What is
outdoor
learning and
adventure?
“I’ve learnt skills I didn’t
think I could.”
Ryan Chesney Pupil at Castle Hill PRU
Outdoor Learning and Adventure is
recognised as a key provision for supporting
the development and learning of children
and young people’s social, emotional and
communication skills. Activities that the team
offer can easily link to schemes of work in
school or in childcare / youth settings and
also offers the chance for children and young
people to access different experiences and
learn in new ways.
Key objectives
Key objectives for Outdoor Learning and Adventure are to:
• develop relationships between groups, with staff and leaders
• build self-esteem, aspirations and a desire to learn more
• remove barriers to learning e.g. behaviour, dislike of the
classroom
• improve problem solving skills
• teach outdoor survival skills
• develop leadership skills
• build an understanding of the environment
Our qualified and experienced staff can offer opportunities to
take part in both water and land based activities. All this can
be found right here on your doorstep in Bolton.
Our water based activities can be done on the breathtaking
reservoir at High Rid, Horwich. Land based activities can take
place in and around the stunning countryside of Bolton or at a
venue of your choice.
These activities can help you learn new skills and provide
the opportunity to gain locally and nationally recognised
awards, including:• Paddle Powers (BCU)
•Duke of Edinburgh
•Children’s University
•Assessment and Qualification Alliance
•Climbing
•Adult opportunities and qualifications
A new challenge
Outdoor Learning and Adventure is perfect for young people
who want to try something new and challenging. The
following activities that we provide are all Olympic sports:
• Canoeing
• Kayaking
•Sailing
•Mountain biking
• Archery
Want to know more details?
Tel: 01204 332323
Email: [email protected]
Meet
the team
“It’s always well organised
and reliable sessions”
Jo Group leader from Castle Hill PRU
Our highly qualified team have many years of
experience of delivering both water and land
based activities. The team includes four full
time staff and casual staff. We also offer adult
volunteer opportunities too.
Quality assurance
Each activity is risk assessed and instructors follow Local
Authority policies and procedures to ensure activities are
run safely. Instructors also risk assess during activities taking
place.
We have an Adventure Activity Licence (AALA). For more
information visit www.hse.gov.uk/aala
All our staff have the relevant training and qualifications to
cover the full range of activities (See separate Land Based
and Water Based sheets for full information).
Risk assessments and insurance
Bolton Council hold a £50,000,000 public liability insurance
which includes:
• Inclusive practice (children and young people with
additional needs)
• Partnership working including:
– Connexions
– Bolton at Home
– Bolton Wanderers Community Trust
– Local Schools
– Local Youth Groups
– Scouts
– Guide Association
– SERCO
Want to know more details?
Tel: 01204 332323
Email: [email protected]
Land based
activities
“I look forward to climbing,
it’s the best thing in the week”
Devon Deady Pupil at Castle Hill PRU
Our land based activities take place across
Bolton. Activities can be combined and
bespoke programmes created to meet your
groups individual needs.
Some of the activities can also be brought
to your venue or to a place nearer to you
depending on the activity.
Please note: there may be age and height restrictions
for some of our activities.
Qualifications
To maintain our high quality standard of delivery, all our
staff hold a 16 hour First Aid certificate and the following
qualifications are held to cover all activities:•MLTS Winter Mountain Leader www.mltuk.org
• SPA www.mlte.org
• NICAS Award Tutor www.nicas.co.uk
•Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition Assessor
and Supervisor www.dofe.org
•NNAS (National Navigation Award Scheme)
Bronze Silver and Gold Assessor www.nnas.org.uk)
•GNAS (Grand National Archery Society)
Archery Leaders Award www.archerygb.org
•BSCA British School Cycling Association)
Off road leaders award www.bsca.org.uk
• British Orienteering Level One Coach
www.britishorienteering.org.uk
• MiDAS Minibus Drivers Awareness Scheme
www.midas-training.org.uk
Copies of certificates are available on request.
The activities include
Climbing and Abseiling: Easily accessible yet offering an
amazing range of climbs from the simply exhilarating to the
truly challenging, both take place across local venues that
offer the ideal climbing terrain for beginners and experts.
Climbing Wall: Our popular six metre portable climbing wall
offers a variety of climbing experiences that can challenge a
range of abilities. Our qualified and experienced staff can help
individuals reach their potential.
