creating links between zoos and conservation in the wild

Our" Schools linking programme" aims to: link communities around zoos to communities around in-situ projects, through their local schools. It can involve running workshops in schools, in both communities, e-mail and postal communications and teacher exchanges.  We also have resource packs for each country we visited, to be used by the European schools that get involved.

Photo: Class 5 at St Cuthbert's RC Primary School in Blackpool.

To develop this programme and trial the initiative, Nan ran over 11 sessions with Class 5 at St Cuthbert's RC Primary School in Blackpool, covering topics such as Introduction to South America, jungle products, myths and legends, world habitats, animals adaptations, sustainability, waste and recycling and transport.  Our work together culminated in a debate about how to use rainforest and the production of the Class 5 “Big Book”.

Photo: South American brought to Blackpool

The children really embraced the project and the workshops were fun for all taking part, while at the same time developing and strengthening teamwork and communication skills.

Photo: Bispham Endowned -Recycling explained and made fun

Photo: Nan saying goodbye to Blackpool Zoo Club + the Tower in April 2001

Bispham Endowed, Claremont Junior School and Blackpool Zoo Club also took part in the South America workshop series and we look forward to involving them in our project as it progresses too.

Photo: Mrs Castro presents Nan with the completed "Big Book"

Y5 at St Cuthbert's did a wonderful job in putting together their “Big Book”, class teacher Mrs Castro then had the book professionally bound and it was presented to Nan on their last day of term (April 2001).

Photo: Blackpool Brought to South America

The book documents life in Blackpool as the children see it and has been a fantastic resource in stimulating workshops in South American Schools and encouraging them to join our linking initiative.  

Photos: Presenting the "Big book" in Colombia and Ecuador.

Danish schools are in too – a three way link.
We are delighted to announce that both Aalborg Schools (Denmark) and Blackpool Schools (UK) started a new pilot scheme in 2002, coordinated by the education departments of Aalborg and Blackpool Zoo respectively. 

Photo: Aalborg Zoo Education staff taking "South America" out to their local schools

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We are in contact with participating schools through email, the website and by offering resource boxes from each country we visited. With at least 3 schools already now participating from South America, all concerned are looking forward to the three-way link and exchange of information from Denmark, England and schools in South America.

Photo: Blackpool zoo club trying on the new South America resource pack costumes, April 2002.

How to get more information about this programme
For more detailed information about this initiative including; the theory behind it, teachers notes for the workshops, list of contents of the Big Book and the participating teacher’s comments, please see the “Community Linking Initiative” section of our full proposal which can be down-loaded from this site see: "Full Project Details”.

Send mail to with questions or comments about this web site.
Last modified: august 21, 2002