Opening Times

Open all Year, including weekends

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

The Dale Fort has a broad range of environments local to the Centre. Sheltered rocky shores are just a five minute walk from the work rooms such that a complete field course could be run without wasting any time in travel and making the most of every day. Meadows and different woodlands are close by as are streams, a pond and superb sediment shores. A nearby saltmarsh provides a fine example of adaptations and plant succession.
Pembrokeshire is at the end of the M4 motorway whilst by train from London, Milford Haven is a nearby station. Our very experienced tutors specialise in making outdoor learning engaging and fun, whilst being trained to link sessions to the National Curriculum. GCSE and A-level investigations are tailored to the specification of your group. If you want more information about the different fieldwork options we offer please visit our website.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

We offer sessions which link closely to the science and geography curriculum, as well as covering key numeracy, literacy and ICT skills. PSHE can also be incorporated into our teambuilding activities.

What are the activities?

We offer all aspects of the marine environment including sheltered and exposed rocky shores, saltmarsh ecology and succession, sand dunes and seabird island conservation (Skomer). Also a super estuary for seine netting fish and crabs. Woodland and freshwater studies are also used to help illustrate the ecology of populations and communities. Local towns are used for tourism, rebranding places and urban studies.

What is the age range of the activities?

We run courses for Universities, AS and A2 students, IB, GSCE groups (including Controlled Assessment courses), as well as Key Stage 3 and 2 residential courses. During the year we also have a range of professional courses for adults on various aspects of the marine environment.

Sample programme of the activities:

Visit our website for examples of different programmes for different age groups. www.field-studies-council.org/dalefort/outdoorclassroom.aspx
Or please contact us for a sample programme relevant to your needs.

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

We provide all the handouts and resources needed to support each fieldwork trip. We ask groups to bring their own stationary and paper.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

Our minimum group size is 10 (although we do match schools up when they have very small numbers) and we offer a free staff place for every 12 students. Maximum: 140

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

All our Risk Assessment Procedures are available online to teachers and parents.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

Any group leaders are welcome at the centre, and we can arrange a Centre tour on a date which suits you, please contact us to arrange a time. A free night’s accommodation is offered to make this an easy visit.

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

We provide breakfast, pack lunches and dinner for all residential groups staying at the centre. We regularly cater for students with different dietary requirements. A variety of drinks are available at all times and a small selection of cake and fruit. There is a shop, with restricted opening times, when sweets, snacks and other drinks are available.

Is specific clothing required?

We can lend students waterproofs and wellies, if they need them.

Do you have first aid on site?

All our duty staff and tutors are first aid trained.

Additional information.

As a marine centre we have a Rigid Inflatable Boat which is used with students to trawl for plankton as part of their studies. It takes 7 students at a time.