OWLS Nature Club

09/02/2026

OWLS Mid term - Activity Camp.
Theme: "Woodland Olympics'
Turvey Nature Reserve, North Dublin.
Monday 16th - Friday 20th February
Times 9.30 - 2.30pm
Suitable for ages 6plus

If you have a child who enjoys the great outdoors, then why not sign them up for the 'Woodland Olympics'
Four teams competing through the 'Woodland Games'. Which will include dodgeball, hazel javelin, log shot put, tree climbing, archery, silent ninja, nerf gun sniper range, capture the flag, cross country through mud and water, pole vault over a ditch; are just a few of the games that will take place throughout the week. Winning team will receive medals and prizes, along with the glory of having their names placed on the Woodland Olympics 2026 Champions plaque and placed on the wall of theme

A fun outdoor active camp for children
Fee per day €30.

To book a place or to find out more: email: [email protected]

03/02/2026

'We are now starting an afterschool club for young individuals that enjoy and want to do more outdoors caring for the natural environment. We are calling it 'OWLS' Rangers'
A practical afterschool club for individuals that want to learn about nature conservation through a hands on approach.

Turvey Nature Reserve, near the village of Donabate. North Dublin.
Wednesday, 3.30 - 5pm. Starting the 11th February.
Suitable for individuals aged 11 and up, with an interest in learning practical skills through the tool use and direct involvement with animal conservation.
Fee €7.

At the end of the term, individuals that has completed 5 or more sessions will receive a handy tool, plus a certificate that highlights the learning aspects and achievements from the programme.

For more information or to book onto the afterschool programme, email: [email protected]

09/12/2025

'OWLS' Christmas Workshop and Activity Camp.

Where: Turvey Nature Reserve. North Dublin.
Monday 22nd and Tuesday 23rd December.
Times: 9.30 - 2.30pm
Sorry, only suitable for ages 6plus..
Fee €30 per day.

Come along and join the forest elves at their workshops to create and take home various woodland crafts, such as deer sculptures, snowmen, christmas wreaths/stars, outdoor festive plaques, yule logs and natural decorations for the christmas tree.

Plus take part in the festive elf games around the woodland.
And feast on chocolate yule logs, mince pies, candy cane and cups of warm chocolate.
Or sing-along around the fire whilst indulging on chocolate biscuit smoors.

You can attend for the two days or just the odd day.

To book a place, email back [email protected]. Giving a name of the child(ren) and the days this wish to join.

Looking to finish the year with a festive feeling.
The 'OWLS' woodland elves..!

13/11/2025

A FREE Event:
Supported by Fingal County Council as part of Social Inclusion week.
Join the 'OWLS' Leader for a 'Turvey Park Experience' family fun event.
Sunday 23rd November. Times 9.45am - 12.45pm.
Turvey Nature Reserve, near the village of Donabate. North Dublin.
Suitable for families with children of primary age and to those that don't normally get an opportunity to take part in outdoor events.
A morning of shelter building, woodland traditional games and finishing off around a fire toasting marshmallows and the mealworm challenge.
To book a place, email [email protected], giving us your name and the number of participants looking to join in.

30/10/2025

A Big 'thank you' to Fingal County Council for funding a First Aid course for the 'OWLS' Junior leaders, under our youth development programme. After an intensive three days on the course they all passed this afternoon. Which means, more 'OWLS' public events, survival parties and activity camps as we now have a team of First Aid Responders. I asked for a photo and was sent the attached. Apparently it was them enjoying a nice treat (paid for by themselves) after the course.. Don't worry, it will be burnt mealworms at camp tomorrow.

30/10/2025

At the start of today, somebody send 'How are you going to get a fire going in all this rain'. Fear not..! Budding campers can achieve anything. Here's a picture of one of the scientist giving the toasting marshmallow safety talk and others toasting their marshmallows. In the rain..!

29/10/2025

Second day of the 'OWLS' Halloween Camp is going well.! The four teams are getting closer to finding the cure for my infection. Today they were building defense shelters, playing the spider web game and using tools to peel fresh hazel rods for the use of toasting marshmallows. That's what I've been told..! In truth, I'm slightly worried, what if they don't find the cure by Friday and there becomes a chance of a break out.! Maybe that's why they are building impenetrable shelters and pointing sticks. Good old fun in the outdoors.....

23/10/2025

My infection is starting to spread..!
Now keeping my fingers crossed that individuals (buddy scientist) on the 'OWLS' Halloween Camp next week can find me a cure, before time runs out..! And the infections spreads to everyone else on camp.. A fun outdoor camp full of imagination and outdoor play...

18/10/2025

There was us getting all excited with the planning of the 'OWLS' Halloween Activity Camp in two weeks time.. Only to receive a heart sinking view this afternoon. Someone made their way down a 20min walk from the park entrance to the far corner of the park, with a mind to cause mischief. He/She/They prised open a padlocked potorloo then set a fire and defaced the inside. If they wanted to use it, I would have given them the code for the lock.. This now sets us back and the camp is in two weeks time. Why are there individuals like this...!

17/10/2025

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1Lv9sTK6Qt/

PROVISION OF WILDLIFE, EDUCATION AND REHABILITATION CENTRE - TURVEY NATURE RESERVE, DONABATE

I refer to a number of queries received regarding the provision of a Wildlife, Education and Rehabilitation Centre at Turvey Nature Reserve which is an objective in the Fingal Development Plan and Fingal Diversity Plan. See below update received to my question submitted to today’s council meeting on this project. I will keep you informed of developments.

Question: Councillor C. Johnston
“To ask the Chief Executive to provide a progress report on the provision of a Wildlife, Education and Rehabilitation Centre at Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate which is an objective in the Fingal Development Plan 2023-2029 and Fingal Biodiversity Plan 2022-2030?”

Reply:
At the moment, it is not possible to provide a definite timeline for the development of the centre as that is dependent on the planning approval process (part 8 v application to An Coimisiún Pleanála) and the budgetary requirements. The design and planning process is expected to take up to two years with work to commence in the coming months.

08/10/2025

We now have the pleasure of launching the 'OWLS' Halloween Activity Camp

Tuesday 28th - Friday 31st October
Turvey Nature Reserve, Donabate, North Dublin.
Times 9.30 - 2.30pm daily.
For ages 6plus
Fee €30 per day

Theme; Infection
Join the team as a budding scientist and help find a cure or method of containment for 'Mouse 67' before time runs out. We need individuals that are brave, nerves of steel, to find the cure or shut down the wood before "mouse67' becomes fully infected and the outbreak spreads.

This will be a role playing camp with lots of chasing and being chased. There will also be an exclusion zone (for individuals to do art and crafts such as broom making, swords, wands) that the outbreak can't past into.
Fires each day, the spooky shop for trading body parts, marshmallow toasting, blood popcorn and the deadly eyeball and spider Halloween stew.

A fun camp full of imagination.

Open to booking now. Email only: [email protected] Send us a name, age and days you wish for your individual(s) to attend.