Education Based Outdoor Learning
The benefits of Outdoor Activities to Young people and Education in general are much more than just providing an enjoyable change from the norm. The DfES has identified 10 Outcomes of High Quality Outdoor Education:
| Enjoyment: This comes naturally to most, while even the more cautious and nervous ones find they enjoyed themselves, once they've had time to recover and reflect. | Key Skills: Communication and cooperation skills are developed by all outdoor activities, through following instructions and becoming involved in keeping everyone safe. |
| Confidence: Gained through taking on and achieving personalised challenges. | Personal Qualities: Outdoor activities develop responsibility and self reliance. |
| Environmental Awareness: Simply by being outside in challenging environments and conditions. How can you not come to appreciate or respect nature? | Health and Fitness: Outdoor activities promote a healthier lifestyle with fresh air and physical exertion. We may even inspire young people to take up new hobbies. |
| Activity Skills: Learning new physical and mental skills while gaining competence in exciting new sports. | Increased Motivation: Enjoyment and achievement in outdoor activities can lead to motivation in all areas of life. |
| Social Awareness: Gained through having to support and trust each other during activities. | Broadened Horizons: Outdoor activities encourage people to step out of that 'comfort zone' we all hide in and seek out new challeneges and opportunities. |
For an assessment of how Kingsbury Water Park Outdoor Education Centre's activities can benefit your National Curriculum subject please download the following documents:
We can also offer courses that fulfil the criteria of many educational awards and qualifications with a far more specific requirement for Outdoor Activities within the award. The courses we offer will be tailored to your needs, please contact us to discuss and develop a course that suits your educational requirements. Here are some examples of educational awards/qualifications that can benefit from a course at the centre:
Water Safety Training
This course is designed for primary school children to gain practical experience of water safety and rescue skills.
- Helping the children to recognise the dangers of outdoor water environments such as lakes and canals.
- Decision making. Is it safe to attempt a rescue or go for help? How to rescue. What to do afterwards.
- Practicing various methods of self rescue and peer rescue using throwing aids, and reaching aids both on land and in the water.
For water activities the children will be equiped with bouyancy aids to ensure safety and other equipment suitable to the conditions (such as wetsuits if it is cold!)
This is a very flexible course that could be expanded to include a number of our water based activities such as Kayaking, Improvised Rafting and Sailing. If you include these additional activities our Instructors will continue the theme of the course emphasising and involving the children in the safety aspects of these activities. The ability to swim is desirable but not essential.
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
We can offer courses that complete the following sections for Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards:
Expedition Section
Our Expedition packages meet all 20 conditions of the expedition section including training, practice and qualification. Expeditions can be undertaken by foot, bike or canoe.
Physical Section
We can offer the following activities to complete this section: Archery, Cycling, Orienteering, Canoeing/Kayaking, Sailing, Windsurfing, Caving, Climbing or Mountain Biking
In many cases a relevant National Award such as British Canoe Union 1 or 2 star can be combined with the delivery of these activities.
GCSE/A-Level Physical Education
We can offer courses that cater directly to the Outdoor and Adventurous Activities sections of GCSE or A-Level Physical Education syllabus in the following activities:
Trekking
Orienteering
Sailing
Canoeing or Kayaking
Climbing
NCFE - Leisure and Tourism Sector and Pubic Services Sector
Outdoor activity courses at the centre can fulfill many criteria in the following awards:
Level 1: Personal development for the outdoor industry
Level 2: Certificate in Outdoor Activity Leadership
Level 3: Certificate for the Outdoor Industry
Levels 1 to 3: Certificate for entry to the Uniformed services
Particularly Unit 3 Teamwork Skills, Unit 5 Navigation Skills and Unit 8 Adventurous Activities
BTEC
Outdoor Activity courses at the centre can fulfill many criteria in the following Certificates and Diplomas
Level 2 BTEC First Certificate or First Diploma in Sport
Level 2 BTEC Subsidiary Certificate or Certificate in Sailing and Watersports
Level 2 BTEC First Certificate or First Diploma in Public Services
Level 3 BTEC National Award, National Certificate or National Diploma in Sport
Level 3 BTEC Certificate or Diploma in Sailing and Watersports
Level 3 BTEC National Award, National Certificate or National Diploma in Uniformed Public Services
For further advice and information for Schools on planning inclusive visits, please follow this link : Schools & Learning - DDA Compliancy
