburgh residential, we’ve got a fantastic line-up of experiences waiting for you this Easter.🤩 👉 Want to learn more? You can find all of the details on our website: buff.ly/quIuJTp Our residentials are designed for young people aged 16–18 who are looking for hands‑on experiences with nature-based activities and a healthy dose of adventure.🚣 We kick off our Easter programme with an exciting range of opportunities for anyone passionate about the environment and the natural world.🌍 Spend five days exploring new places, meeting new people and taking part in activities that will build your skills, confidence and connection with the outdoors. 🏔️

Every Field Studies Council experience delivers seven experience outcomes that underpin all our delivery across the organisation. Everything we do aims to increase environmental understanding. As young children we are fascinated by the world around us, but as we grow older many of us fall out of love with the outdoors and environmental understanding declines. As outdoor educators we challenge and engage children to see the complexity of nature and all interdependence through discovery-based learning. Environmental understanding is one of the outcomes delivered by our outdoor learning experiences. To find out more about our approach to learning please visit our website: buff.ly/1U9XqWd

🌲 Have you ever dreamed of exploring Exmoor National Park?🌲 Join us for a walking holiday at @FSCnettlecombe in Somerset, where you can discover scenic trails, dramatic coastlines and the rich wildlife that make this landscape so special. 🌲 🥾 👉 Secure your spot: buff.ly/XyTmliW Our ‘Footsteps through Exmoor’ experience is led by expert Julian Wilkes, who brings the national park to life through his love of walking, storytelling, natural history, and environmental insight.🌍️ 🌱 Whether you're seeing Exmoor for the first time or hoping to deepen your connection with it, this holiday offers the perfect way to immerse yourself in the landscape as Julian shares its stories and secrets along the way. 🤩

British Science Week is the perfect time to explore the natural world, and our Biodiversity Shorts webinars make that easy for even more learners. These one-hour online sessions delve into fascinating natural history topics, from amphibian ecology to reptile surveying, all led by expert tutors. Each webinar will: 🌿 Build confidence in understanding wildlife and ecosystems 🔍 Explore real-world science topics in manageable, bite-size chunks 💬 Join live discussions with experienced ecologists and specialists There’s still time to sign up for ‘Introduction to Reptile Surveying’ on the 13th March or you can check out the other sessions going on this season: buff.ly/4Picna7

Give your pupils the chance to feel the outdoors, not just see it. Through ghyll scrambling and other +Adventure challenges, they build resilience, confidence and a deeper connection to the natural world - one careful, courageous step at a time. How could the outdoors transform your pupils? buff.ly/GI1fhB8

By this date last year, we had received 50 recorded sightings of frogspawn on #SignsofSpring. Can you help us record more in 2026? If you’ve spotted frogspawn anywhere, please submit a quick record to our survey and help provide valuable data on seasonal change buff.ly/kiXgzac