Activities at The Moors Centre
Scroll down to see our range of activities for KS3, KS4 and A level groups
Moorland field study activities
Information about the National Park and how it is managed
Welcome to the Park
Presentation
This presentation introduces pupils to the concept of protected landscapes and describes the special qualities of the North York Moors National Park. We explain the role of grouse shooting in the management and conservation of the moorland habitat and the impact of human activities such as recreation. Threats to the Park's special qualities are discussed, including what actions people can take, collectively and individually, to help care for this special place.
Main curriculum links:
- Geography – interactions between people and their environments, managing land sustainably.
- Environmental Science / Environmental Studies - wildlife and landscape conservation, purposes of National Parks.
- Leisure, travel and tourism courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of the NYMNP, impacts of tourism, sustainable tourism.
Every Child Matters: Increased awareness and understanding of local and global environmental issues, developing a sense of respect and care for the environment, making informed judgements on environmental issues.
Age Range: KS3 upwards (content adapted to suit age and ability of audience)
Duration: Quarter day (about an hour)
Moorland Walk
Standard route (2.5km) or extended route (4.5km)
A guided walk through woodland, rough pasture and open moorland with spectacular views of the Esk Valley. The focus of the walk is land use, moorland management and geographical skills with pupils using OS maps, compasses and aerial photographs.
Main curriculum links:
- Geography - geographical skills, interactions between people and their environment, managing land sustainably.
- Environmental Science / Studies - wildlife and habitat conservation.
- English – using first hand experience to inspire writing.
Every Child Matters: Physical exercise outdoors, enhanced enjoyment through participation in inspiring learning opportunities, developing a sense of respect and care for the environment.
Age Range: Year 7 (Age 12) upwards
Duration: Standard Route (about an hour and a half). Half day when booked on its own, quarter day when booked with another activity. Extended Route – Half day (about 2 hours)
Maps Inside and Out
A practical session to develop pupils' geographical skills. Using maps and aerial photogr
aphs of the Danby area, puplis are guided through a series of exercises including identifying and comparing features on the map and the photograph, using symbols, keys, 6 figure grid references, working out distance, direction, height and identifying land use. This activity involves some classroom work and some outdoor work around the grounds of the centre.
Main curriculum links:
- Geography - using maps at range of scales, using aerial photographs
Every Child Matters: Enhanced enjoyment and sense of achievement in learning new skills. Valuable practical skills for employment and adult life.
Age Range: Years 7 to 9 (Age 11-13)
Duration: Quarter day (up to an hour and a half)
Map Skills and Geocaching
Practical session based in the grounds of The Moors Centre. Using a combination of a base map, compass and GPS units, pupils work in small groups to locate a number of caches hidden around the grounds. Each cache contains a puzzle or a question. Pupils record their answers and use these later to complete individual picture sheets summarising information about the moorland and how it is managed. 
Main curriculum links:
- Geography - developing geographical skills including using maps and instruments; environmental issues including how an environment is managed.
Every Child Matters: Enhanced enjoyment and sense of achievement in learning new skills. Valuable practical skills for employment and adult life.
Age Range: Designed for KS3 but just as suitable for KS4.
Duration: Half Day (about 2 hours)
Impacts of Tourism in the National Park (KS3 & 4)
An indoor session combining a presentation and a discussion activity. The presentation outlines the concept and aims of UK National Parks and the major features that make the North York Moors an attractive tourist destination. Statistics illustrating the numbers, types and activities of visitors are presented and we discuss the social, economic and environmental impacts of tourism. The concept of 'sustainable tourism' is introduced with examples of how the Park Authority is working to alleviate problems caused by visitors and encourage sustainable tourism. These ideas are then reinforced in a group discussion activity which demonstrates how visitors have choices and can influence the type of impacts they make on the environment, residents and other visitors.
Main curriculum links:
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of UK National Parks, impacts of tourism, sustainable development.
- Geography - interactions between people and their environment, advantages and disadvantages of tourism, managing landscapes sustainably.
Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, increased awareness of sustainable choices people can make.
Age Range: KS3 and 4
Duration: Quarter day (about an hour and a half)
Additional information about tourism
The National Park as a Visitor Attraction (AS/A2 level and above)
This PowerPoint presentation outlines the concept and aims of UK National Parks and the major features that make the North York Moors an important natural visitor attraction. We focus on ownership, funding and operation of the National Park, how it is marketed and promoted and health and safety of visitors and employees. The concept of 'sustainable tourism' is introduced with examples of how the Park Authority is working with partners to manage visitor numbers, types of visitors and traffic. The aims of a regional partnership to promote sustainable tourism are also explained with examples of current projects and initiatives. The content of this talk can be tailored to meet your syllabus guidelines.
Main curriculum links:
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of UK National Parks, impacts of tourism, sustainable development.
- Geography - interactions between people and their environment, advantages and disadvantages of tourism, managing landscapes sustainably.
Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, increased awareness of sustainable choices people can make.
Age Range: AS/A2 and above
Duration: Quarter day (about an hour and a half)
Additional information about tourism
How the National Park Authority Operates (including jobs and careers)
An indoor session involving an interactive group discussion and PowerPoint presentation. Using images of National Park landscapes, pupils identify different countryside user groups, consider their needs and show how conflicting demands on an environment arise. This demonstrates the need for some sort of authority to balance the needs of the different user groups. A presentation then explains how the National Park Authority is structured and financed and how it operates, including information about the wide range of jobs involved and qualifications required.
Main curriculum links:
- Geography - interactions between people and their environment, conflicting demands on an environment, managing environments sustainably.
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - impacts of tourism, employment opportunities.
