Outdoor learning programmes for primary schools

Spring Term 2025

Available until the end of May 2025.

Key Stage Two

Time Traveller Wild Adventurers

Travel into the wild for a hands on activity based adventure in a historical period of your choice. 

Take a step back in time to when;

1. Stone Age man roamed our region. Discover skills our ancestors had that are not so primitive. For classes just beginning the topic focus on the Stone Age alone but for those who are in the midst of their learning opt for the development over time to the Iron Age. Look at how their skills and lives slowly developed as they transitioned into the Iron Age.
2. The Romans conquered the North of England. Discover how they set up home right here at Hardwick and become archaeologists to learn more about them.
3. The Vikings invaded our north east shores. Discover more about these great travellers, warriors and inventors.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Map Skills and Orienteering 

This activity is an energetic introduction to orienteering. Pupils take part in a range of activities to build their mapping skills including directional tasks, how to read a key and undertaking a simple orienteering course to develop their map reading confidence. Orienteering activities also help build life skills such as team work, communication, sense of direction and observational skills. A full day workshop allows the pupils to begin to use these skills to develop their own maps and courses.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

There is no Planet B!

The Climate Change emergency is here and very real! Join us as we battle it out to explore key environmental issues that effect County Durham's countryside. It's time to think global, act local! Packed with practical hands on activities that encourage discussion, team work and problem solving.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Animal Adaptations: A case study

There are animals that inhabit every corner of the earth in all terrains. The diverse habitats within Hardwick Park are the perfect setting for a case study of how animals fit into their eco system. Immerse yourself within one of Hardwick Park's  diverse habitats and explore animal adaptations for the environment they play a key role within. Observe the interconnected way in which plants and animals co exist. Discover who leaves the biggest footprint leading to challenges for all living things in our rapidly changing world. What solutions can we find to mitigate this impact and protect our precious planet?

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

An Age of Innovation

The Victorian era when Wharton Park was built was a time of exploration, discovery and invention. William Wharton, founder of Wharton Park, had a great involvement in this industrial era being chairman of the Great North  Eastern Railway and owner of coal mines. He was also a man of the people hosting the first ever miners gala at Wharton Park in 1871 and opening the grounds to the public for many other occasions and events. Through hands on activities with us learn more about these industries and heritage of Durham in our historic setting.  Investigate, design, engineer and  create like our Victorian ancestors.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Key Stage One 

Stormy Weather

The Percy the Park Keeper classic tales give children a timeless introduction to nature. Through the story, children can access and explore the impact climate change has on our environment with increasing stormy weather. Join Percy from an Autumn treasure hunt after the storm. Follow clues to discover what has happened to the park and animals, getting hands on with ways in which we can help.     

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Once upon a fairy-tale

Let the children's imagination and curiosity loose in a fairy tale adventure trail around the park. Based on a series of popular traditional tales, practical activities  involving exploration and creativity immerse the children in a make believe world. In a full day workshop the afternoon will focus on the magic of the written word by creating a story potion using essential ingredients. The half day workshop can also be made to be suitable for EYFS.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Map it Out!

From the whole universe to the details of one room we can map it out! Together we will navigate our way through directions, human and physical features, simple keys and creating maps. Look over Durham City and what is around us within Wharton Park to see a sense of scale and perspective. Discover the possibilities for curious minds as we explore the world of maps.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Food Chain: What's on the Menu?

Food glorious food. Whether a herbivore, carnivore or omnivore like ourselves all animals need nutrition to survive. Through games and activities take a look at what is on the menu for some animals and see how life interconnects through the food chain. Do all animals live near their source of food or do they have to search far and wide? 

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Let Spring Begin

From tiny seeds to brilliant bulbs such a variety of plants can grow. Explore, look and wonder at the diversity in nature as shoots and leaves spring up and open at this time of year. Dig into the incredible story of plants from their life cycle, structure, variety and what helps them to grow and survive. Through hands on activities see and understand the seasonal changes of Springtime.

