A GROUP of students from Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor and Coleg Menai campuses headed to Maentwrog to take part in an activity to learn about safeguarding the environment.

The aim of the weekend at Plas Tan y Bwlch was to extend the students’ skills and knowledge and challenge them to attain levels well beyond those of their college courses.

The course started with a lecture by Dr Paula Roberts who is a Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol lecturer in the School of Environmental Science at Bangor University.

Following the lecture there were sessions on creative thinking, idea generation in groups, research sessions and presentation skills.

The students developed their business ideas and presented them to a panel of experts which include Liz Saville Roberts, MP for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, and Cllr Caerwyn Roberts, chairman of Snowdonia National Park Authority.

Connie Pike, a student at Coleg Menai who attended the course said: “I had a brilliant time over the weekend at Plas Tan y Bwlch.

“I’m very grateful to have had this experience and very glad that I attended!

“The experience has developed many of my skills like communicating and presenting to an audience.

“Most importantly it gave me the opportunity to make new friends and to chat with those studying the same courses as me.

“This was very enjoyable and made the experience even better!”

Isla Thorpe from Coleg Meirion-Dwyfor added: “I really enjoyed the course as it allowed me to develop many interpersonal skills through meeting new people, working with others and developing my presenting and researching skills.”