During the school summer holidays, avoid brain drain in Bristol

25/07/2011

Categories: Official press releases

With the launch of several new educational activities and entertaining exhibitions in Bristol this year, enjoy a range of ways for the kids to avoid brain drain over the summer holidays.

From the launch of Bristol’s new £27 million history museum, to At-Bristol’s new ‘All About Us’ science exhibition, Bristol offers countless options to keep on learning over the summer. Add to that, Bristol Zoo Gardens’ 175^th anniversary celebrations and gorilla education programme; Bristol Aquarium’s new Learning Lab; and a summer of learning fun at Brunel’s ss Great Britain, among other activities.

Families can also enjoy special summer offers including £9 coach fares and 2FOR1 offers to Bristol when travelling with National Express, in addition to 2FOR1 offers when travelling by train on First Great Western.

Bristol’s educational summer activities include:

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M Shed, Bristol’s £27 million history museum opens

Bristol’s newest museum and the most significant cultural development in the South West has opened on the Harbourside. M Shed, the city’s new history museum, reveals the amazing history of Bristol through the objects and stories of the people who made Bristol what it is today. There is plenty for families to get stuck into - jump on the Lodekka bus and listen in to travellers’ conversations, dine at a table where history comes to life, experience being in a WWII Anderson shelter or make your own music on the Bristol sound interactive. Regular activities at weekends and during the summer holidays include, ‘finger tip explorers’, show and tell and travellers tales, as well as trips on the museum’s cranes, boats and trains! www.mshed.org

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At-Bristol brings science to life with new exhibition

At-Bristol offers an interactive family day out with over 300 hands-on exhibits, inspiring live science shows and a Planetarium. Visitors can now discover their amazing bodies with All About Us, a new £1.5 million exhibition all about the human body and the brain.  Families can examine their own veins with Vein Viewer, listen to music through headbones in Soundbite and look at the body’s systems in Character Mirror. Also watch and take part in Dissections and DNA extractions in At-Bristol’s new Live Lab. Get Star struck in the Planetarium, with a presenter led show of the seasonal night sky. From 17th July, join At-Bristol’s Live science team in the Studio and get your thinking caps on for the new Boggling Brains show! Don’t miss Shaun the Sheep Championsheeps LIVE! in At-Bristol over the school summer holidays, from 30th July -31st August 2011 with Shaun the Sheep and Friends. www.at-bristol.org.uk

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Learning gets hairy at Bristol Zoo Gardens

This year is the Year of the Ape and that means Bristol Zoo will celebrate their hairiest residents! The Zoo’s family of six western lowland gorillas – silverback Jock and his family - will be enjoying the summer weather on Gorilla Island, so it’s a great time for an educational visit. Visit the Zoo’s Education Centre for free gorilla activities to help the whole family discover more about the secretive lives of gorillas. If you’ve ever wondered how to tell gorillas apart, what gorillas do to say hello or why recycling your mobile phone helps gorillas in the wild, you’ll find the answers at Bristol Zoo.  For younger visitors, there’s the chance to have a go at being a gorilla keeper in the gorilla nursery, while older visitors can find out what life is like in Cameroon, one of the African countries where gorillas live. These activities will be running throughout the summer holidays between 10.30am and 4.30pm in the Zoo Education Centre. Don’t forget that it’s the zoo’s 175^th anniversary this year so families can also enjoy learning more about the world’s 5^th oldest zoo through the years and hit the WOW! Gorillas Trail.  www.bristolzoo.org.uk

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Step back in time at Brunel’s ss Great Britain

At Brunel’s ss Great Britain, families can find out how the 160-year-old iron ship is being conserved, with its own giant dehumidification chamber and glass ‘sea’. Step back in time in the Dockyard Museum to discover the ship’s story. Discover what conditions were like for passengers on board and discover some interesting smells too. There is a choice of educational audio tours, from ‘First Class’ and ‘Third Class’ to ‘Maritime Archaeologist’ for adults and children. This year enjoy a foodie theme of ‘Let’s Dine’, the 150^th anniversary of ‘Beeton’s Book of Household Management’. Summer events range from ‘Gruesome Greens’ storytelling (August 11, 18 & 25) to Crimean troop tucker (August 13 & 14). Exciting trails for children are ‘Captain’s table’ for eights and under, plus ‘The Floating Cook’ for eight to 12-year olds, with stickers and scratch and sniff! Meet the ship’s ‘Mr Brunel’ throughout the summer holidays, except Wednesdays. Next to Brunel’s ss Great Britain is the Brunel Institute, housing the National Brunel Archive and the David MacGregor Library. www.ssgreatbritain.org

