Owned and operated by Liverpool Hope University, Plas Caerdeon Outdoor Education Centre in North Wales delivers residential outdoor activity courses to a wide range of external groups, including schools, youth groups of all ages, university students and staff.
Raft Building
Raft Building
What is it?
The practice of raft building is probably one of the most well known team building activities, as the basis of the activity is put together a working raft and get it floating with everybody on board in the shortest time.
What does it involve?
Raft building usually involves teams being given lengths of wood, various ropes and plastic sealed barrels and then given only vague instructions before aiming to combine all the apparatus to make a working raft. There is often also the additional goal of getting the raft successfully floating on water with everyone aboard, and sometimes there is a physical goal to reach somewhere on the water itself.
Why do it and what are the benefits?
The most obvious benefit of raft building is the intense teamwork required to complete the activity, but it also improves practical thinking and the ability to combine the skills of the group together to achieve the best possible outcome.
What equipment do we need?
Raft building will generally be carried out under the organisation of an activity provider, so it's unlikely you will need to supply any equipment other than ensuring the students bring wet weather clothing/swimwear!
Who is it suitable for?
You should always exercise caution with younger children around water, especially if they are to go on it on a raft of their own creation! However, it's likely that the instructor will be experienced in judging if a craft is safe to be ridden, so in general, raft building could be suitable for all ages.
Costs?
Raft building should be a reasonably cheap activity to book for your students, but it often comes as part of a more expansive watersport package which will have higher costs!
Issues/Things to think about? (unsuitable for age groups, medical conditions etc)
You should make sure young children are well supervised around water, especially in a potentially high paced situation such as raft building.
How do we include?
Those with severe physical disabilities may not be able to participate fully - for example, if someone needs to use a wheelchair, they will not be able to climb upon a raft! However, you can include those with disadvantages in ways such as making them leaders of a group - they can direct the activity of everyone else!
Doing it abroad?
You'll be able to find raft building acitivities (or something similar) wherever there are open bodies of water! You should always check before the trip to make sure.
Main website:
http://www.ultimate-activitycompany.co.uk/raft-building/ has some great information, but always check out individual websites for specific venue and activity details.
Venues with this Activity
Newgale YMCA is the flagship outdoor education centre for The National Council of YMCA’s for Wales and as such is committed to delivering high quality and valuable experiences to people, both within Wales and on an International stage.
An Activity Centre that offers water sports such as White Water Rafting, Canoeing, Kayaking and Sailing. Other activities include Laser Tag, Sky Trail, Activity Course, Segways, and more! School holiday activities such as Treasure Hunts and Raft building also available.
Situated just 10 minutes away from Nottingham city centre, yet feels a world away, Holme Pierrepont Country Park is set in 270 acres of beautiful parkland.
New Forest Activities are the experts in delivering outdoor activities in this wonderful National Park. Our vision is to draw the areas best experiences into one place, making it easy for you to make the most of your time in The New Forest.
At Aqua Sports, we are committed to the future of watersports and believe that outdoor education is a vital skill for students. In order to achieve our goals, we offer various options for schools, all designed to safely teach your students watersports.
Bala Watersports offers the adventure and excitement of outdoor pursuits, to individuals, families, schools and groups. Our highly skilled and qualified instructors will ensure you have a fantastic time, whether you're a complete beginner, have some limited experience, or are on a more advanced course.
We offer an environmentally friendly way to spend your time and learn how special and important the natural world is to us all. Why not come and discover beautiful Cardigan Bay and the stunning Pembrokeshire coast like you have never done so before!
We have a lot of years experience providing outdoor activities on and off the water to a wide range of schools. Each programme is different, and we ensure that every detail is met and that pupils and teachers get the most from their activities. Perhaps most importantly though, we want every child to feel safe, inspired and challenged during their time with us.
Since 1992 Manor Adventure has been offering low cost, action packed family activity holidays and activity breaks during the summer school holidays, as well as residential activity courses for school children during term time in the UK and France.
Summit Centre,formerly known as the Welsh International Climbing Centre, is located south of Merthyr Tydfil in the South Wales Valleys just 10 minutes from the A470 and under an hour from the centre of Cardiff. It is built on the site of the former Trelewis drift mine which closed in 1989.
Adventure Unlimited works with over 6,000 children and young people and 100 volunteers each year. Our projects are designed to overcome barriers to access for children and young people who have special needs or behavioural issues, are living on a low income, or who are isolated by location or circumstance.
Active Escape are a dedicated adventure and outdoor activities company operating in North Devon. We supply a range of outdoor activities ideal for groups or families, including Kayaking, Coasteering, Surf Rafting and much more.
At Lodore we are blessed with both a great location and some great facilities.
With the majority of lake users staying towards the Keswick end we constantly find ourselves on a quiet and peaceful expanse of lake, the only way to experience the "Queen of Lakes". We also have plenty of perfect little bays and brooks to hide away from any weather that might come our way!
Our fabulous learning and development centre, located right on the edge of the Peak District National Park is the perfect place to experience the outdoors, challenge yourself, make great friendships and grow.
We offer safe, exciting and educational holidays for young people. A place where children can meet new friends, build confidence, develop social skills and gain wonderful memories.
A place where parents and teachers can be sure their children are well cared for and are receiving high quality activities and English tuition.
Buckden House Outdoor Education Centre is a converted manor house in the heart of the Yorkshire Dales. It is run as part of the City of Bradford's education services and has been providing residential outdoor experiences to school children and students for over 30 years.
Rope Race is set within Goyt Mill, a 100 year old cotton mill adjoining the Peak Forest Canal in Marple on the outskirts of Stockport and within easy reach of Manchester city centre.
At the lake you can enjoy a range of water-based activities including sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and multi-activity days. Try our new high ropes course, the indoor climbing wall or archery. There is also a campsite adjacent to the water’s edge and a licensed cafe on the opposite side of the Lake. A refreshment trailer is open most weekends from Easter to September
Here at Welton Waters Adventure Centre (WWAC) we offer a wide range of land and water based activites to suit all ages and abilities, so, whether you're looking to learn a new skill or complete part of your BTEC/Dofe/Scout qualifications look no further OR perhaps you're looking for a company team building exercise, a family outing or a fun day out for your school or club we have something for
Doe Park provides a variety of outdoor education and leisure courses. Activities on the water include sailing, canoeing, kayaking and raft-building. Outdoor Education programmes may also include pond dipping, nature trails, team building and initiative challenges.
Adventure Outreach is a Christian Organisation providing outdoor adventure activities of high quality, primarily in and around the Peak District, though not exclusively. Our aim is to achieve your objectives in training, team building, personal development or simply fun within a safe and enjoyable environment.
Here at Outdoor Active we provide Exploration & Education through outdoor activities. These are run by a small team of friendly and highly experienced instructors, passionate about the outdoors. As a company we are proud to be small. Our success depends on you being happy and enjoying your time with us. As such, all our courses are tailored around you and your needs.
Dobroyd Castle is a 19th century mansion set high up on the Todmorden moors enjoying some fantastic views of the surrounding area and accommodated up to 285 children. The castle has both architectural and historical significance in the area.
Our aim is to enable young people to develop through taking part in outdoor activities in a fun and safe environment. This simple aim has led us to develop our Centre that rivals commercially run Centres in terms of both facilities and activity provision.
As we are a charity we are able to maintain excellent value for money.
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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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