Ever considered a group learning experience? Here are a couple of locations with courses and workshops available, where groups can learn or improve their skills together!

The American Museum at Claverton Manor, Bath, takes visitors on a journey through the history of America, from its early settlers to the twentieth century. With its remarkable collection of folk and decorative arts, the Museum shows the diverse and complex nature of American traditions. The only museum of Americana outside the United States, it was founded to bring American history and cultures to the people of Britain and Europe. Schools can discover the American Museum’s collections with an engaging, interactive workshop led by its experienced learning team. Artefacts and documents are at the heart of all the museum’s learning programmes. Programmes last two and a half hours and are led by the Education Officer. All programmes have direct links to the National Curriculum at the Key Stages (KS) COURSES Ever considered a group learning experience? Here are a couple of locations with courses and workshops available, where groups can learn or improve their skills together On course indicated, although they can be adapted to suit other age groups. The museum is happy to design bespoke programmes wherever possible.

Workshops are engaging at the American Museum

History and Geography Programmes:

● Native Americans: as Varied as the Land
Discover the diversity of Native American peoples and explore how different tribes adapted to their natural environments by examining their art, tools, and clothing. (KS 1 to 3)

● England and the Colonisation of America
What was life like for early colonists in America? Find out about the journeys made by settlers and explorers and their daily lives in the New World. (KS 1 to 3)

● The American West
Learn to discern fact from fiction as you use artefacts and documents to discover the history of the American West. (KS 2 to 3, GCSE)

● Understanding Slavery in America
Use the Museum’s object, archival, and handling collections to uncover the experiences of enslaved people, explore forms of resistance and reveal some of the slavery’s lasting legacies in the United States. (KS 3 to A level)

Art, Textiles and Design Programmes:
●Native American Art
Explore the Museum’s Native American objects, from totem poles to feast spoons, beaded moccasins to kachina dolls and take part in a creative workshop. (KS 1 to GCSE)

● Extraordinary Artists
The Museum’s folk art gallery is full of art made by extraordinary, ordinary people. Explore playful, engaging art and sculpture and take part in a creative workshop. (KS 1 to 3, GCSE)

● Textile Traditions Discover the Museum’s famous collection of quilts, Navajo blankets, rugs, and samplers. Get up close with our textiles handling collection and take part in a creative workshop. (KS 1 to A Level)

● Booking and Costs
All groups need to book in advance and will receive written confirmation of their visit. For bookings and general enquiries contact the Groups Manager on 01225 823019. School programmes cost £105 for a group of maximum 30 students. The museum can offer travel grants of up to £200 to help schools cover the cost of travel to the Museum. School programmes are available between the following dates: March 25 – October 24, Tuesday- Friday, beginning before 1130hrs. November 24 – December 12, Tuesday- Friday, beginning before 1130hrs. For general group visits, the museum offers complimentary familiarisation visits for group organisers along with free admission for them on the day, free coach parking, admission and refreshments for the coach driver and introduction on arrival by a member of staff.

Denman College is located near Abingdon

DENMAN COLLEGEThe Women’s Institute (WI) Denman College offers a wide variety of day and residential courses in cookery, craft and lifestyle. Set in the picturesque village of Marcham, in Oxfordshire, the Georgian mansion and seventeen acres of grounds provide the pitch perfect atmosphere for learning. Visitors can choose from day schools or two to four night residential courses, presided over by tutors with vast experience in their field and a passion for imparting their knowledge to others. Courses range from novice to experienced. Everyone is welcome — men and women, WI members and non-members. The college caters for groups or friends or hen parties looking for something a bit different. There are also regular class reunion events. The top-of-the-range suite of rooms that make up The Studios has every possible facility and resource for the students, from user-friendly computer workstations to purposed art and craft workshops, and the bright and comfortable lecture theatres have full audio-visual facilities. Facilities for disabled students are also readily available. Throughout the year the college features special events, such as its famed Jam Festival, and guest speakers, including renowned authors and chefs. Drawing on the amazing range of skills and experience of the Women’s Institute, the WI Cookery School is a modern purpose-built cookery school. It offers a full range of inspiring hands-on classes for all ages and abilities, from knife skills workshops to family baking days, sushi masterclasses to seasonal Spanish food. The school welcomes members and non-members alike and provide courses of varying lengths, from day classes to four-night residential courses for those wishing to fully immerse themselves in their chosen subject. There are also shorter evening classes as well as a Sunday Morning Bakery. Set in the grounds of a magnificent country house and fully equipped with the latest Morphy Richards appliances and kitchenware, each of the 12 workstations is kitted out with its own Stoves oven, fridge and a choice of electric or gas powered hobs. Best of all, all the laborious preparation, such as weighing out ingredients, is done before arrival, so attendees can spend more time cooking. Cookery is a great creative way of bringing people together and Denman College’s WI Cookery School often hosts teambuilding events for local companies. The college works closely with event organisers to develop bespoke cookery classes for groups of up to 24 people, and with additional seminar rooms and bedrooms on site, the venue is the perfect place for company away-days and conferences. At Christmas, the cookery school also host company parties with a difference. Attendees work together in teams under the guidance of the school’s tutors to prepare an amazing festive lunch or dinner. The school also hosts a number of press days and product launches in its Ferris Demonstration Theatre. Seating up to 100 people and fitted with ovens and an induction hob, the room is ideal for cookery book launches, food and drink tastings, and demonstrations of kitchen products and utensils.