Welcome to Harbour Challenge Outdoor Education Centre, the premier home of outdoor activities, adventure and extreme sports in Dorset. Our highly experienced instructors are qualified to provide a wide range of activities from climbing to coasteering, mountain biking to kayaking and sailing to windsurfing suitable for all ages, groups and abilities.
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
Key Stage 4 (15-16)
At KS4, there has been a gradually burgeoning number of types of educational visits – foreign language school exchanges, cultural visits all over Europe and further afield, sports competitions, youth conferences, winter sports and adventurous activities in more extreme environments. The Duke of Edinburgh Award becomes available at 14 years old and continues to be offered for those up to 24 years of age, and pupils of many ages start work on specialist awards in areas such as mountaineering, sailing and river sports. This increase in venue variety has led to a proliferation of specialist companies catering for these activities.
The aims of history trips tend to be more focused in KS4, with study trips to the 1940 Dunkirk evacuation and the 1944 Normandy Landings often proving popular along with the 1815 Waterloo battlefield. Venues of this type are often catered for by specialist travel companies to ensure participants get the best experience available.
A lot of schools have a tradition of school trips with their choirs, orchestras and musical/theatre students. There are specialist companies that can help any school wishing to explore this possibility, and many venues have tailored activities for groups that can help improve performers’ confidence and motivation.
British schools have been the forerunners in Europe for undertaking challenging outdoor activities both at home and abroad (you can visit here for good list of activities and gateway sites) but there is a notable increase of interest at KS4 in science-based trips – most notably the Science and National History museums in London, the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester, the National Railway Museum in York, Jodrell Bank Discovery Centre in Macclesfield, Techniquest in Cardiff, and the Bristol Science Centre, all of which have reported an increase in visitors in recent years.
Suitable Venues
The RYA (Royal Yachting Association) is the National Governing Body for many water-sports in the UK including Sailing, Windsurfing and Power-Boating. The RYA is committed to ensuring that all of its Recognised Training Centres (RTCs) provide high standards of tuition, equipment and facilities. Quality is maintained through annual inspections to ensure these standards are met.
FACT is fully recognised by the Royal Yachting Association to teach RYA dinghy sailing and powerboat training courses and to assess for certificates at all levels.
We are a family-run sailing and watersports school based from Mudeford Quay, Christchurch (near Bournemouth, Dorset). We provide sailing, powerboating, first aid courses and tuition at all levels, as well as kayak, dinghy and windsurfer hire across Christchurch Harbour.
Dorchester Sailing Club is a family-friendly club in the Thames Valley, situated just off the A415/A4074 less than half a mile from the picturesque village of Dorchester-on-Thames. It provides an ideal environment for both new and experienced sailors.
At Outdoor Academy we pride ourselves on our affiliation with young people. Our principal focus lies with youths whose behavioural problems have left them excluded from mainstream education, or those with learning difficulties.
Set in a beautiful Pennine valley on the border between Northumberland and Durham and bounded by moorland and conifers, Derwent Reservoir is perfectly located and is within easy reach of Newcastle Upon Tyne.
The Christian Adventure Centre at Viney Hill is here to provide you with the most amazing adventure activity experience available, either residentially or as a day visitor.
As well as the beautiful sandy cove to explore and enjoy, you can sample great food at our beach-side restaurant or from our take away facility. Get active on a range of adventure activities, experience fantastic live music and events. Stay in self catering accommodation on the beach or learn new skills on our on-site training courses.
These unique guided canoe trips offer a chance to explore the stunning scenery of Loch Goil from the water. With breath-taking views and an abundance of wildlife, this adventure cannot be surpassed for its beauty and serenity. Voyageur Canoeing is a fun and safe way to enjoy the outdoors.
Mepal Outdoor Centre has been providing outdoor experiences for over 30 years to schools, colleges, youth groups, clubs, charities, corporate groups, families and individuals. Whether you are visiting us for the day or coming for a residential visit, we can tailor a programme to suit your needs.
Truth and Trust Adventure is based in Mansfield and on the doorstep of the Peak District and all activities are led by Malc Lawson. Experienced freelance staff are used to assist in the delivery of the activities.We use the Peak District to meet your teams needs so they are able to work together and achieve their aims.
We run training sessions on Sunday mornings in 6 week blocks in May/June and Sept/October, sailing in Optimists or Toppers.
We are coasteering specialists and we’re the only provider dedicated to it 100%. This means we have intimate knowledge of Abereiddy, one of the best locations in Pembrokeshire. Exploring the right hand side the bay, its got the lot, small to BIG cliff jumps, scramble climbing, water features and more.
Lagganlia provides high quality residential Outdoor Learning opportunities for primary and secondary schools, colleges, youth groups and all other types of organised groups within the astounding natural environment of the Cairngorms National Park.
We have a huge range of practical adult and child courses ranging from complete beginner to advanced. Our theory courses expand your knowledge and skills in specialist areas from VHF radio courses to sea survival!
At Adamson Adventures our aim is to provide exciting outdoor experiences tailored to all ages and abilities in an environmentally friendly way. We are able to provide you with experience sessions, organised trips (UK, Europe and worldwide) and courses leading to certain qualifications.
If you want to get active and improve your health and well being we provide a diverse range of fun watersport activities that enable you to engage in challenging experiences.
The Centre can offer opportunities to both organised groups and individuals alike. The Marine Activities Centre is licensed by the Adventurous Activities Licensing Service to deliver the activities, is a Recognised Training Centre for the Royal Yachting Association.
The Centre now holds the Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge and the AAIAC Adventure Mark.
Standon Bowers is currently the largest of all our centres with accommodation for over 150 in the historic Victorian main building. Murray House is a separate and fully accessible facility on site which is ideal for smaller groups with a range of needs.
The Hollowford Centre, which is open all year round, is set on the outskirts of the picturesque village of Castleton, Derbyshire in the heart of the Peak District National Park.
AQUASPORTS is a Christian lakeside watersports camp that's definitely not to be missed! Based near Marlow, Buckinghamshire, the camp offers young people from 14 to 19 years old of any background a week of exciting watersports and the chance to make new friends from across the country.
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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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Latest News
Schoolboy Falls From 60ft Cliff on School Trip
A 15-year-old boy fell 60ft over the edge of a cliff whilst on a geography school trip, miraculously only suffering minor injuries.