February half term

Tuesday 17th February- Creature Feature Camera Fun. Take part in National Nest Box Week by building nesting boxes for mice and hedgehogs AND THEN putting cameras inside the boxes so that we can watch what goes on in them throughout the year. If you have any technical skills we need your help- if you haven't, come and learn!

Easter Holidays

Tuesday 7th April- Amphibian alert! Some will be visiting so now's your chance to check out how much you know. Do you know where to find them? Will there be any on the reserve?

Tuesday 14th April- Hard workers needed to build an amphibian hibernacula (look it up!) on the reserve. Wear old clothes and don't expect a cushy time!

Spring Half Term

Tuesday 26th May- Birds, Babies and Binoculars. Check out the nest box cameras for eggs, chicks and baby mice and the bird hides to see what's going on on the ponds. We'll be doing some water birds as well so if you know loads come and help and if you don't, come and find out!

Summer Holidays

Tuesday 28th July- Pond life. Any good at fresh water mini-beast identification? If so, we need your help with the pond dipping and info for the indoor aquarium. If not, come and check it out.

Tuesday 4th August- Think you know the difference between a water vole and a rat? Have we got any at Rainton Meadows (water voles, that is)? How can you tell? Meet our water vole expert who'll take us around the reserve and answer any questions.

Tuesday11th August- Owls are visiting. Not just the ones that live at Rainton Meadows, and we have all 5 native British species on the reserve, but owls from a sanctuary are visiting with their handlers who can answer any questions.

Tuesday 18th August and Tues 25th August- We've left these dates free for you to make your own suggestions for activities. There may be some conservation tasks that need doing on the reserve that you'd like to help with or a particular animal or habitat you'd like to find out more about, or a campaign that you'd like to get involved in (or start). Let us know at the start of the holidays and we'll do out best to help you sort something out.

Tuesday1st September- Meet at Seaham in the seafront car park at the harbor end for some rock pooling and general sea- side fun before school starts again.

October Half Term

Tuesday 27th October- Bat walk with home made lanterns. Bring a jam jar (empty and clean!) or a pumpkin or a swede (or all 3!). We'll provide bat detectors and a bat expert.

Xmas Holidays

Tuesday 22nd December- Help! Still haven't got all your Xmas pressies bought? Wrap up warm for a winter walk and to collect ideas and things for making Christmas pressies and decorations.

Tuesday 29th December- Fat faces in the woods. Help the birds on the reserve to survive the winter but wear old clothes as it'll be a messy job!

Teen Rangers should be a fun place to be so if anyone behaves in a way that upsets you please tell the leader or phone the Watch Helpline on: 08450700065. This line is open between 9am and 5pm on weekdays.