Adventure Learning for Primary Schools

Get in TouchWidehorizons Central Office77 Bexley RoadLondonSE9 2PE

enquiries@widehorizons.org.uk0845 600 65 67*

www.widehorizons.org.uk

*Charged at local rate

Contents Welcome to WidehorizonsAdventure means different things to different people. For some, it’s an adrenaline fuelled thrill of a lifetime, for others it’s simply a case of trying something different. Both examples can have a similar impact and both can be used as a vehicle for learning. At Widehorizons we listen to teachers really carefully to understand what an adventure might mean for them and their class. We are not prescriptive about what an adventure might be, but understand the value of the range of adventures that we can provide and importantly the impact of that adventure on children and what they learn.

This brochure shows you how we link adventure to learning and where we do it. That learning can be curriculum based or can be based on personal development depending on the needs of the group and the desired outcomes. Either way we combine experience and skill to deliver courses specifically for school groups, inspiring children to learn and inspiring adults to teach.

We have a unique team delivering our work, a combination of outdoor instructors and teachers, who all passionately believe in the power of Adventure Learning. We also fundamentally believe that every child should have the opportunity to experience what we do, so please remember – if your decision to use the outdoors or not is governed by the cost please speak to us first to investigate the opportunities that we might be able to provide for support.

I look forward to seeing you at one of our centres in the near future.

Widehorizons 03

Why Adventure? 04

Why Widehorizons? 05

Our Courses and the Primary School Curriculum 06

Activities for Primary Schools 08

Example Itineraries 09

Working with You 10

Our Centres 11

Alex Brooks-JohnsonChief Executive

Why Adventure?

Direct experiences are the most memorable and powerful learning tools – seeing, touching and experiencing something first-hand is the best way to learn. Make it adventurous, child-centred and fun and it is impossible to forget.

Learning through adventure is a powerful personal development experience and helps promote and develop:

l Creativityl Self-confidence, self-esteem

and motivationl Teamwork and communication

skillsl Leadership and responsibilityl Decision making skillsl Independencel A positive attitude to

approaching new challengesl An open mind and the ability

to spot and utilise new opportunities

At Widehorizons, we believe that that an adventure consists of four main components:l A Challenge l Something New l Learning l Enjoyment

We make sure that every course, every class and every activity includes all of these elements.

The benefits of learning using adventure are far reaching and long-lasting. Our experienced tutors are highly skilled at interpreting your objectives and linking adventure to the curriculum. They understand the learning outcomes for our sessions and can tailor your visit to suit you and your pupils’ objectives and needs.

We are expert in working with all children and young people including Special Educational Needs (SEN) groups, high achieving groups and those with additional emotional and behavioural requirements.

We are confident that you will see the impact on your pupils during and after your experience with Widehorizons. You’ll see increased confidence, self-esteem and co-operative behaviour. You’ll hear more developed vocabularies, more creative expression and positivity from your pupils; all combined with a new understanding of curriculum based subjects. They’ll have made some new friends, seen their teachers in a new light and picked up new curriculum knowledge in an experience they are unlikely to forget.

Adventure is in our hearts, our history and our heritage. You could argue that it’s the adventurous spirit in mankind that drives progress, understanding and learning. Our ancestors learnt that the earth was round by sailing towards what they thought was the edge of the world! That certainly takes an adventurous spirit.

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This is an exceptionally well run centre with committed staff and a great deal of high quality, enjoyable learning which provides memorable moments for so many young people and adults.Tony Thomas Chair of the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom, Nov 2011

Why Widehorizons?

With over 32,000 children and young people visiting our centres every year, we’ve learnt a great deal about what works, what doesn’t work and how adventure can be used most effectively to learn – all while being safe and fun.

Before, During and After Visit SupportIt’s not just about a one-off experience. We invite you to a preliminary site visit to discuss your objectives, our Outreach Team can come and develop some preparatory sessions with your class or group and with our support we hope that adventure becomes part of your long-term teaching plans.

