Adventure Learning for Secondary Schools
Widehorizons 1
Get in Touch 77 Bexley Road London SE9 2PE
enquiries@widehorizons.org.uk 0845 600 65 67 * www.widehorizons.org.uk
*Charged at local rate
02 Widehorizons
Contents Why Adventure?
04
Why Widehorizons?
05
Our Courses and the Secondary School Curriculum
06
Activities for Secondary Schools
08
Example Itineraries
09
Our Centres
10
What’s Next?
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Welcome to Widehorizons Adventure 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 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 adventure that we 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 an adventure, so please remember - if your decision to use the outdoors or not is governed by the cost please speak to us first to investigate how we might be able to support you. I look forward to seeing you at one of our centres in the near future.
Alex Brooks-Johnson Chief Executive, Widehorizons
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Why Adventure? 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 took an adventurous spirit. Direct experiences are the most memorable and powerful learning tools – seeing and experiencing something first-hand is the best way to learn. Make it adventurous, pupil-centred and fun and it is impossible to forget. Learning through adventure helps promote and develop; ● Transferable life skills ● Creativity ● Higher level thinking and the ability to interpret information ● Personal experiences and understanding of the world around you ● Self-confidence, esteem and motivation ● Teamwork and communication skills ● Leadership and responsibility
At Widehorizons we believe that an adventure consists of four main components:
● A Challenge
● Something New
The benefits of learning using adventure are far-reaching and longlasting. Our experienced teachers and outdoor educators are highly skilled at interpreting your objectives and linking adventure to your curriculum and the needs of secondary pupils. They understand the learning outcomes for our activities and can tailor your visit to suit your school’s objectives and needs. We are expert in working with all young people including special education needs groups, high achieving groups and pupils 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 see a new spark of motivation, more creative expression and positivity from your pupils; all combined with a new and deeper understanding of curriculumbased subjects.
● A ‘can do’ attitude ● An open mind and the ability to spot and utilise new opportunities
60% of secondary pupils stated that a residential experience made them more confident that they will do well in their exams.
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● Enjoyment
We make sure that every course, every class, and every activity includes all of those elements.
● Decision-making skills and self reliance
The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Learning Away 2013
● Learning
Why Widehorizons? Our dedicated staff team are a unique blend of experienced, qualified teachers and outdoor instructors. This means that our activities are adventurous and educational, delivered by skilled staff focussed on your objectives. 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 whilst being safe and fun.
Before, During and After Visit Support It’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 group and with our support we hope that adventure becomes part of your long-term teaching plans.
Fundraising in School As a registered charity and with decades of experience working with schools we can support you and your school in fundraising – ensuring that all of the pupils who want to go, can go and that no one gets left behind.
Bringing Adventure to You We have an Outreach Team, delivering adventure in schools and the local community and seven of our own centres located in England and Wales, providing inspirational settings for day visits and residential experiences, making Widehorizons a provider for the full scope of Secondary Adventure Learning from Y7 to Y12.
Safety First Finally, our safety record is excellent. Our centres hold a range of safety awards and certificates including the Learning Outside the Classroom (LOTC) Quality Badge and the Adventurous Activities Licensing Award (ALA). With our 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.
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Our Courses and the Secondary School Curriculum What We Do
How We Do It
These programmes are available at all our centres and focus on individual personal development of pupils by offering opportunities to; ● Use thinking and problem-solving skills first-hand ● Experience new activities ● Work as a team ● Develop risk awareness and management ● Build on communication skills ● Take on leadership roles
We believe that adventure can be found everywhere!
Personal and Social Development Programmes
Our instructors and tutors carefully introduce, develop, and facilitate new experiences and activities; ensuring personal challenge and comfort zones are explored in a positive and confidence building way, both as individuals and as part of team.
Curriculum Enhancement KS3, GCSE & A-Level These programmes are specifically designed to meet national curriculum requirements, and are taught by experienced, qualified, and highly knowledgeable tutors and teachers who really understand their subjects and the natural landscape around them. Our courses can be tailored to meet the latest curriculum specifications across a range of subjects including; ● Geography ● English ● Maths ● History ● Science ● Fieldwork ● Citizenship ● PE ● Design & Technology A wide range of geographical, historical, and science based courses are available to help put pupil’s knowledge into practice with real life direct experiences through enquiry, investigative and practical fieldwork activities. Exam coursework programmes and controlled assessments are also available. 06 Widehorizons
Outreach
Whether 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 or classroom-based activities to support you with enriching the curriculum. Here’s an example of what we can do; Adventurous Activities – use your local area to go climbing, mountain biking or canoeing with our trained outdoor instructors. Survival Skills – learn bush craft skills in your local woodland, encouraging collaboration and leadership in a challenging environment. These experiences create further opportunities for learning to be extended back in the classroom.
Day Visits Day visits are a great way to introduce your pupils to adventure and outdoor learning, helping to bring alive curriculum subjects, introduce new experiences and develop new skills. We offer a wide range of day adventures from curriculum-based courses combining science, geography, history, literacy, and numeracy from inspirational outdoor adventure and activities, to personal development courses including team-building or high adventure courses to increase confidence and self esteem, as well as develop group work and communication skills.
