Dynamic Fun In The Park
The summer club at Edinburgh’s science centre combines expert staff and fascinating wildlife
DYNAMIC EARTH is great at exploring the big stuff – the distant galaxies, the deepest oceans, the shrinking ice caps, the dancing Aurora Borealis, all the science and spectacle that underpins our place in the universe.
But there’s another dynamic earth right beneath our noses. And that’s where the venue’s Summer Outdoor Club comes in.
Every summer in the school holidays, the Edinburgh science centre throws open its doors and invites budding David Attenboroughs to roll up their sleeves and get to know the world on their doorsteps a little better.
Well, it’s not every attraction that is lucky enough to have Holyrood Park for a back yard. And there can be few other places that make learning feel like so much fun.
The Dynamic Earth Summer Outdoor Club is open to children aged seven to 12. Participants get to spend a week exploring the natural environment in the heart of the city through a packed programme of activities.
By the end of the week, they’ll be pretty much guaranteed to have worn themselves out, sampling everything from bug hunting and den building to orienteering and weather forecasting – all of it out in the clean, fresh air, far away from TV screens and tablets.
It sounds a lot like the wholesome summer holidays of old, with a good deal of learning thrown in. And it all adds up to a week well-spent, says Dynamic Earth’s Conor Ellis.
“The Summer Outdoor Club is a fantastic opportunity to connect young people with nature and the natural world,” he says.
“People know Dynamic Earth as Edinburgh’s science centre and planetarium, but we’re right next door to Holyrood Park, which gives us this great outdoor resource, too.
“It puts us in a unique position, compared to Scotland’s other science centres, and it’s really nice to be able to take people out to explore the natural world on our doorstep.”
The Summer Outdoor Club is held over four weeks, with spaces for 30 children each week.
The 2023 programme will run from Monday, July 10, to Friday, August 4, at a cost of £200 per child.
Each day will have a different theme, exploring ideas around environmental science and sustainability through a series of fun activities.
One day kids might be finding out about satellites, or the work of the Holyrood Park Ranger Service. The next they could be learning how to take action to protect the
planet, or picking up tips on wildlife spotting by following the tracks and trails left by the creatures that inhabit Holyrood Park.
Maybe they’ll be cloud spotting and trying their hand at being weather presenters. Or perhaps they’ll be spotlighting their creative sides through arts and crafts, or developing their social skills in team-building and group activities.
The sessions run from 10am to 4.30pm each day, and include regular visits inside the centre, to tour the planetarium and the Dynamic Earth exhibitions, too.
The Summer Outdoor Club is a highlight of the year for learning and engagement manager Conor and his colleagues.
“It’s just a really nice blend of different activities to help children make the most of their school holidays and get to know Holyrood Park,” he says.
“It’s been running for a number of years now and the feedback from families is always lovely.”
Places fill up quickly, so remember to put it in your diary for next year if you miss out this time round.
And if you’re not lucky enough to snag a place this summer, remember there’s no shortage of things to see and do at Dynamic Earth itself. The What’s On section on the website is always packed with activities and workshops for children and families.
That’s in addition to the regular exhibits, which take visitors on a time travelling tour of life, the universe and everything – from exploding stars on the other side of the galaxy to erupting volcanoes, mighty icebergs and tropical rainforests right here on Earth.
The new Discover The Deep exhibit, which opened last year with funding from the National Lottery, allows members of the public to experience our underwater world in ways we’ve never imagined.
Dynamic Earth isn’t only for kids, either! The centre runs a regular programme of activities for adults, too, often in association with other institutions such as Edinburgh University.