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'Sea' Life with Aquarium's Learning Lab and new IMAX film

As well as being home to more than 40 naturally-themed displays – including two underwater walkthrough tunnels, a giant rainforest-pool and a Mediterranean style rock pool – Bristol Aquarium & IMAX 3D Cinema is also the only aquarium in Europe with its own IMAX 3D cinema. There’s a full programme of entertaining and educational talks and feeding displays throughout the day. Highlights include a life-size recreation of a sunken ship - home to native sharks, rays and  huge shoaling cod, a Bristol Harbour scene – complete with stunning murals, a ‘walk-in’ seahorse display and a wooden footbridge, over the open-top giant coral seas display; home to tropical sharks and stingrays. The aquarium has also launched a new summer activity programme which includes everything from giant octopus and seahorse talks to shark and piranha feeding demonstrations. Add to that, a new Learning Lab and the spectacular new 3D film ‘Sea Rex’. Journey to a Prehistoric World where audiences can go on a thrilling journey back in time to explore an amazing underwater universe inhabited by larger-than-life creatures which were ruling the seas before dinosaurs conquered the earth.  www.bristolaquarium.co.uk

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Discover the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge

The Clifton Suspension Bridge, spanning the picturesque Avon Gorge, is the symbol of the city of Bristol. For almost 150 years this Grade I listed structure has attracted visitors from all over the world. The bridge was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and families come from all around to see and learn about the bridge. Free guided tours are provided for the public on Saturday and Sunday afternoons from Easter to the end of October (except 13 & 14 August). Tours start at 3.00pm - just turn up and allow one hour for the tour. Learn anything from the history of Brunel, the bridge’s design, architecture or ask any question your heart desires. The guided tours are led by knowledgeable staff, many of whom are also 'Blue Badge' Registered Tourist Guides. During the school holidays the bridge welcomes many families looking for information to support school projects about the Victorians, Brunel, structures and materials. www.cliftonbridge.org.uk

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Bristol Museum & Art Gallery offers hands-on learning fun

Amazing art, dinosaurs, and ancient Egyptians are some of the highlights at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery where families can discover the story of the world in every display, from the beginning of time to the present day. Look out for the family discovery areas, including Curiosity. Older children can explore different views of objects from all over the world, while under 7s try out new activities in a popular play and learn space. Enjoy regular family fun days every first Sunday of the month and during the school holidays with a chance to look behind the scenes at the museum’s natural treasures and plenty of opportunities to get creative and handle real museum objects!  www.bristol.gov.uk/museums

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Explore the hidden life of forests for free at Westonbirt

This summer, Westonbirt, The National Arboretum is offering free admission from 23 July through 31 August for kids and a host of educational activities to explore the hidden life of forests. Families can take part in a programme of exciting activities throughout August, finishing with the ultimate celebration of trees at Westonbirt’s new summer Bank Holiday event, Treefest. Uncover wildlife from mini-beasts and mud to fungi and roots at Life Beneath our Feet (2-4 August). Discover the giants of the forest with Tree Architecture (9-11 August). Become a green detective at Growing Green (16-18 August). Find out why our forests are green and the importance of the colour for all forest wildlife. Leading up to and part of Treefest (26–29 August), explore trees from around the world with Forests for the Future (24-29 August). Take part in a forest quiz, connect your thoughts to the 'tree for the future' and take part in a different craft activity each day. www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt-families  

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Other educational summer activities in Bristol

Dress up like a pirate and take a Bristol Pirate Walk to learn about Bristol’s pirating past and history. The Bristol City Sightseeing tour gives a guided overview of Bristol and its history, while the Bristol Ferry Boat tour offers a scenic view of Bristol’s historic Harbour and a range of tour options. For active family fun, purchase a Bristol Treasure Trail from the Bristol Tourist Information Centre for a day of learning and excitement around Bristol. Families can also read Treasure Island together and then see the outdoor theatre production at Bristol Old Vic through August.

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For more information, visitors can contact the Bristol Tourist Information Centre on 0906 711 2191 (calls charged at 50p per minute) or email ticharbourside@destinationbristol.co.uk.

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