Education

Saturn offers a unique opportunity for pupils to experience the working environment and conditions of the canal boatmen of the Victorian era. The boat travels the canals of the North West and North Wales, her original working area, where she is very much part of the local history.

The Saturn Project has a number of volunteers, all very knowledgeable about the boat, the people who worked her and the canals she travelled. They will be on hand for your visit to show the children round the boat and answer their questions.

We work with the British Waterways education department and take part in their WOW (Wild Over Waterways) scheme which already has worksheets based on different aspects of Saturn and her history. However we are happy to help if you prefer to produce your own material.

Organising a Visit
Saturn travels the canals of the North West Midlands and North Wales from March to October. See below the calendar for 2008 to get an idea of when she is going to be near your school. To book a visit contact Sue Yates on 07866 906987 or e-mail on visits@saturnflyboat.org.uk  Sue will arrange time and place and volunteers.
The society can also help with your risk assessment.

Learning Resources
The boat - Saturn is complete with the crew’s cabin, cargo hold and all the gear for horse towing and working the boat. She makes an excellent basis for a transport or social history project and links in to local history for those schools near the canal. Being on the canal system she will also tie in with geography or map studies. The decoration of the boat makes a colourful subject for art work and the life of the people who worked her a rich focus for creative writing.
The people – As well as the volunteers who can bring the boat and the working canals to life, we have others who can demonstrate the crafts associated with the boats such as decorative painting, ropework, lace making and rag rug making.
Partners – Click onto www.wow4water.net  for information on other aspects of the canal system. The British Waterways Education Officer can provide you with waterside safety information or will come to your school and talk to the children on the subject.