BOGS AND WILDLIFE INFORMATION GUIDES

Applications with CV by the 16 May 2005


The Irish Peatland Conservation Council and KELT are seeking expressions of interest from potential candidates to join a panel of Information Guides being formed to deliver a lifestyles education programme focusing on bogs and the environment at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare. The programme is aimed at primary and post primary school students, the general public and special interest groups. The programme will be skills-based and will involve outdoor studies in the environment of the bogs, woodlands and wetlands of the Bog of Allen Area.

Applicants should have an interest in bogs, the environment and gardening and must be able to communicate effectively with young people and adults. A two week training programme will be given by experts in the Irish Peatland Conservation Council to successful candidates. Information Guides will work from the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and will need to be available during the months of June to October 2005, on weekdays and occasionally at weekends.

If you are interested in joining the panel, please forward a letter outlining your interest together with your Curriculum Vitae to:

Dr Catherine O'Connell, Irish Peatland Conservation Council, Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare by 16th May 2005.

Further information about the IPCC's Education programme at www.ipcc.ie

IPCC and KELT acknowledge the support of the LEADER PLUS programme which is
funded by the Irish Government and part-financed by the European Union under
the National Development Plan, 2000-2006.

FURTHER INFORMATION

A 60 hour training programme for Information Guides will focus on the natural and built environment of County Kildare including woodlands, peatlands and archaeological sites and the sustainable use and care of this heritage. The course will be given in June by IPCC staff at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre. The programme will include work shops, field trips, work experience evaluations and skills knowledge.

The course content will include: introduction, earth education, ecology of bogs, cutaway bogs field studies, gardening audit, garden waste recycling, composting, pond dipping, woodland invertebrates and an archeological site field trip.

An active learning approach will be adopted and will include, slide shows, video work shops, practical work experience and evaluations, guiding skills, use of keys, educational portfolio creation and field studies methodologies.

The result would be a panel of 10 trained guides who would have the skills,
confidence and resources they need to deliver an environmental awareness
programme on Caring for Kildare's Environment from June to October 2005 to
visitors to the Bog of Allen Nature Centre.

INFORMATION GUIDES PAYMENTS

Information Guides will be paid on a monthy basis according to the number of
hours they have worked. The rate per hour will be €15. Information Guides will be self employed contractors and must take care of their own tax liability. Claim forms will be issued by IPCC to Information Guides for completion.

EDUCATION AND AWARENESS PROGRAMME OUTLINE

IPCC market a number of education programmes to schools and special interest
groups. Bookings are received at the Bog of Allen Nature Centre and groups arrive to the centre to take part in the programme. Schools generally attend the centre from 10am until 1pm or 2pm in the afternoon. Special Interest Group hours might vary depending on the distance they are travelling to the centre. Occasionally IPCC offers guided tours of our centre at weekends or in summer months in the early evening.

Guides will be required to deliver the following range of programmes at the
Bog of Allen Nature Centre:

• Bog of Allen Nature Centre Exhibitions (2 hours)
• Junior Cert Science Eoclogy of Bogs (4 hours)
• Leaving Cert Biology Ecology of Bogs (5 hours)
• Leaving Cert Geography Field Course – the effects of Turf Cutting on Bogs (5 hours)
• All About Compost DIY Course (3 hours)
• Primary Science School Programme (3 hours)
• Bog Nature Walk (2 hours)
• FlyTraps Garden of Insect-Eating Plants (2 hours)
  
  

SUCCESSFUL CANDIDATE
Information Guides should have excellent inter-personal, teaching and organisational skills and a proven record to deliver results.

Irish Peatland Conservation Council
Bog of Allen Nature Centre, Lullymore, Rathangan, Co. Kildare, Ireland
Tel 045-860133 Fax: 045-860481

www.ipcc.ie

bogs@ipcc.ie

Action for Bogs & Wildlife