 |
 |
|
Young Naturalists & ECOS Club
For nearly 30 years Culzean Country Park has been running the Young Naturalists’ Club – a popular club for 6-12 year olds organised by the Ranger Naturalist staff.
From small beginnings in 1972 the club now boasts an annual membership of around 200 children. Mainly local children attend the club in winter but in summer numbers are boosted by holidaymakers from throughout the UK and overseas.
Through the winter meetings are held every second Saturday morning from 10.00am until 12.00pm - but, during the July and August, children’s weeks activities take place most mornings. There are also activities during the school holidays.
For Children's Week Events please go to the 'Events' page.
The aim of the club is to create an interest and awareness in wildlife and the countryside through fun activities. Our meetings are usually on a wildlife theme relevant to the time of year and involve games, trails, quizzes, and crafts whether the children are on the beach, at the ponds, or in the woods. Historical theme and fun days add to the range of subjects the club gets involved in.
Groups are led by staff from the Ranger Service or by volunteer leaders. Younger children (the Tadpoles) go in smaller groups (eight or less) whilst for older children the group size rarely exceeds 12.
Each year we have a “Young Naturalist of the Year” and a “Tadpole of the Year” award. Children are assessed on behaviour, interest, regular attendance and project work and points awarded accordingly. Usually the standard is so high that several members will also receive certificates of merit having just missed the coveted award.
To find out more details about the YNC please contact the Ranger Service. Tel: 01655 884400
YNC Competition
This year we asked members of the YNC to send us their favourite photographs of wildlife in Britain. We had a great response and were very impressed with the quality as you can see from a selection of the entries below. Choosing the winning images was difficult but in the end the judges decided the Hummingbird Hawkmoth photo by Eve and Connor Gibson warranted first prize, with Swallows in the Nest by Kerr Maxwell second prize and Swan Pond Cygnet by Iona and Ailsa Cook third. Congratulations to the winners and thank you to all those who took part.
YNC Projects
Throughout the year members of the YNC bring in projects related to wildlife and the environment. With each project the children gain a YNC patch. From pictures, collages and models to poetry and stories we are always amazed at the creativity and time spent on them.
Displayed below are some of the best projects we have recieved lately. We will regularly update the images to include new projects brought in.
|
|
YNC Competition
|
|
|
First Prize
Hummingbird Hawk Moth
Eve and Connor Gibson |
Second Prize
Swallows
Kerr Maxwell |
Third Prize
Cygnet
Iona and Ailsa Cook |
|
|
|
Bee on Flower
Holly Maxwell |
Foxglove
Ailsa Page |
Pheasant
Jonathan Tennant |
|
|
|
Raspberry
Gregor Ryan |
Red Kite
Callum Smith |
Red Squirrel
Findlay Tennant |
|
|
|
Red Deer
Joanna Kennedy |
Sheep
Sophie Lawrie |
Swan
Callum Smith |
|
|
|
Swan Lake
Skye Cooper |
Toad
Dylan Powell |
Tulips
Sophie Lawrie |
| |
|
|
| |
Seagulls
Ruairidh Macleod |
|
YNC Projects
|
|
|
Ants Under Log
Euan McBride |
Basking Shark
Fiona Sykes |
Birdwatch
Ailsa Page |
|
|
|
Butterfly
Emily Gibson |
Culzean Castle
Iona Cook |
Deer
Grania Archbold |
|
|
|
Deer
Natasha |
Dinosaur
Alice |
Dinosaur
Zoe Inglis |
|
|
|
Dinosaurs
Luke Watson |
Farmyard
Jack McWhirter |
Flowers
Paige |
|
|
|
Hedgehog
Douglas Kenyon |
Insects
Hannah |
Leaves
Lewis |
|
|
|
Minibeasts
Eilidh Andrew |
Minibeasts
Jonathan Tennant |
Trees and Bird
Morven Hubbard |
|
|
|
Wildlife Collage
Olivia McWhirter |
Wildlife
Isla |
Woodland Scene
Beth Cook |
|
|
|
YNC
Iona Cook |
|
|
|
|
|
|
^ Back to Top
^ |
