Rivers

Trips abroad

The Dordogne rises in the Auvergne in central France and a school trip here offers your students the chance to develop their understanding of river processes and to see for themselves the immense power of rivers to shape the landscape around them.

The other great thing about the Auvergne is that you can travel by coach, reducing the environmental impact of your trip.

In Barcelona and the Costa Brava, your students can study the Tordera River, which starts in the Montseny Massif and discharges into the Mediterranean.

They’ll follow the river course and use their field skills, including data sampling, to appreciate the different processes at work in each section of the river valley.

This is a really exciting opportunity to bring the theory they’ve learnt in the classroom to life, giving them the unforgettable chance to experience geography in action.

Or you could visit the Swiss Alps, where your students can study the Grande Eau, which is a tributary of one of Europe’s major rivers – the Rhône.

Alternatively, you could take a once-in-a-lifetime school trip to the USA, where your students will see the power of river erosion at the spectacular Grand Canyon.

Carved out of the rock by the Colorado River, the Grand Canyon certainly isn’t the deepest canyon in the world, but it is arguably the most striking and will leave your students in awe at the power of flowing water.

Plus, as the river carved out the canyon, it exposed layers of rock which now testify to the geological history of North America – now, if that’s not going to inspire future geographers and geologists, we don’t know what will!

Rivers school trips in the UK

The Yorkshire Dales is a landscape shaped by glaciers and rivers. The word ‘dales’ means valleys and most of the dales are named after the river that runs through them, so there are plenty of river landscapes to explore.

A highlight of your rivers-themed trip to the Yorkshire Dales will be a guided walk to Malham Cove, Gordale Scar and Janet’s Foss. As well as conducting a river investigation, your students can also work on their map skills and navigation, as they follow GPS trails – a real geography adventure, right here in the UK!

This limestone landscape is also famous for its caves, which offer the perfect opportunity to demonstrate the power of water to your students. Your students can visit Ingleborough Cave or White Scar Caves, both of which are fascinating.

Alternatively, you might prefer to head down to Cornwall, where you can visit the spectacular Wookey Hole Caves! The rivers here are much shorter than in much of the rest of the country, which means it is relatively easy to study them within a short space of time.

Why focus on rivers?

Bring river processes and landscapes to life

Geography is a subject that really comes alive once you get out of the classroom. After all, it’s the study of the world around us! And river processes and landforms certainly become easier to understand when you can see them in action.

So, a trip will help your students deepen their understanding of river processes and landforms. It will also give them first-hand experience that they can draw upon in exams.

Plus, by taking your students out of the classroom and giving them the opportunity to experience geography in action, you’ll help them to understand the value of your subject and how it can help them to understand the world around them.

Inspire future geographers

Wherever you decide to go, your students will have the opportunity to develop their practical fieldwork skills, getting to grips with skills like navigation and data sampling.

This opportunity to get stuck in and physically investigate the landscapes and processes taking place along the course of the river is what will spark their imaginations. They’ll see how exciting it is to study these landscapes and processes, using the data collected to make judgements and develop understanding.

You may even have the opportunity to learn more about the work that’s being done to protect rivers, which are often an important water source for people and local wildlife. Who knows, you may inspire some future career choices or give them more ideas for how they can help their own local environment!

Enjoy the trip as much as your students

Originally founded by former teachers, we understand the value of school trips and how to make them successful.

Your trip will be completely tailor made, to ensure that it meets your specific requirements and learning objectives. And we’ll be on hand throughout the process to answer any questions you have.

In fact, we’ll be with you every step of the way, from now until you return home at the end of your trip. While abroad, you’ll be able to reach us with just one phone call, at any time of the day or night. And, with this comprehensive level of support while you’re away, you’ll be able to relax and enjoy immersing yourself in geography as much as your students.