Education

UK Education Programme

WDCS recognises how important education in achieving our objectives. It underpins everything we do and is at the core of every successful campaign, conservation initiative, whale watch trip, event, project and publication.

In order to reduce and ultimately eliminate the threats to cetaceans and their environment, it is vital to engage and educate a wide variety of people. Be they children, local communities, tourists, politicians or other decision-makers.

WDCSs Education team, working with other teams across the organisation, aims to inspire and motivate people to play a role in reducing and ultimately eliminating threats to cetaceans.

In the UK, the team are involved in and coordinated a range of initiatives that help us achieve the above goal.

Presentations, workshops, resources
Through education we are investing in the future - the children of today really are the conservationists of tomorrow - and their enthusiasm is boundless!

WDCS has a group of dedicated volunteer speakers in many counties across the UK who give up their free time to give talks and presentations in schools and to community groups such as the Brownies/Scouts/WI.

These talks can usually be tailored to suit your needs, both in terms of time and content.

For more information about arranging a talk to your school/group or becoming a volunteer speaker, please email info@wdcs.org

In Scotland we have developed an extensive education programme through our Wildlife Centres which is supported by Scottish Natural Heritage. Please click here for more information on our education programme in Scotland.

Resources for teachers, parents and children can be found here.

Working in partnership with others
Through our partnership with SEA LIFE, we are increasing our educational outreach through the development of activities such as our national Junior Whale Conference. This curriculum-linked event invited school pupils to experience what it is like to attend the International Whaling Commission - researching, debating and deciding the future for whales.

We have also worked with Clipper Ventures (the organisers of round the world yacht races) to create an activity booklet to be used by children around the globe.

Publications and website
Magazines, newsletters and the website provide us with a fabulous tool for outreach. In 2010 we launched a dedicated WDCS website for children in English and in Spanish.

TES Teaching Resources
100s of free cross curricular, marine and wildlife, teaching resources and lesson plans for primary and secondary schools.