Killarney National Park Education centre delivers the Level 5 Ecology and Practical Fieldwork Skills course each year. Read on to hear first hand from three of last years students on their experiences studying in Killarney national park, with an introduction to the course from lecturer Chris Barron.
The Level 5 Ecology & Practical Fieldwork Skills course is a unique full-time course which has been being delivered, since last Autumn at Killarney National Park Education Centre, as part of the Outdoor Campus of Kerry College along with Cappanalea (National Centre for Outdoor Education & Training) through Kerry Education & Training Board (ETB). The Education Centre is run under a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Kerry ETB and the National Parks & Wildlife Service (NPWS).
Many of the students on the course feel that they have been privileged to be based in the National Park having such a variety of habitats and species on hand to be able to study and to use as examples in their lectures and in many of their practical exercises.
The Education Centre is ideally located in the Knockreer Demesne with much of the learning taking place in the woodlands and grasslands close by or in the river Deenagh or Lough Leane. The students have also been able to use a polytunnel in Muckross to practice Permaculture and to do parts of their Plant Identification and Plant Science modules there. Some elements of the course such as “Team Building” & “Mountain Skills” were delivered at Cappanalea or with the staff coming out to the National Park to deliver them.
The course is very much a “hands-on” course with an emphasis on many of the practical skills necessary for anyone who might be pursuing a career in an ecologically related field. Some of the modules included in the course are; Plant Identification and Use, Ecological Field Methods, Biological Diversity, Sustainable Water Management, Biology, Permaculture Design and Plant Science.
Introduction written by Chris Barron
Experiences from student ecologists with Killarney National Park Education Centre
I applied for the Ecology & Practical Fieldwork Skills course in 2020, after moving back to my hometown of Killarney. I have spent the majority of my 20’s working in the tourism industry, and decided it was time to upskill, and pursue my passions and interests.
Having grown up in Killarney, I spent a lot of my childhood exploring the National Park, and marvelling at the amazing landscape and biodiversity that was on my doorstep. This passion for nature has always been a prominent feature in my life, and it has inspired me to involve myself in many outdoor pursuits, as well as a number of voluntary conservation projects over the years.
I consider myself a very practical person, and because of this I was nervous at the thought of going back to education. I am happiest in the outdoors so I really couldn’t believe my luck when I saw a course advertised in the heart of the national park. I applied straight away and was lucky to secure myself a place on it.
From the very first day of the course, I knew it was going to be amazing. It’s based at Knockreer house, which is the Killarney National Park Education Centre. It’s situated within the park, surrounded by beautiful gardens, woodlands, lakes and sweeping mountain views. You really couldn’t find a more idyllic place to immerse yourself in a course such as this!
The course itself covers a wide range of topics and is the perfect balance of practical and theory. We have had some fantastic days in the outdoors, conducting surveys for the Practical Fieldwork Skills and our Biodiversity modules. There are also some more theory-based modules such as Biology and Plant Science. It’s really fascinating to study in detail the science behind something as simple as a tree, flower or the cell. One of my favourite parts of the course was carrying out a garden design project for our Permaculture module, which involved planting a variety of vegetables, herbs and fruit trees. There are also a number of other useful topics covered that will stand us in good stead for the future, these range from team working to navigation and first aid.
I was very disappointed when the course went online due to covid restrictions and was particularly worried that I would find learning off my computer a challenge. Luckily, we have a great team of tutors that went above and beyond to make sure we were getting everything possible from the course. We were supplied with our own box of equipment, including microscopes, identification books and survey tools. This made a huge difference to online learning, as it meant we could still get outside to conduct different ecological projects, such as hedgerow studies and invertebrate surveys. It was amazing when we were finally able to get back on site, especially as it meant we could partake in work experience, which involved many exciting things such as bat surveys and badger watching. We have also had some great classes in microbiology, with a chance to use the microscopes and conduct experiments. It’s been a great introduction to learning important skills is all areas of ecology and fieldwork studies.
I am very excited to see where this course will take me. I would love the opportunity to have a career that makes a positive impact on the world I live in. At the moment, I am looking into eco-tourism. I am constantly blown away by the amazing place that I live in, and the abundance of incredible flora and fauna that shape Killarney National Park. It has also inspired me to go onto further education, to upskill, and continue my learning. There are a whole range of exciting courses out there, one including the Wildlife Biology course in Tralee, which looks brilliant. Whatever path I take, I would love to be able to share my passion for nature with other people, in a way that helps educate them to the importance of respecting, protecting and preserving it.
Written by Jasmine Eldred
Having spent the last 39 weeks studying and training as aspiring ecologist, I must admit as I near the end and take reflection ~ this course has changed my life. It has done so by reintroducing me to the natural world in an intimate and often scientific way. Truth be told, we can all get caught up in the rush of life and fail to notice the numerous changes around us. Yet nature and the spectrum of life within it, responds to seasonal and often daily changes. The future of which is set to change as our social, economic and political systems respond to climate change and biodiversity loss.
The modules within the course provide a well-rounded education in natural systems such as habitats and ecosystems, legislation such as the National Biodiversity Action Plan (NBAP) and the Water Framework Directive (WFD), field work such as mammal trapping and species surveying, lab analysis such as examining different bacteria agents, permaculture design teaching you how to live with nature, rather than against it and team work, which promises to teach you about yourself and a touch of team working phycology. Orientation towards recognition of future personal goals in regard to career and further education possibilities is greatly assisted and catered for through the work experience module. All of these individual modules combine to give the student a strong foundational springboard from which many a career pathway opens up.
Truly, ecology and its studies are an academic undertaking. One, which would expand any person’s capacity to combine practical and theoretical aspects of their personality and mentality. I can certainly say I am thrilled to have done this course and to be in a place of appreciative enhanced perception of the natural world and indeed human activities and actions upon it.
For those tempted to explore a career or even a greater clarity on how the natural world works and the policies for management of our natural resources, this is a course which comes highly recommended.
Personally, I wish to take this education coupled with certification and move forwards towards a career in environmental education. Inspired both by the perseverance of the lecturers at the education centre and the sheer enjoyment of teaching others of the natural world’s workings. I will continue to learn this lifelong education, whilst stepping into teaching others of biodiversity and the natural systems which we too can (and must) understand in order to truly be interested in conserving.
Written by Mary Traynor
I started Ecology and Practical Field Methods in November 2020 in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic. I always had an interest in nature but was not aware of the work of Ecologists until I completed a Plant Identification Module in 2016 while doing an Organic Horticulture course. This module gave me a taste for getting down to the nuts and bolts (so to speak) of nature. When I saw an advert on Facebook for the Ecology course detailing the range of subjects and its location in the National Park, I knew I had to apply. Eight months and a Level 5 lockdown later, I can safely say it was one of the best decisions I have ever made.
The staff are really knowledgeable in their chosen fields but are also extremely good at transferring that knowledge to the group. The group is very diverse, in age and background. We have all been made feel welcome and encouraged at all times. The subjects themselves have been a revelation. Huge amount of practical skills from trapping animals and insects, to identifying plants, mammals, birds, insects, fungi and bacteria, to understanding their place (and ours) in the world.
This course has it all and having it taught in the Killarney National Park, the most beautiful classroom in the world, is the icing on the cake.
Written By Roibeard O'Bogail
