Space requirements for workshops with animals in the school
Here you will find what spaces are needed for the successful animal workshop at your school. Just a regular classroom or gymnasium is enough.
Space requirements for animal workshops
Activities with animals are carried out in enclosed spaces. The participating animals cannot return to the wild and, for safety reasons, we cannot hold workshops in the yard or in outdoor spaces.
Space requirements in the students’ regular classroom
Ideal for a one-class session: use the student’s regular classroom with minimal preparation.
Classroom organization
It is advisable to form a U with the chairs so that all students can see well.
If your school’s regulations do not allow it, students can stay at their usual table.
Preparation and logistics
The Zoo of the Pyrenees team can take care of moving the tables/chairs and preparing the space. At the end, they clean the classroom and put everything back in its place.
Time between sessions
If several sessions are held in different classrooms, approximately 10 minutes must be left between each session to prepare each space.
Space for animals
We move the animals into the classroom before we start. We need an area of about 2 m². The animals are left behind roll-ups that we bring with us.
Space requirements for animal workshops in the gym
Recommended when organizing multiple sessions on the same day: a large, neutral space like the gym facilitates the flow between groups.
If you organize several sessions on the same day, it is advisable to hold them in the gym or a “neutral” space in the center so that each class can enter and rotate comfortably.
It is recommended that students sit on chairs or benches to facilitate access to the animals, although it is not essential.
We bring the animals to the gym a few minutes early, and hide them behind roll-ups to visually separate them and provide a quiet environment.
The team from the Zoo of the Pyrenees Foundation is responsible for preparing the space, and after the workshops cleans and returns everything to its place.
Space requirements in a camp home
For the workshop with animals in a youth camp, you must have a closed indoor space (common room, large classroom or gym).
• The space should allow students to sit comfortably and participate without external noise.
• If a large classroom is not available, you can set up a common room with chairs or benches.
• We bring the animals, set them up, and pick them up; the camp only needs to guarantee the space.
How the animal workshops work
1. Prior preparation
- We arrive 15 minutes early at your center.
- We unload and install the animals in a space inside the classroom or gym.
- The team from the Zoo of the Pyrenees Foundation prepares the chairs or benches according to the agreement with the teacher.
- We recommend that students are not in the classroom during this initial assembly.
2. Workshop
- The operation is explained, the rules are discussed and the activity begins.
- The team from the Zoo of the Pyrenees Foundation coordinates the entire workshop and guides the students through each step.
- This way, teachers can actively participate without taking on logistical tasks.
3. Completion and return of the space to its original state
- Students and the teacher wash their hands at the end of the activity.
- The Zoo of the Pyrenees team dedicates a few minutes to returning the space to its original state.
Vehicle parking and logistics
To facilitate the visit to your center, we would appreciate your help with these logistical details:
- Unloading area: The Zoo of the Pyrenees team arrives in a Dacia Dokker van. Preferably, the parking lot should be inside the school grounds or very close to the main entrance.
- Parking during the activity: A space is required where the vehicle can park during the sessions.
- Final loading: There must be access so that, at the end of the last session, the vehicle can return to the entrance of the building to load the animals and material and leave without difficulty.
If the parking lot is further from the school or has difficulties, please let us know so we can plan and avoid delays or complications.
Our animal workshops require minimal effort from your team, while ensuring the safety of the students and the well-being of the animals.
