Education

The Droitwich Canals Partnership is committed to engaging local schools in the restoration project. The Education Programme aims to involve schools through a series of educational activities including site visits, classroom sessions and activity days. The activities link with a number of national curriculum topics and educate young people on the history of the Droitwich Canals and the importance of the restoration.

So far a number of education weeks have been delivered alongside the project to educate young people on topics relating to canals and the restoration of the Droitwich Canals.

Water Safety
A water safety session was delivered through an informal walk along the Barge Canal. Children were educated on the potential hazards of canals and how to stay safe when visiting.

Canoeing
Children from a number of local schools were given the opportunity to experience and explore the Barge Canal in a canoe. Sessions were delivered by a professional canoe coach teaching young people how to canoe on the canal.

Construction
Local schools were invited to visit the main construction site near Hanbury and witness the new section of the Junction Canal being built. Children were given a classroom session on canals and how they were built in the day of James Brindley prior to a visit to see how canals and locks are built today.

Engineering
Lessons to educate local school children in a number of engineering topics related to canals were delivered through informal sessions along the canal. The children were taught about boats and how they float as well as bridges and how they are built.

Wildlife
A number of education sessions were delivered to teach young people about the wildlife surrounding the canals including pond dipping and tree planting.

Future Education Session
There are a number of education activities planned to take place in 2009 to involve local schools which will include tree planting to create a new habitat around the new Junction Canal and a site visit to the construction of the Barge Canal under the A449.

Resources
Excellent educational resources linking to the curriculum including lesson plans relating to the Droitwich Canals are available by visiting www.wow4water.co.uk

If you are a local school and would like to get involved in the Droitwich Canals Restoration or know more about what we have planned for 2009 please contact susannah.ronan@britishwaterways.co.uk.