Outdoor and Environmental Education

'Outdoor and environmental education makes an important contribution to physical, personal and social education.' (Ofsted)

The Outdoor and Environmental Education Service offers your school opportunities to experience quality outdoor learning experiences which enrich the curriculum and help learners to reach their potential through positive engagement with the education process, increasing confidence, group awareness, healthy activity and fun!

The Service provides two high quality residential centres in the Peak District: Hagg Farm Outdoor Education Centre (for older KS2 pupils and upwards) and St Michael's Environmental Education Centre (for primary school pupils).

We also offer day visits to: Perlethorpe Environmental Education Centre in the beautiful countryside of the Thoresby Estate; Brackenhurst Environmental Education Centre - run in partnership with Nottingham Trent University and located on their Brackenhurst campus near Southwell and to Sherwood Forest Country Park near Edwinstowe - the famous home of Robin Hood! We also organise orienteering festivals and school camps.

The Mill Adventure Base, at Kingsmill Reservoir, Sutton in Ashfield offers a wide range of outdoor activities, meaningful team challenges and adventure both on and off-site.

We also provide schools with access to training, guidance and support regarding the management of educational visits and outdoor education.

What we offer:

Wide range of adventurous and environmental activities led by highly qualified staff at warm, welcoming and well resourced centres.
At Hagg Farm activities include: rock climbing, canoeing, caving, orienteering, hillwalking, abseiling, gorge walking, zipwire and a host of problem solving exercises, field studies, conservation and environmental/art activities.
At St Michael's activities include: walking around the stunning Stanage Edge, local village studies, orienteering, conservation, stream dipping, history walks with role play and environmental art.
A range of catering packages to suit your group are available at the residential centres and each group has sole use of the centre.
Training for teachers and leaders to empower them to meet the relevant needs of young people, the wider community and the school's curriculum.
Perlethorpe Centre is housed in a former village school with a genuine Victorian classroom. We offer a variety of activities including: literacy, maths, art and history outdoors.
Brackenhurst Centre is on a site with a working farm with access to farm animals, Victorian walled gardens and glasshouses. Activities on offer include: looking at life processes, literacy, history and art.
Sherwood Forest Country Park has a centre for schools’ use. Activities include Robin Hood and Medieval Life, shelter building, orienteering and habitat studies.
Adventure activities at The Mill include: climbing, sailing, canoeing, mobile climbing wall, Jacobs ladder, team wall and underground passageways (tubing) as well as off-site activities such as: mountain biking, abseiling, rock climbing and weaselling.
Fully supported and individually tailored school visits, including: risk assessments, health and safety policies and procedures, teaching programmes and curriculum resources.
The Centres have an inclusive approach and the buildings and activities are adapted and available for all users regardless of ability/disability.
Information, advice and guidance for school visits and outdoor education including the use of an electronic visits management system. We endeavour to respond to all enquires within a 5 day period and all approval forms within 10 days.

Costs:

Remission of some fees is available for pupils eligible for free school meals from Nottinghamshire County Council maintained schools. Contact the centres for price variations for tailored packages.

Package	Duration	Cost
Hagg Farm (per pupil per course, based on 40 pupils in main centre)	4 night stay	£66 (self catering, standard instructional input) £162 (fully catered, fully staffed by instructors)
	2 night stay	£36 (self catering, standard instructional input) £88 (fully catered, fully staffed by instructors)
Perlethorpe and Brackenhurst	Per day	£2.15 per pupil
	Per half day	£54 per half day teaching support
Sherwood	Per day	£200 per group including teaching support
St Michael's (per pupil per course, based on 34 pupils in main centre)	4 night stay	£66 (self catering, standard instructional input) £100 (supported catering package, standard instructional input)
	2 night stay	£40 (self catering, standard instructional input) £57.50 (supported catering package, standard instructional input)
The Mill (based on 10 pupils)		£8-16 per pupil for on-site activities £22 for activities off-site in Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire
Outdoor Education Advice		Free to Nottinghamshire County Council schools. For academy schools: a one off admin fee of £250 per school + £1 per pupil on roll at school as per the January schools census figure - payable and reviewed annually.

Training:

A wide range of training is available including; HSE approved First Aid, National Governing Body Leadership Qualifications (Mountain Leader, Walking Group Leader, Cave Leader, Rock Climbing, Orienteering) and Bringing Your School Grounds To Life. See 'Outdoor and Environmental Training Opportunities' online for details.

All courses contribute to competency, skills and knowledge and many lead to nationally recognised qualifications.
Experienced and highly qualified Outdoor and Environmental Education staff deliver courses throughout the year.
Held mainly at the Outdoor and Environmental Education Centres. Some courses can be delivered at your own school e.g. bespoke first aid training.
For all schools and all colleagues leading young people in a range of outdoor activity.
Various costs.

How to buy

For initial enquiries call 0300 500 80 80.

For bespoke packages, longer term contracts or in-depth enquiries, contact the service directly:

Hagg Farm Outdoor Education Centre
tel: 01433 651 594

St Michael's Environmental Education Centre
tel: 01433 650 309

Environmental Education Day Centres
tel: 01623 822 218

The Mill Adventure Base and Outdoor Education Service
tel: 01623 556 110

email: outdoor.environmental@nottscc.gov.uk

Benefits to your school

Affordable, well regarded and reputable opportunities within 1.5 hours journey time of any Nottinghamshire school.
Outdoor activities can enrich the life of each individual by personal achievement, personal development and can raise their self-esteem, realise their full potential and achieve more than they ever thought possible.
Residential and day opportunities for whole year group packages through multiple courses to increase group cohesion, instill school ethos and cement relationships with staff/pupils and peers.
Courses for class groups to enhance curriculum and bring subjects alive including exam, fieldwork, PSHE, self second, transition to secondary and whole class cross curricular courses.
GCSE PE (adventurous activities) training and assessment weeks at Hagg Farm have consistently and significantly improved attainment for students.
Targeted courses for disaffected young people to help them achieve success and re engage them with the education process (through schemes such as Self Second at Hagg Farm).
Improve and promote physical health and emotional well being through outdoor experiences and enjoyment of outdoor recreation.
Bespoke activity packages can be designed in consultation with yourselves to meet your aims.
Access to specialist advice and guidance regarding school visits though our OEA service, which is a statutory expectation within health and safety law.

Our pledge

We provide and support quality outdoor learning experiences for pupils that are safe, enriching, educational and fun. Our qualified, motivated and experienced staff deliver the highest standards of safety and learning and help all service users to reach their potential through tailored programmes of activities.

Testimonial

"we have been fully supported in all activities from the planning stage, preparation and during the visit. Centre staff were knowledgeable, friendly, approachable and welcoming. Standard of activities and balance of curriculum superb. ‘The best residential EVER’ in the words of our pupils! "
- Lisa Crossland, Headteacher
Cuckney Primary School