Explorers Seashore Safari

The Explorers Seashore Safari provides classroom activities and an amazing field trip to the seashore, where the children will learn about marine animals, seaweeds and environmental care.

The teacher will be provided with a range of Explorers Seashore Resources including planning guides;  Wild about Wildlife – on the seashore films, fun facts, information, activity art sheets; as well a special Explorers My Seashore Guide Workbook available in English and Irish, that children can use throughout the module.  We also carry out fun seashore games; as well as provide activities that can be used as part of online and blended learning classes.

The Explorers Seashore Safari module involves indoor and outdoor activities that can be completed in class prior to going to the shore, on the shore and activities after the fieldtrip.   The seashore visit will include an exploration of marine habitats and living things as well as interactive learning games on the shore (weather permitting).  The teachers will be provided with class schemes, class resources, along with seashore project ideas including adopt a beach, environmental awareness and care, seashore art exhibitions, and lots more. The class will also be encouraged to provide a presentation and discussion about their project work that relates to their experience on the seashore.

The seashore safari may be used to support SDG 14 Life Below Water (marine biodiversity); as well as SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being (outdoor activities); and SDG 12 Responsible Consumption & Production (environmental awareness & care); and SDG13 Climate Action, to name a few.

The teacher and outreach officer will confirm the allocation of time spent on each of the following aspects of the delivery of the module.  Field trips to the seashore must be organised to suit the tides.

• An introduction to the seashore will take place before the visit to the seashore to help children learn about the tides, seashore safety and the seashore conservation code. This may be done online or face-to-face. 
• A seashore visit will be supported by the Explorers outreach officer involving a range of exploration activities; as well as team games. The visit on the shore with an Explorers education officer is approx. 3-4 hours.
• As part of the Seashore Safari module, the children and teacher will complete a project in class about their seashore safari experience, before the outreach officer’s final class visit.
• A final visit to the class maybe provided either as a face-to-face visit in the class or online. This will include the class presenting their project work, show casing what they have learned about the seashore to the outreach officer. The outreach officer will discuss and assess the work.
• Both class visits involve fun activities assessing the student’s ocean literacy in which they will be awarded an Explorers Certificate of Participation on completion of the module.

The Explorers modules require a minimum number of 25 students participating in the Seashore Safari module.  To ensure safety and enjoyment on the shore, classes may be divided into smaller groups.  If classes are larger than 25, please contact your nearest outreach officer to discuss options. 

Where there maybe restrictions or limited access into schools and outdoor areas, the Explorers Education Programme team are happy to discuss an alternative blended learning experience with virtual class visits to facilitate the Explorers Aquarium in the Class module.

Teachers participating in this module will be required to attend a planning session with the outreach officer. This is to ensure safety and conservation activities prior to the seashore safari have been completed.  Travel arrangements to and from the shore must be organised by the school and safaris are limited to a maximum of 30 students.  Teachers must ensure that the children have suitable clothing and footwear for the field-trip; and ratio of support is provided for students.

The Explorers Education Programme™ is supported by the Marine Institute, and is funded under the Marine Research Programme by the Irish Government.