The Field Studies Council (FSC) “Bringing environmental understanding to all.“ The FSC is a British environmental education charity that was established in 1943, serving about 2.5 million people since then. It has a national network of 17 education centres in the UK, international outreach training projects, research programmes, information and publication services, and training and leisure courses that serve about a 100,000 students a year. Mission: To allow people of all ages and abilities to discover, understand and be inspired by nature. Knowing about the environment enables us to appreciate its needs and protect its diversity and beauty. Activities: Providing hands-on environmental experiences through: 1) Outdoor Classroom for the education sector 2) Leisure Learning & recreation for the public (especially family-oriented) 3) Professional Development for env. practitioners, government, & industry 4) Education and Information Centres for schools a& public 5) Campaigning for more field work & outdoor learning 6) Publishing on environmental issues & fieldwork techniques 7) Global Activities providing expertise to poor but biodiverse countries 1) Outdoor Classroom - Residential and day fieldwork and courses for ages 7-14, 14-16, 16+ , university, & teacher training levels. A)Cross-Cultural, B) Science & Biology, and C) Geography courses * enable students to make informed choices about their environment * reflect on spiritual, moral, cultural & social issues * understand sustainability * promote healthy lifestyle (food & exercise) * teach practical fieldwork skills 2) Leisure Learning - over 600 courses were offered in 2006 in Wildlife, Discovery, Natural History, Creative Arts & Crafts - Above themed holidays for families and individuals - Weekend to 10-day long residential or non-res. courses 3) Professional Development Courses - over 180 courses for those with a professional or vocational interest in the environment (many are university accredited) 4) Education and Information Centres - provide residential accommodation for 70-120 students, with facilities & dining areas, indoor & outdoor recreation areas, shop -research bases with library (with archives), computer facilities, well-equipped laboratories & workrooms - more than half have eco-centre status 5) Campaigning - for more biology fieldwork and outdoor learning and training of students and teachers - Save Our Biology – preventing the decline of science and biology fieldwork in secondary schools - Real World Learning – promotes out-of-classroom learning for all children 6) Publishing (over 300 publications, books) -publications on fieldwork techniques, environmental issues & project guides -cross-cultural journal Field Studies, with over 250 titles dating back to 1959 - handbooks, keys & fold-out charts for botanical and zoological specimen identification (AIDGAP - Aid to Identification in Difficult Groups of Animals and Plants) - on-line resources for teachers, students, and environment professionals - over 250,000 publications sold in 2005 7) Global Activities Through the Darwin Initiative (launched by the UK Government at the Rio Earth Summit in 1992), there is assistance to countries which are rich in biodiversity but poor in financial resources. Current projects: Caspian Sea, Bulgaria, Kyrgyzstan; Completed projects: Slovakia , Caribbean, Vietnam, India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines. Financing: - Funds from courses ranging from weekend Outdoor Classroom teacher training (fee of £25-50) to 10-day residential Leisure Learning courses (fee of £750) amounted to a total income of around £8 million in 2005 - Sale of publications (amounted to a total income of around £385,000 in 2005) books, guides, charts, keys are sold at £2.50-£40 per item Field Studies journal sells for £3-£15/issue - Memberships(£15/yr. for individuals, £25/yr. for families, or £150 life membership), tax deductible donations, & Gift Aid declarations comprised a total income of around £200,000 in 2005 - Supporters include British Council, various levels of UK government, National Parks, European Union, United Nations, Heritage Lottery Fund, British Ecological Society, & other charitable trusts, foundations & societies (see p. 6 of 2005 Annual Report at http://www.field-studies-council.org/documents/general/annualreport/FSC%20Annual%20Report%202005.pd f) Financial Balance Sheet for 2005 (see p. 20 of 2005 Annual Report) Income from activities Course fees 8,197,229 Projects & partnerships 885,049 Sale of publications 385,128 Other 336,022 Total 9,803,428 Costs of activities Staff 4,595,918 Running courses 926,829 Projects & partnerships 597,194 Publications 134,760 Transport & travel 262,602 Equipment & property 1,603,237 Other 617,681 Total 8,738,221 Gains of 1,065,207 FSC Mentioned in the press and by others: National Academy of Gifted and Talented Youth (NAGTY), Annual Report 2005-06, mentioned under “Higher quality wider schooling opportunities“, p.34 and http://www.nagty.ac.uk/student_academy/outreach/key_providers/field_studies_council.aspx; viewed 23.3.07. BBC http://www.bbc.co.uk/wales/southwest/nature/organisations/pages/fieldsstudy.shtml; viewed 22.3.07. British Council Learning: http://www.britishcouncil.org/learning-world-january-2005-school-development.htm; viewed on 23.3.07. Charity Choice: The Encyclopaedia of Charities on the Internet: http://www.charitychoice.co.uk/charitydetails.asp?ref=3275; viewed on 23.3.07. Consumer Education Portal – Site of the Month: http://portal.consumerline.org/site_of_the_month/33/; viewed on 23.03.07. Worth the Trip – Pembrokeshire Field Studies: http://www.teachers.tv/video/4907; viewed on 23.03.07.