New School Year, New River Workshops!
Can you believe we’re already over six weeks into the new school year!
The 2026-2027 school year might be well underway, but we’ve been taking time to reflect on a year filled with discovery, curiosity, and environmental stewardship.
Over the past academic year, our educational and engagement sessions have enriched the lives of hundreds of children. From running river themed classroom workshops and attending youth groups to exploring the Ribble catchment’s natural wonders outside, we’ve embarked on an incredible journey. And its one that has inspired young minds to care for their local waterways.
Our education Highlights!
This year, our programs spanned a diverse range of topics and reached communities across our entire catchment area. We’ve collaborated with over 70 schools and community groups, engaging more than 3,000 young people in our river workshops, eager to learn and explore the wonders of their rivers and environment.
Rivers in the Classroom
Our Rivers in the Classroom programme brings freshwater science into schools, encouraging pupils to deepen their understanding of the rivers that run through their communities. Through engaging, hands-on activities such as Trout in the Classroom, students learn about the delicate relationships between aquatic life and their habitats.
Our goal is to promote the value of the Ribble’s natural heritage and inspire young people to become active stewards of their environment, making small changes that can have a big impact.
And What is Trout in the Classroom?
This inspiring project brings the magic of the brown trout to primary schools across the Ribble catchment during the spring term, from January to the Easter holidays. Beginning with Ribble Rivers Trust staff set up trout tanks, creating a mini-river habitat right in the classroom, and deliver 100 brown trout eggs.
Students nurture their trout from egg to fry (young fish), observing each stage of their life cycle firsthand. Just before the Easter holidays, pupils help us release their trout into the local river, giving them a chance to start life in the wild. During the release day, students also explore their local river ecosystem, identifying freshwater invertebrates and learning about their vital role in maintaining healthy waterways.
Pupils spend their time with nurturing their trout from egg to fry (young fish), observing each stage of the trout’s life cycle as it unfolds before their eyes. Just before they break up for the Easter holidays, pupils will help RRT staff to take their young trout to their local river, where they release them to live the rest of their lives in the wild.
During this release day, we also search for other fascinating freshwater creatures living below the water’s surface. Pupils will learn to ID freshwater invertebrate species and learn why they are so important to the future of their trout.
Trout in the Classroom is a fantastic project which enhances the National Curriculum and brings learning to life. All activities link directly to the KS2 National Curriculum. They also help pupils to develop Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural (SMSC) values, recognised by Ofsted as important components of an Outstanding school.
Funded sessions
Thanks to funding from our community catchments EA NFM projects in Clitheroe, Darwen and Wrea Green, we’ve delivered targeted activities that tackle real-world environmental challenges.
Children have learned about flood causes, impacts, and nature-based solutions; building their resilience and understanding of how they can help reduce flood risks. Some even designed their own river structures and leaky dams out of clay and natural materials, testing their designs by pouring water once dry.
These creative experiments help children see the direct effects of natural engineering solutions.
Through additional funding by Fort Vale, we’ve been able to run our Pendle River Rangers project, bringing invertebrate samples into classrooms, giving pupils a window into the biodiversity of their local rivers and what it reveals about river health. These activities empower young people with knowledge and a sense of ownership over their environment.
Finally, though our Yorkshire Ribble Rangers project funded by the Yorkshire Dales National Park, we’ve attended youth groups, and schools within the Settle area running workshops creating wild flower seed balls, investigating the river through invertebrate samples, and getting involved in fun games to further cement their learning!
Career sessions
We’ve also reached out to inspire future river guardians through career-focused events with primary schools, high schools, and colleges. These river workshops highlight the many pathways into environmental careers- whether in science, conservation, or community engagement- and emphasize that today’s children are tomorrow’s stewards of our waterways.
A year of learning
This past year has highlighted how the power of education can inspire change. By engaging young minds with hands-on learning and real-world challenges, we’re planting seeds of environmental responsibility that will grow for generations.
Our programmes have not only encouraged curiosity and embraced learning, but they have also built a community of young people who care deeply about their rivers and wildlife.
We are excited to continue this vital work in the coming year, expanding our reach and deepening our impact.
Together, we can ensure that future generations will enjoy healthy rivers, thriving ecosystems, and a richer understanding of the natural world.
Get involved in our education work
Are you a teacher who’d like to learn more about our education work, please visit our Information For Teachers page.
Our education programme relies on the support of people who believe every child deserves the opportunity to connect with nature.
By making a one-off or regular donation, you can help us reach more schools, deliver more activities, create more opportunities, and inspire more future river champions.
Ready to make a difference? Make a donation today 👇
