Wildlife birthday parties

[Kymba]

I was wondering if i could get some feed back on an idea i have.
After a meeting about opening my own centre, which we all agreed will take quite a while to get up and running, its was agreed to concentrate on working with local schools and clubs to build my reputation and client support, which is the road i am going down for now.
But it was also suggested (half jokingly )that maybe i could do wildlife birthday parties for children.
This has really got me thinking seriously about the Idea..
Doing Bug Hunts, Bird spotting, Coluring. leaf rubbing, nest box making, Bee box making etc..
In peoples own gardens. And if i manage to get the use of a woods I have been told about maybe having them there..
Could this be that something different that people would be interested in??
What do WAB members think??

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by Kymba

I was wondering if i could get some feed back on an idea i have.
After a meeting about opening my own centre, which we all agreed will take quite a while to get up and running, its was agreed to concentrate on working with local schools and clubs to build my reputation and client support, which is the road i am going down for now.
But it was also suggested (half jokingly )that maybe i could do wildlife birthday parties for children.
This has really got me thinking seriously about the Idea..
Doing Bug Hunts, Bird spotting, Coluring. leaf rubbing, nest box making, Bee box making etc..
In peoples own gardens. And if i manage to get the use of a woods I have been told about maybe having them there..
Could this be that something different that people would be interested in??
What do WAB members think??

I think that is a wonderful idea.Boys love bugs so they would enjoy that but you may have to have prizes if my kids and grandkids are anything to go by Mind you you will have to have plenty of helpers to keep an eye on the little angels or you might lose some of them up trees or down a Badger hole

[eeyore]

Originally Posted by cherrybee

I think that is a wonderful idea.Boys love bugs so they would enjoy that but you may have to have prizes if my kids and grandkids are anything to go by Mind you you will have to have plenty of helpers to keep an eye on the little angels or you might lose some of them up trees or down a Badger hole

the general ratio is one adult to every six kids if they are under 12, 1 to 10 between 12 and 16 - dont forget that any helper you bring needs to be subject to anenhanced CRB check - your local volunteer centre can probably help with that.

also public liability insurance - at least £5M - also risk assesments for every activity which the insueres will want to see - and if you are providing food a food hygene certificate.

sorry to be mr boring not trying to put the kybosh onit , i think it is a great idea but everything involving kids is tied up with loadsa red tape unfortunately

[John]

Originally Posted by eeyore

t
sorry to be mr boring not trying to put the kybosh onit , i think it is a great idea but everything involving kids is tied up with loadsa red tape unfortunately

And rightly so.

Great idea but did you realise just what you were taking on?

It would be great to see this idea up and running. I think it does have a lot of merits. The downside is the obvious logistics of getting the idea off the ground.

John

[Boddie]

I agree with the guys but having said that I think you should go for it. People like you can make a real difference. If you are in it for the right reasons there is no reason why you should have problems. You have to be careful but you seem to have a desire to make a difference and I wish there were more folk like you about. Good luck to you I say.

[nightshade]

The cost of childrens parties is absolutely staggering what with
Discos,Entertainer,and attendee gifts
I think you may well have something there Kym,but will you dress as a clown?
I always throw visiting children out into the garden and tell them to come in only
when they have caught 20 different Invertabrates(as the do not know what Inverts. are I get a lot of peace this way)

[cherrybee]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I think you may well have something there Kym,but will you dress as a clown?
I always throw visiting children out into the garden and tell them to come in only
when they have caught 20 different Invertebrates(as the do not know what Inverts. are I get a lot of peace this way)

great idea but my grandchildren would probably ask what an Invertabrate is especially two of them who often ask to look at my bird or insect books Then i would have to get the books out again to explain what Invertebrates were.Which would defeat the object of getting them out from underfoot

[Kymba]

Thanks for the feed back guys (even Pete! )
I have spoken to a few people around here and quite a few said they would be interested in having one if i get it up and running
I have contacted someone to find out what Insurance and how much it will cost me to do this.
I am also having my Police check done in the next couple of weeks (as i am going to need this anyway)
I have started to produce a folder of Ideas for Parties, and costings for materials etc, plus how much I will charge per party..
I also have to decide how far i will travel to do a party, due to the cost of petrol etc ( as this will have to be added to Party charge)

Keep the feedback comming Even the downsides!!

[nightshade]

I was going to say as long as the family of the children do the food thats one off your back
and limit the children numbers 12 max

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by nightshade

I was going to say as long as the family of the children do the food thats one off your back
and limit the children numbers 12 max

I had thought about this.. I wont be doing the food at all just the wild life bit.... I also thought I would limit groups to 10 at the most ( To many and you cant give them the attention and fun they should have)
I also thought about having a minimum age 7 years old.
I am also thinking of maybe doing a menu of different themes so people can pick the one they would like..
Rough Ideas ( to be worked on)
1) Bug Hunt and Identification, Log pile making
2) Bird Box Making, Feeder making, food making
3) Butterfly spotting, Identification,Flower/Plant Planting to attract them
4) Making of small wildlife area ( depending on space)
5) leaf, Tree and Plant Hunt and Identification,
6) Wildlife Photography ( using throw away cameras or parents digital cameras)
photographing any wildlife in garden they want to take photo's of.

