Bioasis Geographic
Just as geography is not your standard school subject, Bioasis Geographic is not your standard geography field trip.
This is 5 full on days of adventure combining an off-grid expedition, hands-on conservation work and ecological immersion mixed with the development of wider geographical skills of map reading, communication, canoeing and nature connection.
Perhaps most importantly, it's about teaching young people to become comfortable in a beautiful, wild and diverse environment. The world isn't siloed. So why is education? This is a field trip to bring it all together.
​
Your playground?
1200-acres of woodland, wildflower meadows and salt marshes in one of the UK's most beautiful and unfrequented river estuaries.
Your accommodation?
An off-grid field research basecamp, complete with solar electrics, full kitchen, fire pit, composting toilets, hot outdoor showers and more sunsets, stars and biodiversity than you can shake a stick at.
Your goal?
Immersive your students in the real world, getting them learning about land management, coasts and ocean plastics, sustainability and renewables, water cycles and mob grazing, the impact of sea level rises, how tourism can have a positive impact... and lots, lots more.
Forget everything you thought you knew about school geography field trips. This is different. This is joined-up-geography. The type that connects dots and brings your classroom teachings to life in the real world and in glorious technicolour.
Mission: Geographic
5 Day, 4 night
Suitable Age: 14 - 18 yrs
Group size: Minimum 15 and maximum 120 across three camp locations.
When: Missions run Monday to Friday, from May to end October.
Mission Objectives: Navigate to basecamp, Locate mission supplies and equipment. Conservation volunteer activities including invasive species removal, woodland management and environment clean up. Learn outdoor skills useful to field geographers, including living in a remote research camp. Q&A session with landowner on land management. Discussions on human geography, tourism, land use, rural economy and solutions to climate change and the biodiversity crisis.
​
Transport: Walking, canoe
Skills & Learning Outcomes: Surveying and study techniques, Wildflower, woodland and hedgerow habitats. Shoreline, salt marshes and mudflat ecology. Renewable energy, navigation, canoe skills & safety, camera trapping and bat detecting, search and rescue missions, ocean plastics, recycling and circular economies, radio communications, camp & bushcraft skills, team work, problem solving, conservation & rewilding.
Mission start point: Confidential. RV and Ex-Fil points disclosed once team confirmed and trust established.
​
Price: £565 + VAT per person.
​
Discounts available for large groups and certain dates, please contact us for quote. Prices are plus VAT and include free teacher places. As an educational trip, it is usually possible for most schools to reclaim VAT on these trips through your usual channels.
What's included?
-
All food from afternoon tea on day 1 to lunch on day 5
-
Accommodation in purpose built off-grid Bioasis basecamp – no mobile phones
-
All activities as per sample programme
-
All technical and safety equipment
-
Comprehensive pre-mission information including kit list, radio communications guide and mission briefing
-
Experienced Mission Leaders and activity / support staff
-
Industry leading safety systems, including emergency and evacuation plans. See our Safety page for more information
​
What's not included?
​
-
Transport to/from the Mission Start Point (located in South West England)
-
Personal equipment (e.g. sleeping bag, boots etc) – a full kit list will be provided
-
Travel insurance (should you wish to take it out to cover you in case you have to cancel)
Bioasis Basecamps
​
The Bioasis has three main basecamps, each fully equipped with sustainable energy sources, comfortable multi-occupancy tents, a field kitchen, mess tent, composting toilets, bucket showers and a fire pit area. The location of basecamp may change depending on the seasons and the current threat from local industrialists. Potential locations include:
Holbe Meadow Camp lies to the west of the estuary, tucked away between a beautiful wildflower meadow and ancient woodland. The bird life, bees and bats here are magical, as are the stars at night.
Yarnin Fort Camp is situated at almost the highest point in The Bioasis, in a wildflower meadow, and has commanding views across the valley and down to the estuary. Witnessing dawn here is truly special.
Orche Camp is hidden at the very heart of The Bioasis and surrounded by ancient forest. It’s secluded, atmospheric and a real gem of a location.
Bioasis Geographic Sample Programme:
The year is 2074 and planet Earth is in an ecological crisis caused by the climate change apocalypse. You are called to take part in an important mission to help further geographical thinking and reconnect humanity with nature.
Day 1: Meet your Mission Leader at your pre-arranged Mission Start Point (MSP). Trek approximately an hour into the Bioasis and locate equipment drops. Afternoon/evening briefing and basecamp tasks. Set up remote cameras and small mammal traps.
Day 2: Canoe based mission to study estuary shoreline and the salt-marsh ecosystems. Conduct water testing to feed into citizen science projects. Look at impact of storm damage and assess impact of sea level rises on local area. Q&A with Bioasis team on rewilding, land-use and nature-based tourism.
Day 3: Morning conservation work e.g. removal of invasive species such as Himalayan Balsam or Rhododendron. Afternoon bushcraft workshop looking at tools, cordage, natural materials, natural navigation and tracking. Evening bat survey work.
Day 4: Full day expedition within The Bioasis to improve navigation skills, conduct ocean plastic clean-up operation and woodland conservation work. Afternoon of field archery and checking camera traps. Prepare for final evening dinner and post-mission guerrilla geography rewilding tasks.
Day 5: Depart basecamp, transfer or trek out of The Bioasis to MSP for journey home.
Please note: The exact order of days and nature of the mission activities may vary depending on weather, tide times and other factors outside of our control.
“This is the kind of field trip that goes way beyond clipboard investigations - actively teaching the wider skills required and giving an insight into what geography and biology are actually all about in the real world”.
- Teacher, Dr Challoner's High School
“My son spoke very positively about the staff and the provision of food - despite him being a fussy eater. We are grateful to both Bioasis and the school for providing this experience.”
- Parent Feedback
How to book the Bioasis Geographical
​
Please contact missioncontrol@thebioasis.com to request a recruitment pack or phone 01392 984878 to chat to one of the team.
We can then send you more information and an overview of our safety management system and sample risk assessments. We’ll also create marketing materials for you to start gaining interest from students and parents including a parent information pack, assembly and posters.
​​
Peace of mind
​We hold all legally required licences, including AALA. In addition, we are members of the British Activity Providers Association (BAPA) and have been awarded The Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) Quality Badge - a nationally recognised indicator of good quality educational provision AND effective risk management.
​
We hold a level 5 food hygiene certificate
