A chance viewing of Jurassic Park sparked something unexpected in one of our young people, DG. What started as a film night quickly turned into a fascination with dinosaurs and prehistoric life. Recognising this spark of curiosity, Housing Plus staff acted quickly to nurture the interest. An enrichment visit to the Natural History Museum was arranged to bring DG’s newfound passion to life.
The excitement was immediate. DG was especially animated while exploring the dinosaur exhibit, walking among the skeletons and models with wide-eyed curiosity. He asked thoughtful questions about species names and their origins, clearly engaging with the scientific displays on a deeper level.
“I didn’t know that humans weren’t always here,” he said, visibly captivated by the vast timeline of Earth’s history presented in the museum’s exhibits.
As the tour continued, DG’s enthusiasm became contagious. Sharing what he had learned with another young person, he wandered through the mammal gallery and spotted animals familiar from his country of birth. The life-size whale models left him in awe, offering a sense of scale and wonder that no screen could match.
“I could really see how the young people’s scientific curiosity deepened as they toured the museum,”
said Camellia, manager at Housing Plus. “Enabling personal growth in this way, through out-of-classroom learning, is a key aspect of our provision. It’s where knowledge becomes real and connections are made.”
For DG, it was more than just a museum trip. It was a window into the past, a chance to imagine the world before humans, and to recognise his own place within the broader story of life on Earth.