Katy Barton: educating children about the natural world
Katy Barton (CF 2009) from London is the Centre Manager at Iver Environment Centre, which provides education programmes and activities for primary school children to learn about the environment. During the lockdowns, they adapted their educational offering to online, but now that they have resumed face-to-face activities, they have noticed a change in need from local schools and students who have been deprived of school trips during the pandemic.
Katy will use her grant to work with colleagues at the Centre to research and develop a programme of experiences that fits the needs of the local schools and communities. The funding will cover development time for the education team to adapt sessions, staff training, and research time to develop surveys and carry out focus groups with local schools. It will also be used to fund transport for 20 classes and education sessions for five classes to enable schools in deprived communities, who would otherwise not be able to afford to go, to undertake school trips. Katy hopes that this work will widen access for more pupils to develop an understanding and respect for the natural world. She will evaluate the project and plans to publish and circulate her findings.
Katy’s Fellowship in 2009 to Madagascar and Mozambique explored wildlife education.