School Programmes

Education Programme

Wild Nephin National Park Education Centre aims to raise awareness of the natural world and our Dark Skies. Programmes are free of charge to schools.

Aims of National Parks & Wildlife Service’s Education Programme:

  • To promote respect, understanding and care for heritage and particularly for the natural world.
  • To encourage the development of environmentally friendly practices.
  • To inform the public about the National Parks & Wildlife Service and their role in conservation.

Dark Skies Day

Spend 2/3 hours exploring our skies and space through hands-on activities such as

  • Presentation on “Mayo’s Dark Skies”
  • Sky Map Introductions
  • Stellarium tutorial
  • Make my school Dark sky friendly 
  • Choose a Dark Sky Activity
    a) Rocket Shop or 
    b) Space Craft
    c) Light Pollution & the environment

Approved Discover Primary Science Centre

Primary Science Spend 2-3 hours visiting Wild Nephin National Park Visitor Centre with your class. The first hour will be comprised of a tour of the interactive exhibition and visiting the outdoor classroom. The second hour will be a choice of one of the following DPSM approved experiments:

  • Cleaning Dirty Water
  • Kitchen Detectives
  • Make a bird feeder and simple bird bath

Bog Detective Challenge

  • Viewing of the exhibition.
  • Presentation on bogs/peatlands, the main habitat in Wild Nephin National Park with special emphasis on the plants and animals found within this habitat.
  • A hunt to find mini-beasts using pooters.
  • Examining the wild plants of the bog.
  • Pond dipping to see what mini-beasts live in our pond.

How to Book

EDUCATION CENTRE IS OPEN FROM APRIL TO NOVEMBER.

Bookings can be taken by email ballycroyvisitorcentre@npws.gov.ie

Please note that our diary can fill up very quickly. If you wish to book a place, ring as early as possible. 

We only take bookings by phone (098) 49888

Supervision

We require groups bring at least one adult leader per ten children with a maximum group size of 30. 

These leaders are responsible for the supervision of the group.

For the National Parks & Wildlife Service Code of Behaviour for Child Protection please click here

Practicalities

  • Minibuses and coaches can drive up to the visitor centre and park in the designated bus parking spaces.
  • Visitors are advised to bring full rain gear and suitable footwear and to bring a spare pair of clothes.
  • How to Find Us: The Visitor Centre is located in the village of Ballycroy on the N59 road between Mulranny and Bangor Erris. View map here.
  • Important Note: As many of our activities take place outdoors, visitors are advised to learn about Lyme Disease, information can be found on the Tick Talk Ireland Website.
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