A Wild Day Out: Baytree Students Explore Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm

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At the beginning of March, students from both Baytree school sites in Weston-Super-Mare and Clevedon enjoyed an unforgettable day of outdoor learning and hands‑on experiences during their visit to Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm. Upon arrival, we were warmly welcomed by Paula and her fantastic team, who introduced the students to the wide range of activities we would be undertaking throughout the day. Afterwards, we headed straight to the activity area where the fun began, with students getting stuck into practical, nature‑focused sessions such as building bug hotels to support local wildlife, weaving willow into natural structures, making edible enrichment containers for the goats, and quietly bird‑watching around the site. These activities gave the students first‑hand experience of just a few of the many things the team do to support both the natural environment and the animals at Noah’s Ark, and it was fantastic to see students engaging so enthusiastically with each task.

Before lunch, the group made the most of some well‑deserved free time in the soft play area, followed by a delicious meal provided by the Noah’s Ark team. After eating, the students had the opportunity to feed the goats using the enrichment structures they had made earlier in the day. One of the highlights of the afternoon was the tractor ride around the park, which offered a unique behind‑the‑scenes view of the elephant enclosure and an insight into the many different jobs involved in running a zoo, including driving past a very large pile of all the animals’ various types of poo!

The visit wrapped up with a guided tour of the zoo, giving students the chance to learn more about the different animals and the specialist staff who care for them, and ended on a high note with the unforgettable experience of feeding prairie dogs. It was a brilliant day full of learning and new experiences, and students left with a deeper understanding of the roles within a zoo and the fascinating animals who call Noah’s Ark home. A huge thank you to Paula and the whole team at Noah’s Ark and well done to all the Baytree students for their fantastic engagement, enthusiasm, and curiosity throughout the day.

“I have had nothing but praise for the visit! The learners loved it and all the staff said the same, that it was well organised, appropriate an meaningful for our lovely learners.

We even had a parent come into school to say that their child was buzzing when they went home.

Not only that, but something that you would not have been aware of is that 2 of the learners find this type of visit overwhelming but managed to stay the whole time, so credit to you.

So, a huge thankyou and we are looking forward to the next visit very much.”