Inspirational Learning
As the new decade kicks off, we are celebrating 5,000 young people making 74 visits to solar farms developed by our management team. Lorna Lyle runs our educational programmes – here she looks back on their success.
Reflecting on the last few years, it is hard to believe that one brief phone call with the Eden CEO planting the seed of an idea has led to 5,000 children visiting solar farms and learning about the most critical issues we face today.
When I was working in schools in inner-city London, I was often shocked by how limited some children’s life experiences were. Many had never seen the Thames, even more had no experience of nature. I thought that if bus transport was free, children would be able to see and do so many more things. So, when I set up Solar Power Education so that the team behind Eden Renewables (Solstice) could allow their solar farms to support schools, I made sure that they provided a top quality educational experience AND provided schools with transport and help planning their visits.
Since starting in 2014 we have now organised for 5,000 students to jump on a bus and use their local solar farm as an outdoor classroom. Their learning has been immense, their enthusiasm and excitement to explore the solar farms palpable.
“Solar power is awesome.....I loved building the circuits!” – Hillside First pupil
“I learnt how strong the sun is and it can move a car on its own.” – Archie
We have taken four year olds and 20 year olds and all ages in between. We have been on solar farms in all weathers and all seasons. We’ve taken eco-groups from small rural schools (5 representatives) and whole year groups from large secondary schools (145).
Everyone is happiest when the sun is shining, the birds are singing and the flowers and insects are out. We do a lot of work studying biodiversity; the children adore capturing insects and identifying them, using binoculars to spot birds and investigating mammal tracks.
“There is lots of nature on the site, we saw a spider making a web. We found out that solar panels can be homes for wildlife.” – Diptford pupil
They all come away learning something and enjoying their visit. Apart from one large group of 17 year olds who arrived in the pouring rain, walked around the site in the pouring rain and left in the pouring rain. They had had better experiences. The exception that proves the rule! We now have a very wet weather plan and will cancel a visit if we really need to.
We’re now in our sixth year working with some of the first solar farms the Eden team developed through Solstice, and some schools arrange their curriculums around our visits. Their school year begins looking at energy use and generation with a visit to the solar farm to bring the topic to life. We start their summer term Design and Technology project with a solar toy design workshop and end it with the winners attending a secondary school to design and race their own solar-powered car.
It’s not just the kids who love it. The adults are often inspired too.
“I know I sound soppy and cheesy but I came home knowing that I had made a positive impact on that class and their learning; it has genuinely been one of the most rewarding days I've had.” – Hannah, consultant & teacher with over 20 years’ experience
We now receive regular enquiries from teachers to organise visits. The topics we cover – from the climate crisis, to renewables, to electric vehicles – are more relevant than ever. We are looking forward to working with the next 5,000 children and offering them the very best educational experience we can.