Fota Wildlife Park Announces Exciting Educational Weekends for Summer 2024
Today, Fota Wildlife Park announced the return of their family-friendly educational weekends, featuring a variety of fun, interactive experiences and learning-focused stands and activities throughout July and August, based in the newly opened, Education, Conservation and Research Centre.
Visitors to Fota Wildlife Park are invited to attend the themed educational events, which are free with entry. The schedule for this summer’s events is as follows:
Mad Scientist Weekend - 13th & 14th July, 2024
Featuring interactive displays, stands, talks and demonstrations, explore the wonders of science with exhibits from the Tyndall Institute and the Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks with MathsWorks, VEX Robots, and LEGO free building. Visitors will also experience the amazing giant walk-through alimentary canal, exploring the route food takes through our bodies from UCC’s Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. Other exhibitors include the School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences (BEES), Irish Bee Conservation Project and Fota Wildlife Park’s Education team who will engage budding scientists with experiments demonstrating the magic of water, light, and magnetism.
Native Species Weekend - 27th & 28th July, 2024
Celebrate local biodiversity with interactive stands and exhibits from the Cork Nature Network, East Cork Beekeeping Association, the Seal Sanctuary, the Breeding Waders EIP, the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group, Dublin Zoo, Wildlife Rescue Cork, WARPPEd , Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks with their Explorer’s Education Progamme that looks at marine life and their “What’s in a Drop” workshop examining mini beasties in our rivers, and the Irish Bee Conservation Project along with a biofact display from Fota Wildlife Park. This weekend offers an excellent opportunity to learn about the native species of our region and the importance of conservation.
Bug Bonanza Weekend - 17th & 18th August, 2024
For insect enthusiasts, the Bug Bonanza weekend will showcase a variety of rare and interesting invertebrates from around the world. Fota Wildlife Park zoologists and the education team will present talks about the insects in our tropical house and their roles in global biodiversity.
Lynda McSweeney, Head of Education at Fota Wildlife Park, said: “I am delighted to announce our popular public engagement events for summer 2024. These events provide an opportunity to highlight the importance of both biodiversity and the role of STEM in our everyday lives. This year, we’re delighted to showcase our newly opened Education, Conservation and Research Centre, a purpose-built venue that encourages learning at every opportunity. Of course, hosting these events wouldn’t be possible without the assistance of my colleagues in several organisations, our partners have been instrumental in helping us promote science and the wonders of nature to visitors of all ages, and we look forward to engaging with the public over the course of the summer and sharing our enthusiasm and knowledge with them!”
Event Details:
- 13th & 14th July Mad Scientist Weekend
- 27th & 28th July Native Species Weekend
- 17th & 18th August Bug Bonanza Weekend
- Venue: Newly Opened – Education, Conservation, and Research Centre
- Times: 11 am to 4 pm daily
- Admission: Free with entry to Fota Wildlife Park, no need to book.
Image credits: Darragh Kane
