Widehorizons 1

Adventure Learningfor Secondary Schools

Widehorizons02

Get in Touch77 Bexley RoadLondonSE9 2PE

enquiries@widehorizons.org.uk0845 600 65 67*

www.widehorizons.org.uk

*Charged at local rate

Widehorizons 03

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 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-JohnsonChief Executive, Widehorizons

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? 11

Widehorizons04

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.

60% of secondary pupils stated that a residential experience made them more confident that they will do well in their exams.The Paul Hamlyn Foundation, Learning Away 2013

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

● Decision-making skills and self reliance

● A ‘can do’ attitude

● An open mind and the ability to spot and utilise new opportunities

At Widehorizons we believe that an adventure consists of four main components:

● A Challenge ● Something New ● Learning ● Enjoyment

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

The benefits of learning using adventure are far-reaching and long-lasting. 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 curriculum-based subjects.

Widehorizons 05

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 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 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 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 YouWe 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 FirstFinally, 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.

Free Preview Weekends

Don’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? Adventure Activity Programme,

Full Accommodation and Board and Teacher Networking.

Get in touch to find out more on

0845 600 65 67

Widehorizons06

Our Courses and the Secondary School CurriculumWhat We DoPersonal and Social Development Programmes 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

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.

How We Do ItOutreach We believe that adventure can be found everywhere!

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.

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

Day VisitsDay 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 VisitsOur 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-LevelA 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 NeedsOur 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 AchieversOur 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.

Widehorizons08

Activities for Secondary SchoolsWe 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;

● Rock Climbing

● Abseiling

● High Ropes

● Zip Wires

● Gorge Walking

● Canoeing/Kayaking

● Mountain Biking

● Navigation/Orienteering

● Team Building/Problem Solving

● Field Work

● Survival Skills

● Duke of Edinburgh Award – Bronze/Silver/Gold

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;

● Rock Climbing

● Abseiling

● High Ropes

● Zip Wires

● Gorge W

● Canoeing/Kayaking

Many of these

activities can be

used towards

curriculum assessments

such as GCSE PE, ASDAN

and NVQ courses; which

our staff can assess.

BackgroundCamden Schools for Girls have been utilising Widehorizons Ty’n y Berth Centre for many years to enhance their geography curriculum, helping to motivate pupils, embed learning and improve delivery of their exam syllabus.

Goals/ObjectivesThe main objective of the week long residential is for students to collect primary data for one of the schools chosen key GCSE exam syllabus requirements which could include rivers, sand dunes or forests and to make learning fun, by linking it to existing and practical adventurous activities.Fieldwork is a critical element of the GCSE course and, pupil’s fieldwork projects for this trip are worth 25% of their GCSE grade.

Activit iesThe Centre runs bespoke adventure programmes each year to fit the group’s curriculum requirements; here are some example itineraries;

River Study – Afon DulasGroups follow the Afon Dulas from a gentle mountain stream into a mature river. Students have the opportunity to examine how the river characteristics change en-route measuring velocity, flow rate, particle shape size. These results will feed in to their chosen coursework title – proving or disproving their hypothesis.

Sand Dunes Pupils get the chance to conduct a transect through one of the local dune systems, investigating first-hand how the vegetation changes as you move inland. Students can examine and compare natural and managed dune systems, looking at how conservation and recreation co-exist in this fragile ecosystem.

Mountain Walk – Glaciation and Geology, Geomorphology, Land UseGroups can explore the beautiful mountain ranges surrounding the Centre whilst learning about key geographical and geological processes. The walk travels through the glaciated landscape, including moraines, roche-moutonée, and a one of the best examples of a corrie lake in the UK.

Gorge Scramble – Gorge and Waterfall FormationGroups will enjoy traversing rock faces, jumping into plunge pools and exploring waterfalls. This is a great activity for groups to get a real understanding of their subject including learning about gorge and waterfall formations up close!

Camden School for Girls

Case Study

Linking Adventure in to Your Curriculum Geography GCSE

Gary Doyland,

Geography Teacher

“The wealth of examples to supplement both

the taught curriculum and the excellent

locations for practical work means that

the Centre is a brilliant place for GCSE

geographers to come to. Teaching can

be provided by the accompanying staff

from the school or by the centre which has

expertise, demonstrated over the past 10

years working with all of our geographers.”

aterfall FormationGroups will enjoy traversing rock faces, jumping into This is a great

activity for groups to get a real understanding of their

“The wealth of examples to supplement both “The wealth of examples to supplement both

the taught curriculum and the excellent

locations for practical work means that

aterfall Formation“The wide variety of fieldwork opportunities at the centre mean that it is easy for students to pursue their individual initiatives. The benefits of this are reflected in their high attainment and positive feedback from the examiners”.

