ADULT CONTINUING EDUCATION
Sea Synergy offers an Adult Continuing Education module through UCC every year for adults wishing to learn about Irish Marine Wildlife and Heritage. This two-day course is an immersive look at how Irish history has been shaped by the sea and the impact that it and the creatures living in it still affect our lives today. The course finishes off with an optional boat trip around UNESCO World Heritage Site Skellig Michael. Each year brings a new treat – in 2019 participants were lucky enough to see eleven basking sharks on their trip around the Skelligs!
IVERAGH LEARNING LANDSCAPES
Iveragh Learning Landscapes (IVLL) is an annual outdoor education festival bringing together local, national and international expertise on place based learning and nature connection. The weekend features keynote speakers, workshops and guided trips all in the beautiful settings of Waterville and Caherdaniel.
It occurs from Friday to Monday in October, the weekend is subject to change based on the tides each year. See below more information about our IVLL festival this year.
Where: Waterville & Caherdaniel, Co. Kerry, Ireland
Waterville and Caherdaniel are situated in SW Ireland on the beautiful Iveragh Peninsula, villages on the famous Ring of Kerry. Waterville (An Coireán) is a small coastal village nestled between Lough Currane and the Atlantic Ocean. It is famous for its angling, golf links and connection to Charlie Chaplin. Caherdaniel is the next village anticlockwise on the Ring of Kerry and Wild Atlantic Way. It sits on the shores of Derrynane Bay, an area famous for Derrynane House, the home of ‘Liberator’ Daniel O’Connell. The entire area is steeped in history, culture and outstanding natural beauty.
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Anyone is welcome to attend! All you need is an interest in place-based learning or just a love of exploring the natural environment!
The event last year attracted people from all walks of life; school teachers, university lecturers, parents, outdoor and environmental educators, artists, scientists, heritage specialists, farmers, students, therapists, and ecotourism providers.
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Iveragh Learning Landscapes is a two-day event bringing together local, national and international expertise on place-based learning, outdoor education, nature connection and heritage. The weekend will feature keynote speakers, workshops and guided trips all in the beautiful settings of Waterville and Caherdaniel.
The event will begin on the Friday evening with registration and an opening speech followed by Ted-X style talks from leading educators in place-based learning. The evening will continue with a guided walk to see ancient rock art and a get together at the famous local pub – the Blind Piper.
You will be entitled to attend 3 workshops, two on Saturday and one Sunday, from a choice of facilitators and topics. A communal dinner, music session and stargazing in Kerry’s gold tier dark sky reserve will see you enjoying Saturday evening and meeting new people. Following Sunday’s workshop you will be invited to provide feedback whilst taking time to reflect on your learning experience and immersion in the beautiful nature Kerry has to offer. The event is rounded off with a guided trip to the spectacular Church Island in picturesque Lough Currane, an historic 12th Century Romanesque style monastery. This year we will also have Stand-Up Paddle and Kayaking on beautiful Lough Currane as a highlight for all attendees.
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The event is bringing together local, national and international expertise on place based learning and nature connection. There will be plenty of opportunity to network with people from varying backgrounds and interests from whom you will learn a great deal alongside the workshop facilitators.
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- gain knowledge, tools and experience to educate others
- watch and learn from leading specialists in place based learning
- immerse yourself in, and explore the stunning nature of south west Kerry
- make learning relevant and engaging
- nurture your creativity and imagination
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€55 Early Bird through August
€110 Early Bird family ticket through August
€80 standard fee from 1st September
€160 standard fee family ticket (2 Adults & 2 Children under 16) – look for workshops with the family friendly logo
SKELLIG COAST ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE LEARNING EXPERIENCE
Spend a week in beautiful South West Ireland on the Skellig Coast and Wild Atlantic Way to discover how to become a citizen scientist and contribute positively to the environment! Learn from local research & education experts who are marine biologists and local guides with a combined experience of teaching in the outdoors for over 30 years. A mixture of land based and marine research and education techniques will be used inclusive of biodiversity surveys, marine mammal watches, coastal litter surveys, outdoors (mostly) and classroom based. Discover meaningful ways of getting involved in local research that contributes to global science projects.
CITIZEN SCIENCE
Throughout the year, Sea Synergy co-hosts a number of training programmes aimed at promoting public participation in scientific research. Through collaboration with professional scientists and scientific institutions, you can become a Citizen Scientist and carry out independent data collection, research, rescue, and more. The information collected by Citizen Scientists is invaluable to the scientific community and to top it all off, it’s really fun to do! To learn more about the programmes on offer, click the links below! Follow us on social media for training days and new programmes.
SOME ANIMALS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PROGRAMS
INTRODUCTION TO MARINE HERITAGE AND WILDLIFE ACCREDITED COURSE WITH UCC
This course is an introduction to Ireland’s rich marine heritage and sea life. The Wild Atlantic Way is fast becoming one of the world’s most iconic tourist attractions, yet have you thought about what lies beneath the waves? Learn about some of the whales and dolphins that make Ireland one of the top viewing places for these amazing creatures! Discover coastal biodiversity and conduct a citizen science survey of a local shoreline. Take a boat trip to survey for whales and dolphins (weather permitting). Learn about our ancestors’ inherent connection with the coast and why we still are drawn to it. Explore marine ecotourism opportunities and coastal conservation initiatives. This is a great course for anyone interested in learning more about Irelands Ocean, marine life and our connection with it.
Learn more here!