Feeling adventurous? Itching to get back into the great outdoors after a long winter? The Department of Education and Children has unveiled its summer programme of outdoor courses for young people in Year 9 and above.
The programme is run by Adventure Education, the Youth Service’s outdoor wing, which is based at Ardwhallan at West Baldwin with Injebreck reservoir right on its doorstep.
It offers young people the opportunity to try out or become more accomplished at paddlesport, sailing, climbing and mountain biking. There are also activities weekends and off-Island adventures.
Ardwhallan is approved by British Canoe Union and Royal Yachting Association and Adventure Education is offering the BCU’s Paddlepower and the RYA’s Start Sailing Programmes.
These help participants to progress from beginner to advanced level at their chosen activity under expert tuition.
An initial nine-week course, starting on 16th March and costing ?40, will give beginners a good grounding in paddlesport. This can be followed up with a residential weekend (4th and 5th or 18th and 19th June), costing ?50, which will offer an introduction to the sea. Mini-expeditions will then take place from 3rd to 5th and 8th to 10th July and taking part in these costs ?75.
Young people keen to learn to sail in the safe environment of the reservoir can sign up for a nine-week course, commencing on 26th April and costing ?40.
Those with a head for heights may prefer to participate in courses covering the basics of climbing and there are two choices – level one, which offers an introduction to the sport, or level two, which gives instruction on gear placements and rigging climbs. Level one courses will be held on 25th and 26th June and 27th and 28th August and cost ?35 for two days, while the level two course, being held in North Wales, costs ?175 and is on 17th and 18th September.
Mountain bike courses will take the form of ride-out days and there are rides for all levels of ability between 19th March and 24th September. The cost is ?10 per day.
Adventure Education is also organising a number of other off-Island activities, including a sea kayaking expedition to Scotland from 15th to 27th July, a mountain walking course in North Wales from 16th to 18th September and river paddling and mountain biking courses in the Lake District from 22nd to 24th October.
There are residential, multi-activity weeks at Ardwhallan from August 1st to 5th and 8th to 13th (?125) and a girls-only, residential multi-activity weekend on April 2nd and 3rd (?50).
Paul Melling, Head of Outdoor Centres, said: ‘This year’s exciting programme has been set to help the individual learn the skills of the activity and develop their confidence and self-esteem. It is well recognised that learning in the outdoors can have a positive impact on how a young person develops.
‘Our outdoor practitioners are qualified and experienced and use different coaching skills that recognise individuals’ needs as well as a group’s. We also believe that for this to work, the young person has to have fun.’
For more information or to book a place on any of the courses, visit www.adventure-ed.com or ring 07624 407549.
Ends
Monday 7th, March 2011 02:34pm.