Residential Visits Our Adventure Centres are set up to work specifically with schools, ensuring you have facilities that really work for young people. Residential visits not only allow more time to experience adventure activities, increasing the options and scope of what can be achieved, but bring a whole new element to the experience by staying away from home and living together as a team. This helps build confidence and makes the learning experience more memorable. They are located in some of the most beautiful areas of the UK. From the North Kent Downs, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, to the UNSECO World Heritage Site of the unique Jurassic Coast around Swanage, to the splendour and awe of Snowdonia National.
Specialist Courses
Transition – From Primary School to Secondary School This is a key time in a child’s education. The Primary School years have all been about preparing children for their Secondary education and making sure the transition goes smoothly is vital. 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’ll use adventure combined with review sessions, all designed to develop the skills and attributes needed at secondary school and in this important period of change including co-operation, responsibility, communication and integration.
Intensive Revision at GCSE and A-Level A short (e.g. weekend) residential stay combining intensive subject based revision from your staff along with personal development and adventure activities from our staff – a winning combination that really helps prepare pupils for exams in a new inspirational setting. This can be combined with coursework and controlled assessments.
Special Education Needs Our team have many years experience of working with groups with a wide range of Special Educational Needs and that’s not just the tutors and instructors, it’s our entire team. 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.
Gifted and Talented/Potential High Achievers Our activities for these pupils are designed to add an additional challenge; stretching minds and abilities. Of course, there’ll also be an emphasis on having fun, as with all groups. We know from experience that a tailored programme of adventure can have a significant impact on these groups of pupils.
What better way to engage your group with their GCSE PE criteria, then taking them Mountain Biking! The class had a great time whilst developing key physical and mental skills. Ian Mitchell, Director of Excellence at Brownhills School: A Specialist Sports College. June 2013 Widehorizons 07
Activities for Secondary Schools We use our exciting range of adventurous activities as a vehicle to deliver your course objectives. Our experienced staff team can work with you to design the perfect programme of activities to compliment your curriculum including; se of the Many be es can i t i v i t ac ds towar used ents essm s s a DAN ulum E, AS P curric E S as GC which such rses; u o c VQ ess. and N n ass a c f f a our st
● Rock Climbing
● Mountain Biking
● Abseiling
● Navigation/Orienteering
● High Ropes
● Team Building/Problem Solving
● Zip Wires
● Field Work
● Gorge Walking W
● Survival Skills
● Canoeing/Kayaking
● Duke of Edinburgh Award – Bronze/Silver/Gold
Case Study
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Camden Scho ols for Girls ha ve been utilis Widehorizons ing Ty’n y Berth Ce ntre for many to enhance the years ir geography curriculum, he motivate pupil lping to s, embed learn ing and improv of their exam e delivery syllabus.
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The main objec tive of the we ek long residen students to co tial llect primary da ta for one of the is for chosen key GC schools SE exam sylla bus requireme could include nts which rivers, sand du nes or forests make learning and fun, by linking it to existing an to adventurous activities. d practical Fieldwork is a critical eleme nt of the GCSE pupil’s fieldwor course and, k projects for this trip are wo their GCSE gr rth 25% of ade.
A c ti v it ie s
The Centre ru ns bespoke ad venture progra year to fit the mmes each group’s curricu lum requireme some example nts; here are itineraries;
R iv e r S tu d y – A fo n D u
la s Groups follow the Afon Dulas from a gentle stream into a mountain mature river. Students have opportunity to the examine how the river char change en-ro acteristics ute measuring velocity, flow particle shape rate, size. These re su chosen course lts will feed in to their work title – pr oving or dispr hypothesis. oving their Sand Dune s
Pupils get the chance to cond uct a transect one of the loc through al dune syste ms, investigati how the vege ng first-hand tation change s as you move Students can inland. examine and compare natur managed dune al and systems, lookin and recreation g at how cons ervation co-exist in thi s fragile ecos ystem.
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Girls
Geography G
CSE
M o u n ta in W a lk – G la c ia ti o n a n d G e o lo g y, G e o m o rp h o lo g y, L a n d Us
e Groups can ex plore the beau tiful mountain surrounding the ranges Centre whilst learning abou geographical t key and geological processes. Th travels through e walk the glaciated landscape, inc moraines, roch luding e-moutonée, and a one of examples of a the best corrie lake in the UK. G o rg e S c ra m b le – G o rg e a n d W a te rf a ll F o rm a ti o n Gr
oups will enjoy traversing rock plunge pools faces, jumpin and exploring g into waterfalls. Th activity for grou is is a great ps to get a re al understandin subject includ g of their ing learning ab out gorge and formations up waterfall close!