- Environmental Science - wildlife and landscape conservation, purposes of national Parks.
- Citizenship - balancing conflicting demands, where public money comes from and how it is spent.
Every Child Matters: Understanding the needs of others, an awareness of different career paths, encouraging pupils to think about their career aspirations.
Age Range: KS3 upwards (content adapted to suit age and ability of audience)
Duration: Quarter day (about an hour)
Sustainable Development Case Studies in a National Park (KS3 upwards)
An indoor presentation and a decision making activity. The presentation introduces the concept of National Parks, the special qualities of the North York Moors, threats to these special qualities and the concept of managing environments sustainably. We then look at how the National Park Authority is financed and how decisions are made about how money is spent. Working in small groups, pupils are provided with a 'budget' and information about a selection of sustainable development project ideas relating to conservation and recreation in the park. Their task is to discuss the benefits of each project, decide which project should be given priority and present their opinions to the rest of the class.
Curriculum links:
- Geography - interactions between people and their environments, sustainable development.
- Citizenship - advocacy and representation, where public money comes from and how it is spent.
- Environmental Science / Studies - Land resources - conservation and protection of landscapes.
Every Child Matters: Increased understanding of environmental issues, making informed judgements, listening to others, decision making.
Age Range: KS3 upwards
Duration: Quarter day (about an hour and a half)
Information about sustainable development
Planning Issues and Development in a Rural Community (KS4 and above)
The session begins with a scenic walk into Danby village to look at the area's natural attractions and the village's existing services and facilities. A hypothetical opportunity for a new sustainable tourism development using the site of the current village hall is explained and students are presented with six proposals for developing the site. On returning to the centre a presentation provides students with information about National Park planning policies. These policies provide the students with a framework for considering the proposals presented to them earlier in the day. Working in small groups the students consider the social, economic and environmental impacts of the proposals and present their recommendations to the other groups. A vote is taken on the most sustainable or appropriate development.
Main curriculum links:
- Leisure, Travel and Tourism Courses - tourism destinations in the UK, major features of UK National Parks, sustainable development.
- Geography - interactions between people and their environment, advantages and disadvantages of tourism, managing landscapes sustainably.
Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, aware of sustainable choices people can make.
Age Range: KS4 and above (content adapted to suit age and ability of audience)
Duration: Half day (about 3 hours)
Renewable Energy and Planning Issues in a National Park (KS3 and 4)
This indoor session considers the conflict between conserving the National Park landscape and promoting renewable energy from wind turbines. Pupils are divided into two groups and deliver pre-prepared presentations themselves. The first introduces the North York Moors National Park and its special qualities. The second introduces the concept of climate change, its likely effects on this protected landscape and ways in which we can all help to reduce carbon emissions. The planning policies of the National Park Authority are explained and the pupils are presented with 3 proposals for wind turbine developments within the National Park. They work in groups to decide which, if any, of the proposals should be allowed in this protected area and if so, why. Each group then reports back to the whole class explaining their decisions.
Main curriculum links:
- Geography - environmental interaction and sustainable development, interactions between people and their environments.
- Citizenship - advocacy and representation.
- Environmental Studies - renewable energy resources, sustainable development.
Every Child Matters: Heightened awareness of the relationship between people and the environment, able to make informed judgements, decision making.
Age Range: Year 9 and above (age 13 - 16)
Duration: Quarter day (an hour and a half)
Community Renewable Energy Project
Renewable Energy and Planning Issues in a National Park (A level)
This indoor session considers the conflict between conserving the National Park landscape and promoting renewable energy from wind turbines. A presentation explains some of the likely effects of climate change in the North York Moors. Government policy to reduce carbon emissions is discussed together with the requirement to increase electricity generation from renewable resources. The national, regional and local planning policies regarding renewable energy and how these might impact on the National Park are outlined and form the basis for a group discussion. Students are divided into groups and are presented with fact cards outlining 3 different wind turbine development proposals within the National Park. Students discuss which, if any, of the proposed developments should be recommended for planning approval. The groups then present back to each other and explain their recommendations.
Main curriculum links:
- A level geography - local responses to global climate change, renewable energy, rural planning policies, managing protected landscapes.
- A level environmental studies - likely consequences of global climate change, renewable energy resources.
Every Child Matters: Awareness of government policies regarding energy, making informed judgements and decisions.
Age Range: 16 plus
Duration: Quarter day (up to an hour and a half)
Community Renewable Energy Project
Conservation and Biodiversity in the North York Moors (KS4 upwards)
This presentation gives a brief introduction to the concept and purposes of National Parks and describes the key habitats and wildlife that make this area special. We explain how the moorland is managed, the effects of government policies and what our national and international conservation designations mean. The Park's Biodiversity Action Plan is introduced with examples of current conservation projects, including how the Park Park Authority works with farmers and landowners to promote landscape and wildlife conservation as well as the local economy. The presentation also highlights some of the threats posed to the National Park, particularly that of climate change, and how the Park Authority is working to alleviate these threats.
Main curriculum links:
- Geography and science - Locations and aims of UK National Parks, managing an environment sustainably, land management techniques, conservation designations, biodiversity.
- Citizenship – concept of sustainable development.
Age Range: Year 10 (Age 14) upwards
Duration: Quarter day – about an hour.
More about conservation and biodiversity
Open Spaces and Secret Places Exhibition
This inspiring and interactive exhibition at the Moors National Park Centre focuses on moorland, its wildlife, how it is managed and the role we can all play in looking after this very special place. Admission to the exhibition is free but groups are requested to book in advance. This activity is self guided. Exhibition quiz sheets for KS3 are available at 50p each or free if booked with another activity.
Age Range: All
