The Parkridge Centre is in a great location in the heart of Brueton Park, Solihull. It is an ideal location for younger children to explore their local area and experience the wonderful nature and wildlife that our area has to offer.
Outdoor
Outdoor
What is it?
The outdoors covers everything that isn’t contained with a building! You can do many things outdoors, from extreme sport to simple appreciation of the surroundings. The exact conditions of the outdoors vary hugely all over the planet from snow and ice to hot, arid desert to swamps, mountains, rivers and wildernesses, so the activities available will depend on the climate of the specified area.
What does it involve?
The varying nature of the outdoors means that it can involve almost anything! However, outdoor activities will always include some sort of interaction with the environment, whether it’s learning about nature and wildlife or travelling across challenging terrain.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
The increasingly technological society of today means it’s more important than ever to appreciate the outdoors, so spending time there and participating in activities should be an essential aspect of everybody’s lives and should definitely be included in a student’s education.
What equipment do we need?
You will need very different equipment depending on the activity you are participating in. For example, nature trails or hiking use very little equipment, whereas more complex activities such as abseiling will call for specific equipment – make sure to check ahead of time if you need to provide anything!
Who is it suitable for?
There will be an outdoors activity for people of absolutely any age and interest.
Costs?
Access to the outdoors is completely free, but the use of an activity provider will incur some costs; it will depend on the type of activity you do!
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
Any activity that takes you far away from medical assistance should be carried out with caution and extra safety measures, and younger students should always be supervised carefully when outdoors! Many activities need to be provided by AALS licensed providers.
How do we include?
This will again depend upon the specific activity, so check with the provider to see their specific set up and generally exercise common sense in regards to the activity and the needs of your student group. You must always try to include students unless you can evidence that their participation in any particular activity is dangerous to themselves or others. Often with straightforward reasonable adjustments students with a wide range of issues can take part in activities and this can provide life-enhancing opportunities for them. There are many excellent providers who will be used to including such students in activities so it is often a good idea to contact them to discuss this in advance.
Doing it abroad?
The outdoors varies greatly all over the world as the climate changes, so participating in activities outside will be a great idea wherever you are! Ensure, though, that the safety standards and recovery processes are in place to your satisfaction before you book the activity. You may find it difficult to get your money back from an overseas provider if you turn up and are not happy ot proceed but haven't made clear your requirements in advance.
Main websites:
Check out individual venue websites to see what sort of outdoor activities they have available!
Venues with this Activity
Named after the famous British athlete, Sir Roger Bannister, Bannister Outdoor Sports Centre provides a range of facilities including a pavilion with changing facilities and a warm up room.
Whether you come to unwind or have fun, there's plenty for all at Draycote Water. Activities range from birdwatching and game fishing to walking and water sports. Dogs are only allowed in the Country Park.
There's lots of fun to be had at this family friendly country park! With play areas, cycling and walking on surfaced paths and a large picnic meadow you can't go wrong for a family day out!
Feed the ducks at Ryton Pool, play games on the picnic meadow and burn off some more energy on our two play areas.
Woodland containing a great variety of wildlife, plus wonderful carpets of bluebells every spring. Look out for tawny owls, red foxes, and the 250 year old oak. Open all year and free to visit.
Blackwell Adventure is a unique, fully equipped outdoor activity centre available to a wide range of customers. We boast 50 acres of beautiful parkland and are superbly located within five minutes of the M42 and M5. Our residential, camping and adventure facilities are amongst the best in the midlands and are used by over 25,000 people per year.
Herefordshire is often described as England's most rural county, with a rich mosaic landscape of small fields, ancient hedgerows and wooded hills.
From the Black Mountains in the west to the Malvern Hills in the east and the majestic sweep of the Wye Valley, the county embodies the finer characteristics of a rapidly vanishing traditional landscape.
360 hectares of parkland to enjoy, with plenty to do, from a gentle stroll to wakeboarding! Rare habitats to discover and plenty of wildlife to spot. Also great for cycling and the site of the Chasewater Railway. Free to visit.