Martin Evans, Head of Geography Department

Widehorizons 09

Activities for Secondary Schools Example Itineraries

Maths Booster / Revision Weekend

Our Centres deliver bespoke booster and revision weekends to help raise your pupil’s attainment,

using adventure to enhance your curriculum and encourage learning. We offer this across our

residential centres but here is an example programme from Margaret McMillan House in Kent.

Learning Objectives

● Raise students confidence and to build on current knowledge

● Aid learning in a new environment

● To challenge pupils both physically and mentally

● Embed learning through adventurous activities

Day 1 5.30 Arrive and settle in- welcome and ‘house rules’.

5.45 Supper

6.45 Maths session

8.30 Evening Activity Session

We offer a range of evening activities for your group to enjoy including school discos, camp fires

and access to our willow amphitheatre.

Day 2 8am Breakfast followed by packing and clear bedrooms

9.30-11.00 Orienteering

Use this fun real-life challenge to link maths to your syllabus such as interpreting scale maps, unit

conversion and bearings.

11.15-12. 45 Maths Session

12.45-1.15 Packed lunch

1.15-.2.15 Zip Lining

You could teach your group about velocity on this high adrenaline activity.

2.30-3.30 Maths Session

4.00 Depart

ding school discos, camp fires

Use this fun real-life challenge to link maths to your syllabus such as interpreting scale maps, unit

GCSE Residential VisitAll 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.

GROUP 1 GROUP 2 GROUP 3 EVENING

Arrive 11am. Fire Drill, Kit Issue.

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

OrienteeringGCSE Option 1Mountain Biking

GCSE Option 1Canoeing/Kayaking

GCSE Option 1

Climbing

GCSE Option 1Mountain Biking

GCSE Option 1Canoeing/Kayaking

GCSE Option 1

Climbing

GCSE Option 2Mountain Biking

GCSE Option 2Canoeing/Kayaking

GCSE Option 2

Climbing

GCSE Option 2Mountain Biking

GCSE Option 2Canoeing/Kayaking

GCSE Option 2

Climbing

Night Line

Ropes Course

Review / Social

Mountain Walk Mountain Walk Mountain Walk

Operation Rainbow(Teambuilding Activity)

Depart 2pm

Widehorizons

ou could teach your group about velocity on this high adrenaline activity.

FridayOperation Rainbow

(Teambuilding Activity)(Teambuilding Activity)(T

Depart 2pm

Day Visit – Team BuildingOur centres offer a range of day visits for secondary schools, including Teambuilding at

Widehorizons Margaret McMillan House in Kent.

Team Building● 10.30 Arrival – welcome and brief outline of the day’s activities

Group 1a - Andersen Challenge Groups will work together to complete a number of fun outdoor activities, promoting

teamwork, communication skills, problem solving, analytical skills, leadership and

perseverance. Group 1b –Brain Challenge This activity set is based around cognitive problem solving encouraging pupils to work

together and use their thinking skills to overcome a series of challenges.

Groups 1a & 1b rotate activities mid morning Group 2 - Students select one of the following

Bush craft skills - Groups will learn survival skills in the great outdoors.

Orienteering - Students will work as a team and individually, learning key decision

making skills. Climbing wall - A challenging and rewarding activity that will see students work

together to reach the top! Tower stack – Working together to build the stack pupils will develop trust, co-operation

and leadership within the group. ● 12.15 Packed lunch● 12.45 Groups 1a&1b move to Group 2 activities-

Group 2 move to Andersen & Brain challenges● 2.30 Depart from centre

Curriculum Links:PSHE, PE

Outcomes for the dayFor students to get to know each otherFor staff to observe their students working togetherTo promote team work skillsTo be active and to have fun

KS 3

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

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

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 centreinclude adventurous activitiessuch as caving, climbing andgorge 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

Our CentresWidehorizons 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.

Widehorizons10

Contact us today

What’s Next?

Widehorizons 11

enquiries@widehorizons.org.uk

0845 600 65 67*

www.widehorizons.org.uk*Charged at local rate

Your Widehorizons Visit!

Site Visit

Consultation

Follow up

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.

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.

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

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.

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.