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October holiday STEM fun – tickets going fast!

North Ayrshire STEM team have partnered with Eglinton Park, the Sustainability team and our Countryside Ranger Service to provide an action packed schedule of FREE family fun this October break.

Each day of the upcoming Biodiversity and Sustainability Week (Tues 15 – Sat 19 Oct) will have a different theme… 👇 See the run-through below of all the FREE family fun that will happen during the October break #biodiversitysustainabilityweekna

DAY ONE: ENERGY

 

⚡ Glasgow Science Centre – Powering the Future session | Tuesday 15 October 2024 (drop-in) ⚡
📍 The Racquet Hall, Eglinton Country Park | 10am until 4pm
🤩 FREE no booking required!
➡️ Workshop about how we will supply/use energy in the future, interactive exhibits suitable for ages 5+, children must be supervised by an adult at all times!
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🚀 Space Junk & Scotland in Space session BOOK NOW! | Tuesday 15 October (45min session) 🚀
📍 The Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
🤖 Programme LEGO® MINDSTORMS® robots,
⚡ FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Delivered by My World of Work (Skills Development Scotland). Become a space engineer and learn about STEM in space! Suitable for ages 8 to 14 years old. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Various times: 10:15am to 11am, 11.15am to midday, 12.45pm to 1.30pm.
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🌬️ Measuring Wind and Solar Power Session BOOK NOW! | Tuesday 15 October (2pm-3pm) 🌞
📍 The Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
⚡ FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Join us (the STEM team) to search for the best location to install solar panels and wind turbines to power the buildings at Eglinton Park. What if the best location is in the middle of the playpark…? Suitable for ages 7 to 14 years old. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. Waterproof footwear and clothing may be required.

DAY TWO: SUSTAINABILITY

 

♻️ Waste Electrical Tinker Tables with Optimum Eco Group | Wednesday 16 October (Drop-in 10am – 4pm) 🔧
📍 The Racquet Hall, Eglinton Country Park
🤩 FREE no booking required!
➡️ Ever wondered what’s inside your electrical equipment? Come along to disassemble a range of electrical items. Discover what’s inside these items and sort the components into different recyclable materials.
⚠️ Small parts! Suitable for age 5 plus and their families/carers. Children should be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times.
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♻️ North Ayrshire Net Zero Session | Wednesday 16 October (Drop-in 10am – 1pm) 🦋
📍 The Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
🤩 FREE no booking required!
➡️ Join our Sustainability team for a range of energy activities to take part in and lots of information detailing the our journey to Net Zero. Aimed at children aged 8 to 14 years. Children should be accompanied by a supervising adult.
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📽️ St Palladius Grows Documentary Screening | Wednesday 16 October (Drop-in 2pm – 4pm) 🌟
📍 The Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
🤩 FREE no booking required!
➡️ Watch a documentary created by the pupils at St Palladius Primary School in Dalry, all about the school’s journey and commitment to sustainability. The documentary is 25 minutes long and will play on loop. Suitable for all ages.
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🐦 ***SOLD OUT*** Make your own willow bird feeders session | Wednesday 16 October (Sessions at 11am and 1pm) 🌻
📍 Eglinton Community Gardens at Eglinton Country Park
🪱 FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Join Ranger Linda from North Ayrshire Ranger Service to build your own bird feeder using sustainable willow canes. 1 hour session. Suitable for ages 5 to 15 years old and their families/carers. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times. The activity takes place in the far polytunnel closest to Irvine Road. Meet ten mins before session due to start.

DAY THREE: BIODIVERSITY


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Why Not Scotland? film screening BOOK NOW! | Thursday 17 October (Viewings at 10.30am, midday, 1.30pm and 3pm) | 1 hour duration 📽️
📍 The Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
🤩 FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Feature-length documentary, that accompanies Flo, a young Scot from Glasgow, as she seeks out examples of nature recovery around Europe. Target Audience: 10+ years. Children must be supervised by an adult at all times.
There will also be a host of information stalls from: Ayrshire and Arran Bat Trust with information on bat conservation, South West Scotland Environmental Centre providing info on how to conduct moth surveys and identifying different types of moths and a Butterfly Conservation marketplace stall.

DAY FOUR: ENGINEERING

 

🐦***SOLD OUT*** Build your Own Bird Box with Irvine Harbourside Men’s Shed BOOK NOW! | Friday 18 October (Sessions at 11am and 1pm) 🔨
📍 Eglinton Community Gardens at Eglinton Country Park
🪱 FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Join the Harbourside Men’s Shed to build wooden bird boxes with them. 1 hour sessions for age 8 upwards. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult. The activity takes place in the far polytunnel closest to Irvine Road. Meet ten mins before session due to start. VERY LIMITED SPACES!