“The wid ev opportun ariety of field work ities at th that it i s easy f e centre mean or stude pursue t nts t he The ben ir individual in o efits of itiatives this . their hig h attain are reflected in ment an feedback d from th e exami positive ners”. Head o
Martin Evans aphy D epartm , ent
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t both ples to supplemen “The wealth of exam llent ulum and the exce the taught curric that tical work means locations for prac CSE illiant place for G the Centre is a br n me to. Teaching ca geographers to co aff st g in ny pa e accom be provided by th h has by the centre whic from the school or 10 rated over the past expertise, demonst raphers.” th all of our geog years working wi
Gary Doyland, her Geography Teac
Example Itineraries GCSE Residential Visit All 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, here is an example of a week’s long Adventure Programme at Widehorizons Bryntysilio Centre located neat Llangollen.
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GROUP 1
● ● ●
Monday
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5.30
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5.45
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Maths session
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GROUP 2
GCSE Option 1 GCSE Option 1 GCSE Option 1 Orienteering Mountain Biking Canoeing/ Kayaking Climbing
Tuesday
GCSE Option 1 GCSE Option 1 GCSE Option 1 Mountain Biking Canoeing/ Night Line Kayaking Climbing
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GCSE Option 2 GCSE Option 2 GCSE Option 2 Canoeing/ Ropes Course Kayaking Climbing
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GCSE Option 2 GCSE Option 2 GCSE Option 2 Mountain Biking Canoeing/ Kayaking Climbing
Day 2
Thursday ar bedrooms packing and cle t followed by 8am Breakfas Mountain Walk Mountain Walk Mountain Walk le maps, unit erpreting sca Orienteering us such as int 9.30-11.00 to your syllab ths ma link to e l-life challeng Use this fun rea arings. d be conversion an Operation Rainbow Maths Session (Teambuilding Activity) (T 11.15-12. 45 Friday ch cked lun Pa 15 -1. 12.45 Zip Lining aline activity. 1.15-.2.15 Depart 2pm this high adren out velocity on your group ab ch tea uld co u ou Yo Maths Session 2.30-3.30 Our cent Depart res 4.00 Widehoriz offer a range of da ons Marga y vi ret McMilla sits for secondar y schools, n House in Kent. including Teambuild ing at Outcome s fo For studen r the day ts to get to know ea For staff Curric to observ ch other e their st working to PSHE, PE ulum Link udents ge s: To promot ther e team w ork skills To be activ e and to have fun
Review / Social
KS 3
Day Visit
– Team B
uilding
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● 10.30
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the day’s activities nge Groups w ill work to ge teamwor k, commun ther to complete a numbe ication sk persever r of ance. ills, proble m solving, fun outdoor activiti es analytical Group 1b skills, lead , promoting –Brain C ership an hallenge d This activ ity set is based ar together ound cogn and use their thin king skills itive problem solv ing to overco Groups 1a me a serie encouraging pupi & 1b rota ls to work s of challe te activiti nges. es mid m orning Group 2 - Studen ts select one of th e followin Bush craf g t skills Groups w ill learn su rvival skills Orientee ring - Stud in the grea making sk ents will t outdoors work as a ills. . team and individual ly, learning Climbing key decisi wall - A ch on together allenging to reach and rewar the top! ding activ ity that w ill see stud Tower st ac ents work and lead k – Working togeth ership with er in the grou to build the stac k pupils w p. ● 12.15 ill develo Packed lu p trust, co nch -operatio n ● 12.45 Groups 1a &1b mov e Group 2 move to An to Group 2 activiti es dersen & Brain chal ● 2.30 lenges Depart fro m centre Group 1a
- Anderse
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Our Centres Widehorizons operates seven Adventure Centres, each with their own unique character but all providing high-quality adventures for children in an unmistakable Widehorizons style. All of our centres cater for secondary schools. We’ve perfected a programme of delivery and innovation over decades of working with schools and we are sure you won’t be disappointed.
Where our centres are Widehorizons Bryntysilio Centre (Llangollen, Wales)
Widehorizons Environment Centre (Eltham, London)
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.
Day centre located in south-east London. This centre is in a unique nine-acre wildlife site and is
Pupil Capacity in House: 60 Camping: 40
Pupil Capacity: 90
use. It contains many exciting outdoor education resources.
Widehorizons Ty’n y Berth Centre (Corris, Wales)
Widehorizons Horton Kirby Centre (Kent)
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.
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
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 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
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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
What’s Next? If you need some ideas or want to find out how best to integrate adventure into your schedule and curriculum, one of our Adventure Learning consultants would only be too pleased to talk with you.
Consultation
Site Visit
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 pupils that you can pass on to parents.
Your Widehorizons Visit!
Now’s the fun part, bringing your bespoke programme of adventure to life at one of our seven beautiful Adventure Centres!
Follow up
Contact us today
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 group’s experiences, and increase the chances of your visit making a life-changing impact on your pupils and their learning.
enquiries@widehorizons.org.uk 0845 600 65 67* www.widehorizons.org.uk *Charged at local rate
Widehorizons 11
Widehorizons
77 Bexley Road, London SE9 2PE
0845 600 65 67 enquiries@widehorizons.org.uk www.widehorizons.org.uk Widehorizons is proud to be working in partnership with L&Q on the production of this brochure.
Widehorizons is a registered charity number 1105847