Our parks and countryside service delivers a range of outdoor learning opportunities to schools and groups from County Durham and the surrounding areas. Our experienced and dedicated staff come from a range of backgrounds, including teaching, Forest School and Early Years.
School Visits
Based at Wharton and Hardwick Park, our team facilitate school visits to over 7000 young people annually. Workshops are designed to ensure groups can access hands-on activities that foster an understanding of the natural world, local heritage, environmental issues and impact as well as encouraging the development of key skills, physical exercise and mental well-being.
Outreach Programme
Our team can deliver individual workshops and long-term outdoor learning programmes as outreach to schools. These can include Forest School, orienteering or the delivery of the John Muir Award scheme, but we can also be tailor-made packages that work with an individual school’s needs and requirements.
Learning Resources and Assemblies
We have developed a range of outdoor learning resources and virtual assembly packages, which are available on request.
Learning outside the Classroom (LoTC) Quality Badge
Both Wharton and Hardwick Park are holders of the LoTC Quality Badge which is the only nationally recognised accreditation that reviews both learning and safety side by side.