The wall can be adapted to suit all children and young people
including those with disabilities.
Walking and Orienteering: Walking and orienteering
sessions, with one of our experienced instructors are tailored
to provide a suitable route for ability and weather conditions.
Providing the best possible experience in the outdoors with
one of our experienced instructors.
Camping: Camping trips can be arranged in the surrounding
areas and we offer a variety of terrain in which to hold an
overnight camp or expedition.
Mountain Biking: A great activity for getting young people
out in the fresh air in the beautiful countryside surrounding
the centre. These activities are suitable for all cyclists, from
beginner to expert, there are amazing options on our tried
and tested routes.
Gorge Walking: An exciting activity where you follow the
course of a stream, on foot in the water, negotiating rapids
and jumping or climbing waterfalls. This activity builds on
team work and also helps children and young people build
their self-esteem and confidence.
Bushcraft: Bushcraft is about surviving and thriving in the
outdoors. Skills include building fires, fishing, foraging and
shelter building.
Team Building: We can tailor our team building sessions
to be appropriate for children and young people of all ages
and needs.
Archery: An Olympic sport that can see participants quickly
improve. Archery can be set up in a sports hall, on a school
playing field or a park near you.
We also provide sessions for adult groups such as teachers
and office workers. Team building includes raft building, trust
activities, tug of war, team puzzles and many more.
Want to know more details?
Tel: 01204 332323
Email: [email protected]
Water based
activities
“I couldn’t believe I managed
to gain confidence in canoeing
– I really enjoyed it”
Participant at summer session
Our water based activities take place at High
Rid Reservoir in Horwich. All equipment is on
site and there are dedicated changing facilities.
The centre offers a relaxed atmosphere for
young people to learn and build confidence
to explore our water based activities.
Activities can be combined and bespoke
programmes created to meet your groups
individual needs. It gives those taking part a
greater understanding of teamwork, individual
strengths, co-operation and is lots of fun!
Please note: there may be age and height restrictions
for some of our activities.
To maintain our high quality standard of delivery, all our
staff hold a 16 hour First Aid certificate and the following
qualifications are held to cover all activities:• BCU Level three inland river www.bcu.org.uk
• BCU Level four sea www.bcu.org.uk
• BCU Bell boat helm www.bcu.org.uk
• RYA Instructor www.rya.org.uk
Copies of certificates are available on request.
The activities include
Kayaking: Kayaks are paddled by one person with a double
bladed paddle. They are ideal for both skill and fun sessions.
Canoeing: Canoes are open topped boats that can be
paddled by one or two people using a single bladed paddle.
This is the perfect activity to encourage team work and
communication. Canoes can also be rafted together to combat
adverse weather conditions or to assist less able groups.
Sailing: Sailing dinghys can carry 1 (or 2 small) people.
During an introductory session participants can expect to
learn basic sailing skills and try out sailing on the reservoir.
Raft Building: A fun filled activity that encourages both
team building and leadership in young people. Using barrels
and wooden poles each group will make their own raft and
attempt to take it across the water.
Bell Boats: The Bell Boat is a team boat for all and can carry
up to 12 children. It is nine metres long and the catamaran
design makes it very stable
Want to know more details?
Tel: 01204 332323
Email: [email protected]
Curriculum
links –
schools
“It’s brilliant to watch young
people grow in confidence.”
Carole Group leader from Castle Hill PRU
Some of our activities such as the portable
climbing wall, archery and team building, can
be brought directly to a school or suitable
venue. We can also provide year group
activities either for half a day or a full day.
Our activities can support individual curriculum
areas or can be cross curricular as we tailor
them to your individual needs.
Accreditation opportunities
• Paddle Powers (BCU)
• Duke of Edinburgh
• Children’s University
• Assessment and Qualification Alliance
• Climbing
• Adult opportunities and qualifications
Meeting the needs of your children
and young people
We have a strong history of working with children and young
people who have additional needs. Through careful planning
and preparation with yourself we can offer most of our
activities to all. We have specifically worked in partnership
with a number of special schools and disability groups to
open up opportunities for participants with physical, emotional
and developmental disabilities. Through our provision we are also able to engage individual
and groups that struggle to participate and engage fully in the
classroom environment.