Wakelake was the first cable tow centre to open in the West Midlands, and is mainly dedicated to the exciting activity known as wakeboarding!
This is the sport of riding on a short, wide board (similar to a surfboard), and performing manoeuvres while being towed, in this case, by a cable tow.
Birches Valley Forest Centre is an excellent starting point for an exhilarating day out on Cannock Chase. From the midlands best bike trails and woodland walks to adventure play and Go Ape we’ve got a great day out just waiting for you…
The UK's No.1 Forest Adventure
Our Longest Tree Top Adventure & Epic Forest Segways in an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Awarded Silver in the Best Tourism Experience in Staffordshire 2013.
Our Tree Top Junior will remain open during the weekends in December and January - don’t forget a pair of gloves!
Human activity is dramatically evident in the huge chunk blasted out of the hillside to provide road stone for the nearby A5. This had the unexpectedly wonderful effect of laying bare the earth’s history; revealing rocks from the earliest beginnings of life on this planet.
Relics of former industrial activity, including furnaces and an old winding house, are now surrounded by woodland full of birds, while pit mounds of waste have been transformed into flower-rich grassland and heath. An abundance of bird’s-foot trefoil now feeds generations of caterpillars of Telford’s speciality butterflies, the dingy skipper and green hairstreak. Coach parking.
Lightmoor lies on the fringes of urban Telford, surrounded by the thriving communities of Lightmoor village and Doseley. Look around as you walk and you will see the history of this place. Heaps of coal, clay and ironstone waste from the 18th century mines were piled onto the medieval field patterns, and tracks, tramways and an early canal cut across the landscape.
Make a splash in a canoe at Tittesworth Water, scale the heights at The Roaches, or get your pulse racing on a mountain bike.
A pretty reserve set within a secluded river valley, with flower rich grassland and ancient woodland. Plenty of nature for the kids to enjoy, from butterflies and bees, to bare ground and boggy bits!
Stroll along a magical stream and listen to the soothing sound of water as you look out for the many birds and wildflowers that can be found here.
Offers an array of exciting play equipment, including the fort climbing frame, swings, a merry-go-round, springy animals, slides and a rotating circular seat. Plus the lakes themselves and signposted walks around them for a bijou explorette!
Welcome to our beautiful nature reserve created on the site of an old chalk quarry. Watch out for the wildlife that makes its home in the varied habitats of wetland, chalk grassland and woodland. Discover that whatever the season, College Lake is the ideal place to visit for a day of learning outside the classroom.
Take in breathtaking views of the Chilterns. NEW Crossings for 2014.
NEW ‘Extreme’ route now open at Go Ape Wendover Woods. A first for Go Ape, a scrambling net and climbing wall just to reach our most adventurous crossings. Will you take on the challenge?
Oxford’s only Tree Top Adventure, suitable for all monkeys 10 years and older.
High Ropes Oxford gives you and the kids a chance to swing through the trees like Tarzan in this forest adventure.
There are three zones to work through with over 40 obstacles! These include zip slides, wobbly bridges, balance beams and Tarzan swings.
A supervised playground aimed at children aged 7 to 15 featuring elaborate climbing frames, wooden play structures and more set out as an assault course. You must complete a simple registration to use the playground.
Jungle Parc is located in the lovely Irchester Country Park! It is only 20 minutes from Northampton and 30 minutes from Milton Keynes.
Launched in June 1997, Alba Adventures has grown from a one-man operation to a highly successful outdoor adventure business. Managing Director, John Johnston, started the company after being made redundant.
Situated in Central Scotland only 20 minutes from Glasgow, Auchengillan is the ideal choice for your group accommodation. We can host upto 128 indoors or why not camp in amongst our 120 acres of mixed woodlands and grounds.
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The Bushcraft Company offer residential school trips with a difference, taking students into the wild and giving them real back-to-nature experiences they will never forget.
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