Outdoor Classroom Day 2026, Shell Bay, Studland – 21 May

This year’s event was organised and hosted by Dorset Coast Forum and National Trust Studland. Designed to inspire and engage, the day offered schools a range of outdoor, interactive sessions, giving pupils the chance to explore and learn about their local coastline in a fun, hands-on environment.

In total, 120 pupils from eight schools enjoyed a fantastic day on the beach at the beautiful Shell Bay, taking part in 14 different educational and activity-based sessions. The event provided a unique opportunity for children to connect with the coastal environment while learning through play.

Blessed with sunshine throughout, the day was a great success and would not have been possible without the support of the many schools and organisations involved. A huge thank you to everyone who contributed their time, energy and expertise.

Activities on the day

We were delighted to offer the following interactive activities for schools to take part in during the day:

• Dorset Coast Forum– Flood tank demonstration: coastal defences
• South West Flood & Coastal – Which type of sand makes the best castle
• Ocean Conservation Trust – Why seagrass is so important?
• Suttles Projects – Remote-controlled diggers
• Andrew Simpson Centres – Habitat Match and Big on Biodiversity
• Litter Free Dorset – Nurdle Hunt
• Dorset Heaths Partnership – Be a Heathland Hot-Shot and The Great Nightjar Sneak and Seek
• National Trust Purbeck – Exploring Studland Bay’s seagrass beds
• RNLI – Water safety: spot the danger
• BCP Council Waste & Recycling – Recycling run-around and sand sorting
• Bird & Recreation Initiative (BARI)  – Follow Gilbert the Godwit’s Great Migration
• Leeson House Field Studies Centre – Ammonite art using natural beach materials
• Dorset Flora Group – Plant biology treasure hunt
  

We had a fantastic time celebrating #OutdoorClassroomDay2025 at Baiter Park in Poole in May 2025!

The event brought together 166 enthusiastic pupils from 7 local schools, accompanied by 26  school staff, for time out of the classroom packed with over 15 fun and educational STEAM activities focused on our incredible coastline and its wildlife.

Here are some of activities that took place:

• • • Designing a Beach of Dreams flag and creating waves using the flood tank with Dorset Coast Forum
    • Remote controlled diggers and dumper tracks with Knights Brown
    • Surveyor Skills Challenge, dig and discover with Dalcour Maclaren
    • Sand particle sieving and choose your favourite type of beach sand with South West Flood & Coastal
    • Make a nutrient ball with Ocean Conservation Trust
    • Test the water pH and pebble pond fishing with Andrew Simpson Centres
    • Gilbert the Godwit migration with BARI
    • Heathland magnetic games and identifying reptiles with the Dorset Heaths Partnership
    • Ultimate Recycling game with Litter Free Dorset
    • Sustainable Transport Game with BCP Council

A huge thanks to all the schools and organisations who took part and got involved. The weather was perfect, the pupils were engaged and well  behaved, and the energy and enthusiasm from all the activity leaders made it a truly memorable experience. We loved seeing so much joy, curiosity, and learning in action!

• • • • • • Bayside Academy
          • Bishop Aldhelm’s Primary
          • Canford Heath Junior School
          • Manorside Academy
          • St Joseph’s RC Primary
          • Talbot Primary
          • Longspree Academy

Here are some brilliant Pledges for the Ocean made by students at Outdoor Classroom Day in May.