We are well positioned to deliver targeted sessions that meet
the individual needs of your group. Examples include:
• water based challenges to improve self confidence and
aspirations amongst under achievers
• camping trips to support the development of valuable life
skills for less academic pupils
• team building activities to bring together new groups or to
build relationships between peers
The activities that we offer are a real opportunity to learn new
skills and to also put class learning into a live activity based
environment.
Risk assessments
All of our activities have been through the local authority
risk assessment process and have been signed off. These
are reviewed with each booking to ensure that all additional
needs and circumstances are taken into account to safeguard
all participants and group leaders. As part of the booking
process we will ask you to review our risk assessments and
we will jointly agree risk assessments for your booking.
Some examples are
School
A
B
Request:
To support the delivery of a project around the local environment
Delivery: ocal walks planned to bring in curriculum links around the ecology, geography and history of the
L
local environment as well as supporting citizenship
School
Request:
To offer an increased range of opportunities for GCSE PE students
Delivery: ork undertaken with students to explain the opportunities available as part of their participation
W
hours. Subsequent activities delivered for young people to have a wide choice and to participate
in alternative activities to those offered at school
School
Request:To support the delivery of a cross school project on China
Delivery: Interschool dragon boat event using our bell boats, bringing a real Chinese traditional activity
to life and encouraging children to get involved in healthy activities
School
Request:
To help deliver support for those with Special Educational Needs
Delivery: To enhance the participant’s aspirations, learn new skills, develop existing skills
School
Request:
Develop inter-personal skills Delivery: Help communication with others within the group / staff / school
C
D
E
Policies and procedures
Being part of Bolton Council, our Service follows local
authority policy and procedures which include safeguarding,
health and safety, finance and managing staff. Full copies of these can be made available upon request.
Want to know more details?
Tel: 01204 332323 Email: [email protected]
Open the
box for
your event
If you are organising an event then we have a
range of affordable equipment available to hire
to help you make your event a success.
If you are a:
•youth or children’s group
•school
•community group
•commercial organisation
then check out the range of equipment
available!
Use our resources to improve
your event!
There are three boxes for hire which provide a multi-purpose
space to bring a centrepiece to your event and they are
always a hit wherever they go. The boxes are suitable for hard
standing areas and are available for short-term hire.
See the reverse of this sheet to see what we do!
What will it cost me?
The cost is not-for-profit and covers our costs and staff costs
(if needed). Prices for hiring the boxes start from £200, and for
hiring the climbing wall from £310.
Where can I hold my event?
There are a number of parks and open spaces across Bolton with
the potential to host a range of community, charity, commercial
or private events. You could hold your event at Bolton Victoria
Square, at a local school or even down a local street!
Want to know more details?
To hire any of the above or for any information on where you
can hold your event please contact Steen Swanton on
01204 334040 or email [email protected]
Box 1
At the centre of it all
Perfect for promotional activities, meetings or as
a training venue. The box can also be hired along
with staff to provide arts and crafts, gaming stations
and group work.
For hiring costs contact 01204 334040
Box 2
My talent
Can be hired with staff or to those with media
training, offering DJ-ing, entertainment and
broadcasting space.
For hiring costs contact 01204 334040
Box 3
Get sporty
A mobile sports arena which is hired with staff
or to those with sports qualifications, offering a
multipurpose space to provide a wide range of
activities from street soccer to dance and boxing.
For hiring costs contact 01204 334040
Play van
A transit van that is the perfect accompaniment to
box 1, 2, and 3. Complete with an awning, it is the
perfect choice for arts and crafts and can come
fully staffed.
For hiring costs contact 01204 334040
Climbing wall
Our popular six metre portable climbing wall offers a
variety of climbing experiences that can challenge a
range of abilities. Our qualified and experienced staff
can help individuals reach their potential. The wall
can be adapted to suit all children and young people
including those with disabilities.
For hiring costs contact 01204 332323
How to
Und us
Please contact us at
Outdoor Learning and Adventure
Tel: 01204 332323
Email: [email protected]
Outdoor Learning and Adventure
CHORLEY OLD RD
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High Rid, Fall Birch Road, Bolton, BL6 4LD
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HIGH RID
RESERVIOR
High Rid is situated three miles to the west of Bolton town
centre. The reservoir is easily accessed via a footpath off
High Rid Lane.
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The Resource Centre
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The resource centre houses all the equipment that makes
outdoor learning and adventure happen!
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Leonard Street, Bolton, BL3 3AP
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