A selection of locations for school trips suitable for the adventurous, courageous and the brave, which teach resilience, build character, and encourage team work.
1. Canoe Trail: A water sports and adventurous activities company in Bedford which offers schools the opportunity to experience sports not widely used in the curriculum, such as kayaking and canoeing. From taster sessions and canoe and kayak journeys to zorbing and low rope activities, Canoe Trail can help to develop skills including communication, problem solving and decision making.
2. Go Ape: Found at locations across the UK from Aberdeenshire to Devon, Go Ape’s Tree Top Adventure is an adventure course that gets students tackling high rope obstacles, leaping off Tarzan swings and finishing on a zip wire. Skills such as balance, agility, coordination and strength are tested on the course and significantly it encourages a healthy and active lifestyle and motivates pupils to get in the outdoors, all supporting the Key Stage 2, 3 and 4.
3. Mill on the Brue Outdoor Activity Centre: This Somerset-based activity centre is a family run, not for profit, educational and environmental organisation that provides courses for adventurers of all ages, including school groups. Open from the end of January to the beginning of December, there are over 40 outdoor adventure, educational and environmental activities on the 25 acre site. Day trips and overnight stays are on offer, and activities range from archery to assault courses.
4. Zip World Fforest: Nestled in the Conwy Valley, this site offers a woodland setting for students to get active. Students can bounce and explore on Treetop Nets; tackle the aerial obstacles and zip wires on Zip Safari or Tree Hoppers course or ride Skyride, the a five-seater swing School groups can save 40% off tickets Monday to Friday during term time.
Pictured: Pupils in a team building activity with JCA activities.
5. JCA: The activity company offers school groups indoor, outdoor and physical learning opportunities in the form of both residential and one-day School Activity Days. It provides activities such as abseiling, archery, body zorbing and canoeing at five sites in the UK. The chance to try multiple different sports on the one trip, means that there will often be an opportunity for many of the students to try something for the first time.
6. Acorn Adventure: The outdoor adventure provider offers a variety of different activities for pupils to try in one go. Through adventure camps and activities in the outdoors such as rock climbing and archery, as well as water-based activities, including paddle boarding, kayaking and canoeing, the company looks to enhance pupils’ personal development in terms of skills such as confidence, resilience and team work.
7. Lost Earth Adventures: A mountain sports and adventure travel company that offers a range of adventure activities, including rock climbing, abseiling, gorge walking, caving, mountain biking, and hiking across the north of England. Activities last from a half day to multiple day adventures, offering teachers choices from an afternoon of gorge walking to a fully immersive weekend of activities.
Pictured: Climbing at Acorn Adventure.
8. Hilltop Outdoor Centre: Located in Sheringham, this family run, independent outdoor education centre offers an array of experiences from school residential trips to team building courses. Set in 26 Acres of picturesque woodlands overlooking the coast Hilltop offers ‘modern and comfortable’ facilities and provides an array of exciting adventure activities such as climbing walls, high ropes courses, zip wires and archery.
9. Classrooms in the Forest: This provider of learning and education for the Forestry Commission can be found in Whinlatter Forest, in the Lake District National Park. The education team provides suitable programmes for children from Preschool, through all Key Stages, right up to university level learning. Schools have used it for Science, Maths, Art, and Geography, and team building activities range from shelter construction and blind-fold trails to conservation tasks.
10. UKSA: Dinghy sailing, windsurfing, paddle boarding and kayaking are just some of the activities offered by the maritime charity the UKSA. The main base is at Cowes on the Isle of Wight, the heart of the yachting world. Teachers are offered complimentary visits, including accommodation and the ferry crossing, to view the facilities. Residential and non-residential stays are offered.
Find even more adventure-themed trip inspiration in our November Primary edition of School Travel Organiser magazine.