Fundraising in SchoolAs a registered charity and with decades of experience working with primary schools, we can support you and your school in fundraising – ensuring all pupils who want to, can take part and that no one gets left behind.

Bringing Adventure to YouWe have an Outreach Team which delivers adventure in schools and six of our own centres located in England and Wales, providing inspirational settings for day visits and residential experiences. This unique combination ensures that we can provide your school with adventure that best suits your objectives.

Safety FirstFinally, our safety record is impeccable. With our vastly experienced staff team and our tried and tested systems and procedures, we maintain a rigorous and thorough approach to health and safety giving you, and the parents of your pupils, true peace of mind.

Our dedicated staff team is a unique blend of experienced, qualified teachers and outdoor instructors. This means that our activities are adventurous, educational and can be designed to meet different learning objectives.

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Preview WeekendsDon’t just take our word for it;

join us with a friend or colleague for one of our Free Preview Weekends

at a Centre of your choice. What’s Included?

c Adventure Activity Programmec Full accommodation and board

c Teacher networking Call us today on 0845 600 65 67

to find out more.

Our Courses and the Primary School CurriculumWe believe that adventure should be part of every child’s learning and development, and we want to support schools in creating progressive and holistic outdoor learning experiences for their pupils.

Through a combination of outreach work in schools, day visits and residential trips we can provide powerful and long lasting adventures for children that will not only develop them as individuals, but also link directly with your school’s curriculum.

Here are some of the ways we link adventure to the Primary Curriculum.

Maths – learning a wide range of numeracy skills through direct ‘hands on’ challenges and activities, building real-life understanding and practical maths skills that can be taken back to the classroom.

Literacy – unlock your pupil’s creativity, understanding and interpretation of language, communication and literacy using the powerful personal experiences of taking part in new activities, seeing new places and learning new skills.

Geography and Science – immerse yourself (sometimes literally) in your subjects, experiencing first-hand the wonders of the natural world, and find out how things work and why through using real applied experiences and examples.

History – re-live the past for real and how it impacts on the present day, learning about people, places and events through experiential learning and role play.

Art, Music and Drama – using the power of new experiences, the outdoors and the natural world to unlock hidden creativity and talent.

Design and Technology – there is nothing like a ‘real-life’ survival situation to help understand the principles of practical design and problem-solving such as designing and building a raft, then using it.

Personal Adventure – using outdoor activities and expeditions to develop self-confidence, teamwork, communication and social skills. Perhaps for the first time, experiencing leadership and responsibility while developing decision-making and self-reliance abilities.

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91% of Primary School children found learning in a classroom more engaging after experiencing a residential visit.The Paul Hamlyn Foundation (2013). Learning Away.

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Day VisitsDay visits are a great way to introduce your pupils to adventure and outdoor learning, helping to bring alive curriculum subjects, have new experiences and develop new skills. We offer a wide range of day visit adventures from curriculum-based courses combining science, geography, history, literacy and numeracy with inspirational outdoor adventure and activities, to personal development courses including team-building and high adventure courses to increase confidence and self-esteem, as well as develop group work and communication skills.

Residential VisitsResidential visits allow more time to experience the adventure and activities, increasing the options and scope of what can be achieved. Staying away from home for the first time is a memorable experience for children and can teach valuable life skills. We promote a team ethic throughout the stay which introduces concepts of team work, trust and cooperation.A residential experience also provides an ideal opportunity for teachers to better understand their pupil’s learning styles through spending time with them over the course of the week. The combination of activity and informal setting is conducive to building strong bonds between teachers and pupils.

Our residential centres are set up to work specifically with primary schools, ensuring you have facilities that really work for this age group.

Transition from KS2 to KS3Making sure children’s transition from KS2 to KS3 is positive and productive is vital and can be linked to future success. Our transition courses focus on the outcomes that are essential to ensuring that this period in a child’s life is as positive and productive as possible.

