ABOUT US

Welcome to Kippure Environmental Education where we offer a range of Environmental Education Field Study Courses to facilitate the Department of Education Curricula.

A huge diversity of habitats are located within the grounds of the estate, all of which are readily and safely accessible.

For example, an extensive Woodland habitat comprising of Native Oakland, Pinewood, Commercial and Native Regenerating Woodland (oak & birch).

A marvellous Freshwater habitat, the estate forms part of the valley source of the river Liffey in typical granite landscape. The Liffey, in its youthful stage, and three of its tributaries. The Cransillagh, Srahoe and Athdown Brooks flow though the estate.

The estate also contains internationally important areas of blanket and raised bog, heath and upland grassland.

Furthermore, the estate is located on the Athdown Moraine deposited during the last glaciation and there is ample evidence of glacio-fluvial deposition.

Our Courses

Our courses have been carefully designed to facilitate the Department of Education Curricula and are given by experienced instructors qualified in a range of environmental sciences.

Leaving Certificate Geography- River Study
This course has been designed to facilitate the new "Geographical Investigation", a compulsory element of the geography syllabus.

A comparative field study of the erosive processes of river Liffey and one of its tributaries the Cransillagh Brook involves:

• Measuring River Velocity
• Identifying Stream Orders
• Sketching the Valley Profile
• Cross-section of the river
• Identifying features of the river valley
• Calculating the Discharge of the river
• Bedload Analysis

Leaving Certificate Ecology- Scientific Study of an Ecosystem
This course has been designed to facilitate the Ecology element of the biology syllabus.
A scientific field study of the either the Oakwood, Bogland or Freshwater Ecosystem involves:

• Mapping the Study Area
• Identifying the importance of conservation in the ecosystem
• Carrying out Vegetation, Invertebrate & Vertebrate Surveys
   • Different surveying techniques
   • Simple keys for identification
   • Competition & Adaptations
• Identifying a Food Web
   • Primary, Decomposers, Herbivores, Carnivores
• Identifying factors that effect the ecosystem
   • Environmental- Biotic & Abiotic
   • Edaphic
   • Climatic

Junior Certificate Science- Scientific Study of an Ecosystem
This course is designed to facilitate the Course Work B "Additional Student Investigations" element of the syllabus. The course consists of a suitably modified version of the Leaving Certificate Ecology Course outlined above. Teachers can choose between the Oakwood, Bogland or Freshwater Ecosystem.

Junior Certificate Geography- River Study
Fieldwork has become an integral part of the geography syllabus. This course consists of a suitably modified version of the Leaving Certificate Geography Course outlined above.

Transition Year Environmental Studies- Ecology & Geography Study
This course has been designed to develop general, technical and academic knowledge awareness and skills. It consists of a suitably modified version of the ecology & geography course outlined above.

For each course students will be provided with the necessary worksheets. Following the field study part of the course students will return to a classroom where results will be correlated, further analysis of the findings, & class discussions will take place. Instructors will ensure that on completion of the course every student has a clear understanding of the areas covered and how to format them into a report or apply them to the appropriate exam questions.

* We will our best try to facilitate any particular requests or areas of interest.

Rates:
€25 per student
We cater for a minimum of 20 students with a maximum of 45.
For insurance purposes it is necessary that you bring at least one authorised adult supervisor per 10 students.

New Primary Schools and Youth Group Courses coming soon.

For bookings please CONTACT US.