Educational Programmes at the Monkey Sanctuary

The Monkey Sanctuary in situated a few miles outside Looe in Cornwall. The Sanctuary is currently home to four species of monkey: woolly, capuchin, barbary macaques and patas.

Each year the Monkey Sanctuary educates thousands of visitors on the lives of monkeys in the wild and in captivity. The Monkey Sanctuary highlights the problems of captivity and gives visitors an insight into a working sanctuary. The Trust also campaigns and lobbies for improved conditions for primates and ultimately a ban on primates as pets.

What we offer

A Visit to You: £ Donation to cover costs.

Enlightening and fun workshops tailored to your needs and age group. We are happy to arrange workshops, lectures and slide-shows from primary school to university, playgroup to retirement group.

A Visit to Us: £3.50 per student. All accompanying adults FREE.
Our dedicated Education Team will be on hand to deliver workshops, talks and tours tailored to whichever aspect of our work interests you and your students.

Please find details of our programs below or contact our education team to tailor your own visit. All workshops, talks and tours FREE.

For more information on our education work, to book a visit to the Sanctuary or to arrange for our team to visit your school or group contact the education team on 01503 262 532 or email education@monkeysanctuary.org

Learning Outside the Classroom

The Monkey Sanctuary Trust fully supports the aims of “Learning Outside The Classroom”. We have many workshops, activities, tours and talks which engage pupils in a safe and stimulating environment.

“When you step outside the classroom you have the opportunity to transform learning and raise achievement. Learning outside the classroom allows participants to learn in context, to learn by practical engagement, and to learn by personal discovery. They can master new skills, work collaboratively with others and develop a better sense of themselves and their potential.”

Welcome and Introduction

Your group will be met on arrival and welcomed by one of our education team/primate carer. There will be a short introduction and Health & Safety talk.

Guided Tour

Your group will be taken around the Sanctuary and introduced to the individuals that make up our Woolly Monkey colony, each with their own distinct personality. The students will gain an insight into how a captive colony of Woolly Monkeys live and cope with all the ups and downs of colony life.

Key concepts:

Adaptations to life in the trees, wild and captive diet, the role of monkeys within a rainforest ecosystem, importance of enrichment and design of enclosures, woolly monkey vocalization and communication, monkey politics and social structure.

 

Reinforcing Workshops

Practical – Making of enrichment items (i.e. filling small boxes with newspaper and food). This can be given out to the monkeys directly after the workshop and reinforces the need for captive monkeys to be kept as busy and active as possible.

Literacy – In smaller groups the students will be asked to create their own monkey poems. The Educational Staff member will help the students through the process using a very easy creative writing technique.

Visit the Rescue Centre

A “behind the scenes” peak at the Monkey Sanctuaries rescued ex pet Capuchin monkeys with a short talk about the problems of keeping wild animals as pets. It will also introduce the Monkey Sanctuaries campaign to end the primate pet trade and an opportunity for students to sign a petition to end the primate pet trade.

Key Concepts.

Animal welfare and rights, ethics and influencing political change through campaigning.

Slide Shows

Rainforests

A powerpoint presentation on a rainforest habitat, its diversity and importance as a resource. The reasons and problems of deforestation.

Rescue and Rehabilitation

A powerpoint presentation on the rescue work that the Sanctuary undertakes and the problems with the U.K. primate pet trade, our campaign to end the trade and what it hopes to achieve. Followed by a behind the scenes tour of the rescue centre.

Informal Activities

Orienteering course around the Sanctuary grounds

Collect the answers to 11 questions along with 11 anagram letters in this Orienteering Course around the sanctuary grounds.

Earth Walk

An Earth Walk is a series of linked sensory activities in and around the sanctuary gardens providing a new way to explore the natural environment. Emphasis is upon awakening individuals’ senses and looking at familiar things in an interesting way.

Playground

Teacher supervised use of the play area only.

Shop

We have an ethical goods shop with stock ranging from pencils and rubbers to bags and baby clothes.

 

Catering Arrangements for Schools/Groups

Picnic Facilities : The Sanctuary has allocated picnic areas where school groups can eat their lunch. these areas are away from the monkeys, situated near the cafe area in the car park. Please let us know if you are intending to bring picnic lunches so that we can put a suitable area aside for your group.

The TreeTop Cafe: The Sanctuary is proud of its award winning vegetarian cafe, where we supply a wide variety of homemade, locally sourced, organic meals, drinks and snacks.  Your group is very welcome to use the cafe, and if possible please let us know if you intend to take a large group along, so that we can be prepared serve you quickly and efficiently.  The Gift Shop in the Sanctuary grounds also offers tea and coffee

Group lunch provision: The staff at the Tree Top Cafe are delighted to offer a full catering service for groups, and can offer a set meal at a specific price per head depending on your requirements.  Please contact us to discuss your needs, so that we can plan your menu and offer a quote.  This works well for large groups as we can utilise a separate serving area and provide good healthy food fast!

Additional Site Information

Wheelchair accessibility: If you have limited mobility or are a wheelchair user please be advised that the grounds are set on a slope and therefore parts of the lower garden and higher viewing areas may be inaccessible. A steep drive approaches the entrance gate so disabled parking is provided just outside the lower gate. If you wish to use this facility please continue down the drive on entering the main car park instead of turning right.  If you are concerned about access, please call 01503 262 532 us to discuss your needs.

Coaches: The Monkey Sanctuary is tucked away down Cornish lanes and some coach companies have refused to dive the lanes to the site. Although it is possible to get a coach to us its worth checking with your transport provider that they are prepared for our Cornish lanes. There are caution signs on our lanes for vehicles wider than 6’6’’.

 

How to Find Us:

From Plymouth: take A38 to the Trerulefoot roundabout (near Tideford) , follow signs to Looe until you see signs for The Monkey Sanctuary

From Liskeard: take A38 towards Plymouth, follow signs to Looe until you see signs for The Monkey Sanctuary

From Looe: head towards Plymouth until you see signs for The Monkey Sanctuary.