We use adventure combined review sessions, all designed to develop the key skills and attributes needed at secondary school including; co-operation, responsibility, communication and integration.

Special Educational Needs (SEN) Our team have many years experience of working with groups with a wide range of SEN and that’s not just our tutors and instructors, it’s all our support staff as well. This means that not only will your activities be designed especially for your pupils to get the most out of their time with us, but the overall experience will be positive, accommodating and enjoyable.

As with all of our courses, your specific objectives will be the focus of the visit and we can tailor your activities for maximum benefit.

Gifted and Talented/Potential High AchieversOur activities for these pupils are designed to add an additional challenge – stretching minds and abilities. Of course, as with all groups, there will also be an emphasis on having fun. We know from experience that a tailored programme of adventure can have a significant impact on these groups of pupils.

OutreachWhether it’s a corner of a local park, a Widehorizons centre or your playground, our Outreach Team will work with you to make the most of the resources available to you. Our highly experienced team can visit you in school to plan and develop sessions linked specifically to your topic, supporting you with enriching the curriculum.

Here’s an example of what we can do;

Creative Writing – we can use your local park to bring your favourite children’s story to life!

Forest Schools – this child-led activity sees children learning independence and decision making skills.

These experiences create further opportunities for learning to be extended back in the classroom.

Day visits

Our day centres can work with you to provide a day packed full of fun,

adventure and learning which suits your objectives. Here’s an example of a day

at Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre in rural Kent.

River Rangers

� 10:00 to 11:15 – Class shown

a wanted poster from the

‘Environment Agency’ asking

for volunteer scientists to help

investigate the local river for

the course of this session

pupils will be asked to come up

with ideas about the methods

they would use to carry out

the investigation before going

outside to practice them.

� 11:15 to 12:00 – Playtime & Lunch

� 12:00 to 1:45 – Go to the river

to undertake investigations in

small teams. This will include

the adventure of getting into

the river, testing the speed and

temperature of the water as

well as observing invertebrates

and their habitats.

� 2:00 to 2:15 – Interpret and

discuss the results, draw

conclusions and discuss the

validity of the investigation.

� 2.15 to 2.30 – Preparing to go home.

Activities for Primary SchoolsWidehorizons offers a comprehensive and innovative programme of activities for primary schools designed to bring adventure to any curriculum subject. Whether our Outreach Team is working with you in your school, or you and your class are at one of our six centres, our activities and courses provide:

l Outdoor-based Literacy and Numeracy with direct curricular links for all ages including Reception and Foundation Stage.

l Environmental, Science, History and Geography activities focussed on understanding the natural world around us, how it works and how to protect it. These are specifically designed for either KS1 or KS2 pupils.

l Team-Building and Problem-Solving Challenges specially designed for KS1 and KS2 pupils to increase teamwork, cooperation, communication and leadership skills.

l High Adventure Activities building on those experienced at KS1 such as Rock Climbing and High Ropes for KS2 pupils to stretch boundaries, increase self-confidence and self-esteem, whilst learning to trust and respect others.

l Bushcraft and Survival Skills to build independence and self-reliance for KS1 and KS2 pupils by practising new skills and learning to survive in the outdoors by building shelters and camps, lighting fires and making tools and crafts.

l Journeys and Expeditions using real-life map reading, navigation and decision-making skills to learn and explore the world with specific courses designed for all age groups.

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Day visits

Our day centres can work with you to provide a day packed full of fun,

adventure and learning which suits your objectives. Here’s an example of a day

at Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre in rural Kent.

River Rangers

� 10:00 to 11:15 – Class shown

a wanted poster from the

‘Environment Agency’ asking

for volunteer scientists to help

investigate the local river for

the course of this session

pupils will be asked to come up

with ideas about the methods

they would use to carry out

the investigation before going

outside to practice them.

� 11:15 to 12:00 – Playtime & Lunch

� 12:00 to 1:45 – Go to the river

to undertake investigations in

small teams. This will include

the adventure of getting into

the river, testing the speed and

temperature of the water as

well as observing invertebrates

and their habitats.

