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Activity Options

This page provides a brief insight into the range of activities available.

All courses will be led by an appropriately qualified member of staff who can advise and  plan sessions as taster or progressive learning activities. Senior staff will advise on the suitability of each activity, taking into consideration ages, prior experience and abilities enabling the adaptation of your course to suit the needs of your students. Please provide as much information regarding your groups objectives, experience and ability with your booking form to enable the selection of appropriate activities.

While enjoyable, the activities are more than just fun and games; carefully selected they help develop personal and social skills. While undertaking activities group members may learn about commitment, communication, co-operation, self-discovery, self-discipline, problem solving, leadership, confidence, self-esteem, responsibility and trust. Many of the activities can be used as vehicles to teach social skills or as sports in their own right students can develop skills, progressing even to county and national competitive level.

Instructor Training

The Centre is able to provide training and assessment in many activities, enabling suitably qualified staff to access Centre equipment to teach their own students. The loan of equipment is strictly regulated and must be used in accordance with County and Centre guidelines.

Archery

Starting from basics, students are introduced to the sport of archery which requires self discipline and concentration. Once they master the basic mechanics they will be coached to improve accuracy. Using a range of simple target games in a single session novices can progress considerably.

The Centre’s archery range and equipment caters for all levels of ability and provides a different style of activity from the water sports.

Bell Boating

Based at Upton Warren the bell boats are ideal for providing a first taste of water activities. Securely rafted together the boats can each take 12 youngsters or 8 adults encouraging teamwork and providing a new way of exploring the lake.

Once on board and with steering mastered the Bell Boats can be used for water-based orienteering.

Blindfold Trail and Trust Exercises

Over and under obstacles you go with only the instructions of a partner to guide you. Immense fun and very educational; a great way of developing support, trust and communication skills.

Camping

The Centre’s campsite, suitable for up to 50 (although for special events space for 200) A large marquee provides a central meeting point, groups have full use of the main changing rooms with toilets and hot showers. Camping groups may additionally opt to make use of the self-catering Kitchen and dining facilities.

Canoeing

The Centre has a large fleet of Canoes including a number of boats suitable for solo skills tuition. Canoeing is a great introduction to water sports, when lashed together in pairs they are highly stable and are suitable for nervous or special needs groups, while more advanced groups might choose to use them as a craft to journey down some of the local rivers or down white water.

Canoes developed in North America as a means of transporting goods along the river networks and as such are an ideal craft for overnight expeditions like the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.  For those who want to progress, from the BCU star scheme of personal skills, to teaching others the Centre runs a variety of instructor training courses.

Climbing

The three climbing faces of the tower provide a variety of routes to suit all participants. Throughout the session a high level of involvement is maintained either actually climbing, or with the students on the ground encouraging and belaying their colleagues. This is a team activity as well as an individual challenge.

Field Studies

The local area provides a wealth of opportunities for programmes of study; Upton Warren itself is a Site of Scientific Interest having been formed after the extraction of gravel. Fossils found in the gravel include frogs, shells and even a woolly mammoth. The sandy area where the gravel was once washed now is an unusual lichen heath.

Either side of the centre are nature reserves owned by the Worcestershire wildlife trust and as inland salt marshes they are a haven for migratory birds. Groups are welcome to use the site for their own self led geographic or biological fieldwork.

Kayaking

The Centre has a large selection of Kayaks with a range of craft suitable for teaching at most levels of ability, including a fleet of junior boats designed specifically for smaller paddlers. The majority of training and fun sessions take place on the lake or small pool which is set up for canoe polo and a simple slalom course.

More advanced groups may wish to try the seal launch or opt for a journey on one of the local rivers. As with the canoeing students may wish to follow a personal skills programme leading towards nationally recognised BCU star awards or even post 16 years progress into the coaching scheme enabling them to teach others.

Low Ropes Course

Extremely popular, balance and cooperation are a key feature of this activity. Working as buddies the challenge is to get around the course while a partner looks after, supports and assists as best they can. The average height is just 0.5m from the ground and elements include rope, wire rope, tyres and logs.

Navigation - Day Skipper, Yacht Master and VHF radio course

The Centre is able to offer the RYA theory courses for Day Skipper and Yacht Master along with VHF radio as part of a series of evening courses.

Orienteering

A great way of acquiring and developing valuable map reading skills, participants have the chance to try a number of courses that vary in difficulty providing opportunities for all ages and experience. The mix of woodland and open ground progress map reading and interpretation skills beyond those that are usually available in the school environment.

This activity may be undertaken as part of a larger team-building day with students navigating around the site confronted by initiative exercises on route. There is even a water based orienteering course which can be undertaken in Bell Boats.

Poles Course

At 22m the main pole is probably the tallest in the country. Based on a tall ships mast groups are encouraged to climb into the rigging or even to the crows nest, belayed on safty ropes by their friends and supervised by Centre staff it is a real personal challenge.Other elements of the poles course involve teamwork and communication with all members of ther team, even those with their feet firmly on the floor playing their part.

Power Boating

Tuition courses for adults includes the RYA Level 2 Power Boat and Safety Boat Qualifications, this qualification would enable visiting staff to assist with sailing or windsurfing tuition.

Problem Solving, Team Work and Initiative Challenges

‘Isotope’, ‘Spiders Web’, ‘Railway Tracks’ and ‘Team Ski’ are just some of the initiative exercises designed to test and develop ingenuity, co-operation and leadership. Using basic equipment and following a careful briefing students are set challenges which require them to share ideas, plan and work together to achieve the goal set. Long used by management trainers and the Armed Forces, these activities are just as enjoyable for youngsters.

Raft Building

Great for all those who don’t mind getting wet, a activity for the warmer weather, with immersion a distinct possibility. This activityis an exercise in forward planning, involving careful design, knotting skills and considerable team commitment. Barrels, logs and ropes are used to make a craft that will carry the group across a lake. This activity is often used as the grand finally for a team-building day and provides a memorable group experience what ever the eventual seaworthiness of the craft.

Sailing

A wide variety of boats and well-qualified RYA instructors ensures we can provide sailing tuition to meet your needs. The centre runs courses for all abilities, from beginner taster sessions, those learning to race and Instructor Training. The RYA Adult and Junior schemes permit the recording of skills developed and nationally recognised certification at various stages. Sessions may vary from a simple 3 hour lesson to a full week of skill based tuition.

Seal Launch

A steep wooden ramp descends from the top of the bank into the water. A great slide for those who have mastered some basic kayak skills, and a team activity to get the empty boat back to the top. The water based equivalent of a zip wire students are sometime reluctant to launch themselves off the edge but with an instructor is on hand at the point of splash down to deal with any capsizes, after the initial trepidation most students want a second or third go some even descending backwards.

Windsurfing

A variation on the traditional board meeting, throughout the summer months Windsurfing remains a popular option for many groups. Inevitably a wet activity to learn students are equipped with wetsuits. A days basic tuition provides a taster of the sport and with a range of rig sizes most students achieve some success, although turning around and returning to the beach usually requires more practice than can be achieved in a taster session.

Groups may decide to opt for several sessions or individuals return to join in evening club sessions, permitting them to progress towards RYA certification.