Primary Schools
Outdoor Education Residential
We tailor our activities and adventures to Primary Schools on our outdoor residential with pupils in KS2. Leadership, team-building and responsibility are encouraged through outdoor activities that explore Snowdonia’s mountains, river and coast. It may be the first time away from home, but our Primary School outdoor residential experience is friendly and welcoming. This enables pupils to flourish in their new surroundings and develop new found confidence through their achievements.
“Our experience at Arete has been totally amazing. The instructors were knowledgeable, patient and supportive. They evaluated the activities and ensured that children are given independence and responsibilities.”
Foley Park Primary, November 2016
activity programme
for Primary Schools
Each day local outdoor venues are used around Eryri (Snowdonia) and Anglesey. There are a choice of activities to participate in, all of which involve real adventure and exploration of the outdoor world. A general activity theme will be chosen for the day while exploring venues such as the gorge, sea cliffs, mountain, river or lake. Often bushcraft and team building exercises are built in to the day – there is never a dull moment. As we have such experienced and qualified staff there will be the opportunity for adventures they will never forget.
Each programme is tailored for your group depending on their age and needs. We are flexible with the content, allowing the pupils to define their own goals, and as they grow in confidence suitable further challenges can be presented. See the full list of activities. Popular primary school choices include gorge scrambling, underground exploration, coasteering, Menai Strait canoe journey as full days and canoeing and climbing half days.
Evening activities can be provided by the instructional staff. These can include walks on the beach, orienteering, team building and an online blog. If schools prefer to manage their own evening programme, equipment is available to use for on and off site activities. That is if the primary school pupils have enough energy left after a full day of adventure!
Outdoor Education
for Primary Schools
We can work all outdoor education programmes into the Key Stage 2 curriculum. Key learning objectives can be incorporated into the primary school outdoor residential for a variety of subjects. We employ qualified teachers and outdoor professionals who create a learning environment that will inspire and educate your students.
Thinking Skills and Assessment for Learning: In our everyday work in the outdoor classroom, we give the children opportunities to develop their ‘assessment for learning’ techniques. During outdoor activities instructors challenge children to evaluate their work and think about ways they and others can be more successful e.g. rock climbing – how can they climb more efficiently? It helps them to plan, develop and reflect on aspects of their day, something which they are used to in everyday school life. This reinforcement enables them to use these skills more successfully, helping them to overcome more challenging situations.
Team Building and Leadership: The activities require the pupils to work together, be that belaying the ropes while climbing or paddling together in canoes. Success is easily seen when everyone is actively involved. We give pupils appropriate choices through each day as to the content and direction of an activity, enabling the pupils to be involved with decisions and appoint leaders.
Life Long Skills: Education is more than just academic studies. Primary school pupils will come away from Arete Outdoor Centre with a new positive attitude, we will nurture and support even the most apprehensive child. This they will take with them and remember, applying their new found skills to their future lifestyle choices.
“It has been such a great week. There have been lots of ‘wow’ moments [with regards to] student achievement.”
Hazeloak, October 2017
Residential Experience
for Primary Schools
Arete Outdoor Centre provides a home from home. We are set up to fully cater for the primary school pupils, supplying breakfast, lunch and dinner. The bedrooms are split into separate dormitories for girls and boys of varying sizes. Each are furnished so that the pupils are safe and comfortable. Open social areas and a games area allows for evening entertainment while there is a separate room for staff to relax in.
The centre provides minibuses and drivers to transport the children to all the outdoor activity venues we use. These are fully serviced with appropriately licensed drivers.
Our Learning Outside the Classroom (LOtC) award covers the safe use of vehicles, building and fire regulations among other criteria. This award is recommended by the Department for Education as seen on the government website.
Simple steps of how you can secure a date for your school on their next residential.