� 2:00 to 2:15 – Interpret and

discuss the results, draw

conclusions and discuss the

validity of the investigation.

� 2.15 to 2.30 – Preparing to go home.

Example Itineraries

Residential visitsAll of our residential centres offer different types of activities, with programmes

to suit all types of school groups. We tailor each course to suit the school and

the required outcomes but here are two examples of weeks of adventure at the

Widehorizons Townsend Centre in Dorset on the Jurassic Coast and Widehorizons

Ty’n y Berth Centre in Wales on the southern edge of Snowdonia National Park.

Day Morning Lunch Afternoon Evening

Mon.

Tue.

Weds.

Fri.

Thurs.

Arrive at the Centre

Corfe CastleA decision making exercise which cast the pupils in the role of spies planning an attack on the castle. Pupils use information gained from a walk around the castle to plan their way into the Castle to capture the Baron.

Involves school staff participation in roles of castle inhabitants.

Peveril Rock PoolingA visit to Peveril Point to investigate the plants and animals found on the rocky shore. The focus is on

Orienteering

and hidden letters. These letters form words associated with their visit to Swanage.

Durlston Country ParkHands - on practical activities to connect with the natural world and to further understand habitats, life processes, adaptations, food chains and more. Visit woodland, cliff and downland habitats.

Option to visit Durlston Castle by arrangement.

Provided by centre

On Site

On Site

Off Site

On Site

Discover SwanageA navigation through the town to the beach to discover what delights Swanage has to offer

Team Challenge & Low RopesActivities combining teamwork and personal physical challenge on a range of low level apparatus including ropes, tyres and bridges.

Land YachtsA team challenge to design, build, test and evaluate a land yacht that will transport a test pilot for 3 metres.

Depart the Centre

Beach TechnologyStructured sand castle design and construction linked with Corfe Castle.

Smuggling Talk A magical on-site evening talk in our own quarry. Hear

out how smuggling was organised and carried out.

Smuggling Talk A magical on-site evening talk in our own quarry. Hear smugglers’

smuggling was organised and carried out.

Postcards Home & Crabbing

Disco

Mondayam journey to Walespm arrive, settle in, course aims, equipment

eve Night Walk – an introductory high impact session

introduce the concepts of independence & team

working.Tuesday

am Forest Orienteering – remotely supervised, children

working in pairs or small teams, building on prior

experience, developing the concept of independence.

pm Gorge Scramble

challenge by choice, peer supporting & leadership

eve team games/problem solving – teacher led

Wednesdayam

Hill Walk – ½ day route appropriate to the needs

of the group (and staff). An appreciation of the

natural environment, motivation, determination, and

leadershippm Slate Mine Exploration – a trip in a slate mine

appropriate to the needs and abilities of the group.

Personal challenge, leadership, history and culture

eve Swimming – teacher ledThursdayam Rock Climbing – reaching new heights!

Responsibility, Communication, Trust & Achievement

pm Open Canoeing – skills, games or a journey

eve Talent Contest – teacher ledFriday

am Course Review – highlighting success and

achievements depart for home

Summary of Day

A fantastic day for those of you wanting a real Horton Kirby adventure! Small teams are set

the challenge of finding their way around Farningham Woods’ Nature Reserve using maps,

compasses and instructions. This challenge is fantastic for developing teamwork skills and

geographical mapping skills. Will the class find their way out?

Key Vocabulary

l Map

l Compass

l Instructions

l Symbol

l North / South / East / West

l Stile

Prior Learning

No prior learning is essential for children to take part in this day.

To maximise children’s learning during their visit, it would be beneficial for them to:

l Have experience of using maps & compasses previously

Learning Objectives

Children will learn how geographical

information is communicated.

l Children will learn what is map is and

how it is used including using a key.

l Children will learn how to read and

follow different maps and symbol trails.

l Children will learn what a compass is

and how it is used.

l Children will learn how to use written

instructions including looking for

landmarks.