[John]

Hi Kymba

I truly hope you get this off the ground. Ideas like this are needed and what a great start to our kids knowledge of what goes on around them.

Good luck in this venture and I hope everything works out for you.

John

[Wild-Woman]

Originally Posted by Kymba

I had thought about this.. I wont be doing the food at all just the wild life bit.... I also thought I would limit groups to 10 at the most ( To many and you cant give them the attention and fun they should have)
I also thought about having a minimum age 7 years old.
I am also thinking of maybe doing a menu of different themes so people can pick the one they would like..
Rough Ideas ( to be worked on)
1) Bug Hunt and Identification, Log pile making
2) Bird Box Making, Feeder making, food making
3) Butterfly spotting, Identification,Flower/Plant Planting to attract them
4) Making of small wildlife area ( depending on space)
5) leaf, Tree and Plant Hunt and Identification,
6) Wildlife Photography ( using throw away cameras or parents digital cameras)
photographing any wildlife in garden they want to take photo's of.

You would probably have to adapt for the winter months as there won't be so many bugs to hunt . May be a good idea to get a load of stuff that could be recycled into sculptures that they can take home at the end of the party. Nice and cheap-and better than doggy bags full up with tooth rotting sweets!

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by John

Hi Kymba

I truly hope you get this off the ground. Ideas like this are needed and what a great start to our kids knowledge of what goes on around them.

Good luck in this venture and I hope everything works out for you.

John

Thanks John

Getting Kids involved with the Enviroment and Wildlife is something really important and something i am so very passionate about.

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by Wild-Woman

You would probably have to adapt for the winter months as there won't be so many bugs to hunt . May be a good idea to get a load of stuff that could be recycled into sculptures that they can take home at the end of the party. Nice and cheap-and better than doggy bags full up with tooth rotting sweets!

I agree that winter parties will be slightly different.. things like making nesting boxes etc would be one i would do over the winter, along with more arts and craft things. but is definately going to be one area that will take a bit more organizing so it will still be fun and interesting and Educational!
But as our winters are getting Milder i think there will still be lots that can be done outside

[Garden Carpet]

Originally Posted by cherrybee

great idea but my grandchildren would probably ask what an Invertabrate is especially two of them who often ask to look at my bird or insect books Then i would have to get the books out again to explain what Invertebrates were.Which would defeat the object of getting them out from underfoot

Not if you said...'this is an invertabrate.. so is this and this.. go find 20!

Kymba, wonderful idea. Perhaps you could do a line in goodie bags with those excellent little boxes with magnifier and so on. (let me know if you find a supplier.. I lost mine )
jaki

[badgerwatcher]

Another boring bit----You'll need to cover yourself for the occasional party that will be rained off, or work out an alternative plan.
The National Arts Council do public liability insurance of up to £5,000,000, or used to.
I use the Musician's Union, who will insure up to £10,000,000, but obviously I do include music!

[m1keanderson]

If the initial set-up costs are a bit daunting one option would be to check what environmental opportunities are being delivered by your local countryside service. If they have a limited educational set-up you could pitch the idea of them employing you on a zero-hour, self-funding contract to deliver their environmental education with birthday parties being one stream of funding. This will then provide you with venue, insurance, risk assessments, marketing, training etc and they in turn will meet their service goals.

If they already have something then you could always be cheeky and request their risk assessments, see if they will put up flyers in their information boards, hire their facilities to host your party or link into their website etc...

[Kymba]

Welcome to WAB M1 and thankyou for your suggestions

(if you go to FORUMS and Wild about Britain and read Update on my wildlife centre you will see what i am trying to do..)
The Party Idea is another extentsion to it that I have decided to do.

[Kymba]

Originally Posted by badgerwatcher

Another boring bit----You'll need to cover yourself for the occasional party that will be rained off, or work out an alternative plan.
The National Arts Council do public liability insurance of up to £5,000,000, or used to.
I use the Musician's Union, who will insure up to £10,000,000, but obviously I do include music!

Badger do you know roughly how much this would cost me ?????

[Paul mabbott]

..and girls don't?! Not so, in my experience, if they've been brought up properly!

Originally Posted by cherrybee

I think that is a wonderful idea.Boys love bugs so they would enjoy that .......

[nightshade]

Quote; with those excellent little boxes with magnifier and so on. (let me know if you find a supplier.. I lost mine )
jaki

Try, UK Safari - A site for anyone interested in the wildlife of Britain

Ooops

[badgerwatcher]

It's included in our Musician's Union membership, Kym, which I think without looking it up, (sorry, exhausted) is about £100 a year, and think Arts Council was about that or maybe a bit more. And covers damage or loss of equipment too, if I'm remembering right.