teddy bear sitting in a small shelter made of sticks and twigs at the base of a tree

Bear hunt

Bear Hunt 
Go on an exciting outdoor adventure through the forest following the bear’s footprints, splish splashing in the stream and squelch squerching in the mud. Find the Bear and make your own cave using natural materials. 
After lunch, back at the Centre, meet and handle our animals including giant African snails, stick insects, hissing cockroaches, giant millipedes, corn snake and fire salamanders.

Specific learning objectives

  • To have the confidence to try at least one new experience.
  • To be able to tell an adult about something have seen or touched in the forest.
  • To learn to care for and respect animals.

Nature Explorers
Your day will start with an adventure in Epping Forest, climbing over logs and paddling in a stream. Activities in the forest may include looking for small animals under the leaves or making rainbow palettes from natural materials. 
After lunch, back at the Centre, meet and handle the classroom animals including giant African snails, stick insects, giant millipedes and fire salamanders.

Specific learning objectives

  • To have the confidence to try at least one new experience.
  • To be able to tell an adult about something they have seen or touched on their trip using the correct vocabulary.
  • To learn to care for and respect natural habitats and animals.

Early Learning Goal links

Communication and language
Children have opportunities to experience a rich language environment to develop their confidence and skills in expressing themselves and to speak and listen in a range of situations.

Physical development
Provide opportunities for young children to be active and interactive and to develop their coordination, control, and movement.

Personal, social and emotional development
Help children to develop a positive sense of themselves, and others to form positive relationships and develop respect for others. To develop social skills, learn how to manage their feelings, understand appropriate behaviour in groups and to have confidence in their own abilities.

Understanding the world
Guiding children to make sense of their physical world through opportunities to explore, observe and find out about places and the environment.

Expressive arts and design 
Enable children to explore and play with a wide range of media and materials, as well as providing opportunities and encouragement for sharing their thoughts and ideas.