4 days ago
Cork's Fota Wildlife Park hosts free educational family weekends this summer
The three weekends will focus on science, native species and insect life, and take place at the Education, Conservation and Research Centre (ECRC) in Fota.
This year's event kicks off this weekend – July 12 and 13 – with the Wild Science Weekend, which features a range of interactive displays, talks and demonstrations designed to make science topics accessible to all ages.
Exhibitors include the Tyndall Institute, Irish Bee Conservation Project and The Lifetime Lab @ Old Cork Waterworks, presenting hands-on activities such as MathsWorks and VEX Robotics.
Participants will walk through a giant model of the human digestive system, which was created by University College Cork (UCC)'s Alimentary Pharmabiotic Centre. While walking though the digestive system, participants will get a detailed view showcasing how food is transported through the body.
Later in July, the Native Species Weekend is the attraction and will focus on Ireland's rich biodiversity with a series of interactive exhibits and biofacts.
Fota's education team will be joined by several organisations, including Dublin Zoo, Nature Network Ireland, Irish Bee Conservation Project and Atlantic Technological University (ATU), Galway, among others.
Native Species Weekend will take place on July 26 and 27.
August will see the return of the Bug Bonanza Weekend, which will take place on August 16 and 17.
While the full list of exhibitors is yet to be confirmed, the weekend will focus on invertebrate biodiversity, including talks and displays on insect life both local and exotic.
Aileen Tennant, the director of Fota Wildlife Park said the conservation charity, wants to spark curiosity while connecting visitors with science and nature.
'These weekends give families a chance to explore complex ideas in a hands-on, accessible way, with the help of expert partners from across science, academic and conservation fields.
'Fota Wildlife Park protects endangered species through dedicated conservation efforts and educates the public about the importance of biodiversity.
'As a living classroom, through initiatives like these interactive educational weekends, Fota Wildlife Park aims to raise awareness of endangered species, foster a culture of conservation, and inspire every visitor to become a lifelong guardian of the natural world,' she said.
The educational weekend events will run from 11am to 4pm each day, and no booking is required as it operates a walk-in only system.
All activities are included in the price of entry to Fota Wildlife Park and face painting will also be available, free of charge, from 12pm to 2:45pm on July 12 and 13 at the ECRC.
Due to popular demand, the Panoramic Wheel will remain on site at Fota Wildlife Park throughout the summer months. This optional experience is priced from €5 per person and tickets can be purchased separately at the dedicated booth.
Fota Wildlife Park is open daily from 9:30am and online booking is available via
