Geocaching for Schools
All our programmes are tailored to meet the individual needs of the school and year group. They typically consist of two elements, a morning mapping session and an afternoon walk either in the locality or at a pre-arranged site.
Geo Journeys will take full responsibility for planning and delivering the programme.
When working within schools, in addition to working with individual classes, we will provide a whole school or Key Stage assembly, teaching children about the benefits of walking, the equipment used by regular walkers, and how to stay safe whilst walking.
We’ll also promote awareness of the countryside and the creatures within it.
As part of the afternoon walk we also take part in “Geocaching” – an enjoyable and exciting activity where children use GPS devices to find a box containing items of interest.
In the event of bad weather, we have a wet weather policy.
- Our Programmes
Included in the cost of our programmes :-
- A Qualified, experienced teacher leading the programme
- A fully risk assessed and prepared walk
- Prizes for Geocaching activity and Pedometer competition
- All work booklets for morning and afternoon sessions which can be kept as evidence.
- Links to website with free downloadable mapping software
Mapping morning and doorstep walk £425
Morning
- In groups children learn basics map reading skills and related mapping activities using OS maps in conjunction with interactive online maps shown on the interactive whiteboard.
- Assembly (optional). Geo Journeys will provide an assembly for the whole school on the benefits of walking and the equipment needed to successfully navigate different types of terrain.
Afternoon
In the afternoon, children walk a route following the GPS device. The route will begin and end at school. During the walk the children will stop at given points to work on a series of short curriculum related activities.
These activities will be specific to the year group and wherever possible would link into the creative curriculum topics of the class. They would also partake in Geocaching, following the GPS device to a box containing items of interest which the children could remove and bring back to school. Schools would need to provide pens, pencils and clipboards for these activities.
The walk and related activities will last between 1 ½ – 2 hours ensuring the children are back at school for a short feedback session. On returning to the school, information from the GPS can be uploaded to the interactive white board and children can draw their route onto a map extract provided by Geo Journeys.
Further Information
Curriculum Subject Activities
Our programmes aim to link our geography based activities with other curriculum areas. The activities are designed so as to meet expectations for children in KS2 geography. Furthermore, during the course of the doorstep and countryside walks there will be a checklist and field sketch that children will be expected to complete. Here are some examples of the curriculum we use on our walks.
Literacy – Sensory poetry on the countryside walk at Pow Hill.
Numeracy – Tally chart and averages on doorstep walks.
History – Graveyard investigation on the countryside walk at Blanchland.
Physical Education – orienteering and Geocaching on our countryside walks.
Science – constructing food chains from evidence collected on countryside walks.
Art – exploring a rural or urban landscape as a starting point for 2 dimensional work.
Citizenship – Looking at how rules and laws affect us – on both doorstep and countryside walks.
Risk Assessments
Every walk is fully Risk Assessed and a copy is given to the school prior to the walk.
Geo Journeys representatives have been fully vetted and CRB checked. Copies of insurance certificates and CRB checks are provided on the day.
Suggested clothing for doorstep and countryside walks
On booking your programme with us, we shall email your school a list of suggested clothing items for the walk. Most of it is common sense but there may be some variations depending on the particular walk.
Toilets
Whilst walking, it may be that there are no toilets in the immediate vicinity. Therefore it is essential that children use the toilet immediately before leaving school and drink sensible amounts of water whilst walking. On most of the countryside walks there will be toilets close to the drop off/pick up point.
Filming the walk
Geo Journeys are happy for schools to film the children on their walk. This is optional and entirely at the discretion of the school.
Transport
Should your school choose a countryside walk in the afternoon, then the school will be responsible for transporting the children to and from the pick up/drop off point. One of the Geo Journeys representatives will travel with staff and children to the meeting point.
We’re available to discuss your specific needs or answer any questions you may have. Please contact us for further information.