NC / QCA links

NC – KS2 Geog – 2b, 2c

PE - 5f 11a, 11b, 11c

QCA – PE Unit 20 & 30

Outdoor, adventurous activities

Routefinding

Key

Stage 2

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Working with YouOur team is always on hand to answer your questions about Widehorizons, what we can do and how it benefits your school.

I can honestly say one of the best class trips I have done in a long time. I was highly impressed with the centre and the children loved it!Helena Meagher, Millennium Primary School, April 2012

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Contact us to find out how we can work with youenquiries@widehorizons.org.ukor 0845 600 65 67

Follow up

Evaluation

Your Widehorizons Visit!

Site Visit

Consultation

The adventure doesn’t end there. Our Outreach Team can visit you again, running sessions and activities that will truly embed the learning from your visit, consolidate your class’s experiences and increasing the chances of your visit making a life-changing impact on your children and their learning.

After you and your group have been, we’ll ask what you thought of it so that we can continue to improve our work with primary schools.

Now comes the fun part, bringing your bespoke programme of adventure to life at one of our seven beautiful Adventure Centres.

Next, we’ll invite you to visit the site to meet the teaching staff and talk in-depth about the activities and the outcomes that you expect. At this stage you’ll have a

thorough understanding of the adventure ahead for you and your class, so you can pass that on to parents.

If you need some ideas or want to find out how best to integrate adventure into your schedule and curriculum, we’d be only too pleased to go through that with you.

Contact us today

If you would like our team to speak to parents about

adventure or arrange a visit for them to see where their child will be visiting, we’d be

only too happy to help.

Call us on 0845 600 65 67 to get the ball rolling.

Our CentresWidehorizons operates seven centres, each with their unique character but all providing high quality adventures for children in our unmistakable Widehorizons style. All of our centres cater for Primary Schools. We’ve perfected a programme of delivery and innovation over decades of working with Primary Schools and we are sure you won’t be disappointed.

Widehorizons Townsend Centre (Swanage, Dorset)Residential centre located on the World Heritage Jurassic Coast in Swanage, Dorset. This centre provides a broad range of activities with a strong focus on using the local area as much as possible in its courses.Pupil Capacity: 101

Where our centres are

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Widehorizons Margaret McMillan House (Wrotham, Kent)Residential centre located in rural Kent on the North Downs and conveniently near to London. Margaret McMillan has 26 acres which includes ropes courses, obstacle courses and initiative exercises.Pupil Capacity in House: 136 Camping: 36

Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre (Kent)Day centre located in Kent surrounded by farmland, woods and villages and is close to the River Darent and a Country Park. All of these provide wonderful opportunities for learning and discovery.Pupil Capacity: 96

Widehorizons Environment Centre (Eltham, London)Day centre located in south-east London. This centre is in a unique nine-acre wildlife site and is specifically designed for educational use. It contains many exciting outdoor education resources. Pupil Capacity: 90

Widehorizons Bryntysilio Centre (Llangollen, Wales)Residential centre located near Llangollen. Set in its own beautiful grounds, this centre provides a broad adventurous programme including activities such as mountaineering, canoeing and mountain biking.Pupil Capacity in House: 60 Camping: 40

Widehorizons Ty’n y Berth Centre (Corris, Wales)Residential centre located on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Courses at this centre include adventurous activities such as caving, climbing and gorge walking.Pupil Capacity: 40

Widehorizons Bryn Coedwig Centre (Corris, Wales)Residential centre nestled in the historic village of Aberllefenni, on the edge of the Snowdonia National Park. Surrounded by areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty this site is an ideal location from which to explore the surrounding mountains and countryside.Pupil Capacity: 30

Widehorizons 77 Bexley Road, London SE9 2PE

0845 600 65 67enquiries@widehorizons.org.ukwww.widehorizons.org.ukWidehorizons is a registered charity number 1105847Widehorizons is proud to be working in partnership with L&Q on the production of this brochure.