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👷‍♀️ Bridge building and Eco Engineering with RJ McLeod Engineering | Friday 18 October BOOK NOW! 👷
📍 The Racquet Hall, Eglinton Country Park
➡️ Civil Engineering for a Sustainable World (10am until 11am) – Join Engineers from RJ McLeod to take part in a series of engineering sessions. An introduction into how engineering can help to build a sustainable future. A chance to learn about the new sea wall in Largs and enabling works at Ardrossan’s North Shore for the new Community Campus. Limited spaces! Book FREE tickets at: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Engineering in Eglinton Country Park (Meet outside Racquet Hall at 11am then head out to the park locations) – Join engineers on a walk to the suspension bridge, arch bridge and salmon ladder on the Lugton Water. Discuss the different types of construction methods used. Limited spaces! Book FREE tickets at: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Engineering for the Environment (Noon until 1pm) – Civil engineers and quantity surveyors from the Largs and Ardrossan sites will example how their works in North Ayrshire will benefits the community and the environment too. A chance to learn about the many careers available in the industry. Limited spaces! Book FREE tickets at: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Engineering Challenges (1pm until 3pm) – The engineers are putting children and young people to the test! From block building and design challenges, to electrical circuits and bridge construction, there is something for all ages at the Racquet Hall on Friday 18 October.
All of the RJ McLeod sessions are for upper primary and secondary pupils with an interest in civil engineering careers. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times.
👷‍♀️ Bridge building and Eco Engineering with RJ McLeod Engineering | Friday 18 October BOOK SOON! 👷
👀 Times TBC – Tickets on sale soon, stay tuned to the HAC events page: https://thehac.co.uk/events
📍 The Visitor Centre, Eglinton Country Park
➡️ A morning session for primary aged children, joined by engineers for a guided walk of the Arch and Suspension bridges in Eglinton Park. After the walk, return to the Visitor Centre for a bridge building challenge. Waterproof shoes and clothing may be required in poor weather. Suitable for age 5 to 11 years. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times.
➡️ An afternoon session for secondary aged young people. Join the engineers for an exploration of Eglinton’s bridges and the salmon ladder. Head back to the Visitor Centre to design your own solutions to ensure the ladder works in all weather conditions. Suitable for age 12 to 18 years. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult at all times. Waterproof shoes and clothing may be required in poor weather.

DAY FIVE: CLIMATE

 

🧪Climate Classrooms on Saturday 19 October (Sessions at 10.30am and midday) BOOK NOW! 🌲
📍 The Racquet Hall, Eglinton Country Park
🤩 FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Join us (the STEM team) to investigate the good, the bad and the ugly of Carbon Dioxide. This 1 hour workshop contains demonstrations and hands on experiments. Suitable for ages 7+. Children must be accompanied by a supervising adult.
Hessilhead Wildlife Rescue will also have marketplace stall with information of their work 🦔

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🧪 Capturing Carbon Workshop on Saturday 19 October (Sessions at 3pm) BOOK NOW! 🌲
📍 Meet in Eglinton Park Courtyard then onward to various locations in the park.
🤩 FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events
➡️ Join us (the STEM team) to investigate how trees store carbon. Explore wood as a carbon neutral fuel and inequalities faced by communities that rely on wood for everyday cooking. Suitable for ages 7+ and children must be accompanied by a supervising adult. Waterproof shoes and clothing will be required in wet weather. Meet five mins before session due to start.
Children playing with lego robots
Moth on bark
Photo highlights from official opening of STEM trail at Eglinton Country Park

Additional daily activities 👇

  • There’s also a host of guided STEM trail walks happening daily – FREE however booking is required: https://thehac.co.uk/events 🦣Meet 10 minutes before your walk at welcome flag in courtyard next to Tournament Café, Eglinton Country Park. Duration: 60 mins. Times: 11.30am and 2pm daily.
  • If you have an old bike and want to swap it for a new one – head over to the Equal Bike Swap (10am-4pm) daily at the containers next to the play park. Members of the public are encouraged to bring along a bike that doesn’t work, needs repair or is the wrong size… bikes can then be swapped for FREE for a bike that has been refurbished by the Equal trainees 🚲
  • For those who want to recycle small handheld electrical items, an amnesty bin will be located outside of the Racquet Hall ♻️
  • And, if you want to learn about how to be more sustainable in your own green space, head over to Eglinton Community Gardens for a self-led trail packed with eco tips (10am-4pm) daily… 🦋
So, don’t delay! For ticketed events,  head over to the HAC website: https://thehac.co.uk/events to register now!
Book tickets now for Biodiversity and Sustainability Week
Eglinton Country Park Logo
“Biodiversity and Sustainability week is a really exciting event that will bring together a range of Council services, industry partners and community groups. I’m really looking forward to seeing young people engage with adults who are passionate about climate action and biodiversity conservation in a way that can spark their own passion and perhaps set them on their own paths of local action or even green careers.”

Tim Dreyer, North Ayrshire STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) lead

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