Location: Hardwick or Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)

We're Going on an Egg Hunt 

Let's go together on an Egg Hunt to find the missing eggs. How many will we find, what colours are they and which birds do they belong too? Once all of the eggs have been found and delivered it's time to join in with some Spring activities, playing games and getting creative.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Dinosaur Discovery

Once there were dinosaurs. Step into our woods, explore the world around you and become immersed in imaginative learning. Make dinosaur discoveries from eggs to fossils and footprints. Investigate and wonder at the sights and sounds in these ancient lands and get creative as you take part in a prehistoric adventure.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

How does your Planet Grow?

Come outdoors and explore the natural world around you. Discover what is growing and changing in the park and wonder at all of the new life emerging. Through practical and creative activities children can learn about the value of nature and importance in looking after our planet. Have you got hands to help our planet grow this Springtime?

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

The Story of Springtime

Follow the journey of a curious hedgehog who wakes up in springtime after his winter sleep and goes in search of food. Along the way he meets new friends and discovers what each one is doing in this busy season. Join Horace in some activities as he learns where each animal lives, about signs of new life and it's processes.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Summer Term 2025

Available until July 2025.

Key Stage Two

Map Skills and Orienteering 

This activity is an energetic introduction to orienteering. Pupils take part in a range of activities to build their mapping skills including directional tasks, how to read a key and undertaking a simple orienteering course to develop their map reading confidence. Orienteering activities also help build life skills such as team work, communication, sense of direction and observational skills. A full day workshop allows the pupils to begin to use these skills to develop their own maps and courses.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

There is no Planet B!

The Climate Change emergency is here and very real! Join us as we battle it out to explore key environmental issues that affect County Durham's countryside. It's time to think global act local! Packed with practical hands-on activities that encourage discussion, teamwork and problem solving. Challenges will focus on the impact humans are having on our environment and how we can be part of the solution to allow nature to restore itself. A half day will look at a sample of these issues whereas a full day workshop will explore a wider variety of issues. Let's be part of team 'Save Planet A'!

Location: Wharton and Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Eco- Explorers

Eco systems are all around us. Explore the eco systems and habitats within Hardwick Park. Observe the interaction between plants and animals and how they combine with weather and landscape to form a bubble of life.  Discover, identify and classify mini beasts to learn about the vital role they play in the producer, consumer, decomposer cycle. Debate how some human actions are having an impact on eco-systems through climate change. Focus on Marvellous Meadows, Wild Woodlands or Precious Ponds.

(pond option only available at Hardwick Park)

Location: Wharton and Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Water Warriors

In this workshop, pupils will explore the necessity for healthy and sustainable water systems whilst identifying different water features within Hardwick Park and learning about the nearby river Skerne. They will discover some of the problems facing our waterways from pollution and flooding to erosion and the effect this has on wildlife and their habitats. Practical hands on activities will encourage the children not only to think of the consequences of environmental issues but also to make informed suggestions about ways to manage environmental impact and conserve and protect the landscape around us by becoming the ultimate water warriors.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Victorian Botany

The founder of Wharton Park had only one daughter and she married Charles Darwin' son. Explore the park with us to see the green space the benevolent Wharton family left to the City of Durham and it's people. The park is home to a wide variety of plants thanks to the Victorian era of scientific discovery and 'The Great Plant Hunt'. Develop your botany skills like Charles Darwin through practical activities and learn what hobby botanists got up too. Discover what the Victorians did not yet know about the impact of invasive species on native plants and eco systems, how plants adapt to their environments and the ways in which our understanding has advanced since that era. 

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Park Protectors

Did you know that five of the world's ten key climate change preventing species live in Hardwick Park?! As climate change impacts the entire world, discover those species that are putting up a fight in this ongoing battle for the future of the planet. Both flora and fauna can have super powers! Join us in the fight against climate change and help find the key to protecting the environment.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Team Challenge Day

A day in the park can offer so much. Surrounded by the natural world pupils can take part in a range of games and challenges to unlock the codes, make watertight dens, explore the principles of fire lighting or develop their map skills through orienteering. Engaging the children with new, practical experiences to develop their problem solving, communication and teamwork skills will create a sense of achievement and excitement for learning. This is a flexible package that can be adapted to the needs of your group.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Key Stage One

A Roald Dahl Adventure

In this imaginative and creative workshop children will explore the park with the help of some of Dahl's best known characters. Full of practical activities that encourage imagination, creativity, problem solving and team work. You can choose from a selection of his best known stories so that the session activities best meets the needs of your class.

Location: Hardwick or Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Minibeast Explorers 

Pupils learn about some of the mini-beasts that make their homes in Hardwick Park. They will be introduced to the idea of habitats and eco-systems, take part in a woodland mini-beast hunt and try pond dipping activities. Full day participants will be given an opportunity to expand their knowledge and experience by learning about the important role that mini-beasts play in our eco-systems and how climate change is having an impact .

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Summer in Bloom

Explore, look and wonder at the diversity of nature in full bloom at this time of year. From tiny seeds to brilliant bulbs such a variety of plants can grow. We will discover some of the flora we have here in the park and learn more  about them. Then dig into the story of plants from their life cycle, what helps them grow and the special relationship  between them and the minibeast world.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115 or full day for £193

Secrets Unlocked: A Victorian Mystery

We will take the children on a journey of discovery in this session based on a fictional diary of a young Victorian girl, weaving together real mysterious puzzles of Wharton Park to inspire creative and enquiring minds. Through the clues in the pages of Mary's diary the children will adventure around the park to explore and discover about historical events and a child's perspective in the Victorian era within the locality. They will develop their questioning skills to look at similarities and differences over time as active learners within Mary's story using features within the park. Hands on and creative activities aim to bring the past to life, tapping into children's natural curiosity about the world around them.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Michael Recycle

There once is a place in County Durham, where rubbish was left to grow rotten and slimy...

Help is needed and there is only one person we can count on...

Join us at Wharton Park and help a young superhero called Michael as he teaches people how to look after the environment around them!

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Map it Out!

From the whole universe to the details of one room we can map it out! Together we will navigate our way through directions, human and physical features, simple keys and creating maps.  Look over Durham City and what is around us within Wharton Park to see a sense of scale and perspective. Discover the possibilities for curious minds as we explore the world of maps.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Early Years Foundation Stage

Superworm

Inspired by the story 'Superworm' this workshop provides an opportunity for children to engage with the natural world through a range of different learning experiences. First the children will wiggle and worm their way through a series of challenges set by Superworm himself. They will undertake a mini-beast hunt in the park learning how to identify some of the creatures from the story. Children will discover how special bees and worms and will make their own seed bomb to take home.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Trouble with Dragons

Imagine a world populated by beastly dragons who care nothing for how much they pollute the oceans, chop down the trees, gobble up all the food and use everything up without stopping to think? Using the delightful story by Debi Gliori as a starting point, children will go on a hunt for the terrible dragons, and explore the importance of looking after our environment, sustainability and climate change through challenges, games and creative activities.

Location: Wharton Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

A Pirate's Life for Me

Arghhhh me hearties! Collect your explorer's map and set sail on your pirate journey. Discover pirate facts and  undertake challenges along the way. Become part of the Captain's crew and test your skills in imagination, creative  activities, numbers & patterns and physical challenges. Can you complete our swashbuckling pirate adventure?

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Children listen to the story before taking part in a themed outdoor trail that encourages the children to practise their counting skills. Discover and learn about the life cycle of a butterfly and how special these creatures really are in our environment. Make and create some of nature's patterns with your own butterfly creation before exploring the park to see what other minibeast friends you can find.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

Bog Baby

Inspired by the story Bog Baby, the children will explore the park as they hunt for bog babies, they will participate in pond dipping, creating and construct using natural materials. Key themes that will come out during the practical elements will include looking after the world around us and letting go of the things we love.

Location: Hardwick Park
Cost: 1.5 hours for £115

A full list is available at School workshops at Hardwick and Wharton Park.