High Ropes Course & Trapeze
Our high ropes course and trapeze are set amongst the trees just above The Adventure Centre and offer beautiful views over the estate grounds and across the valley. It is not your average ropes course with participants able to experience three different levels as they travel around the various elements. There is no better place to put challenge by choice into action than on the high ropes course and participants regularly leave with unforgettable memories after expanding their comfort zones.
Jacob’s Ladder
Jacob’s Ladder is an excellent team building activity as participants really have to work together to get as close to the top as possible. The unevenly spaced logs are climbed by two people at a time while the rest of the team is involved in belaying the climbers and suggesting ways of reaching the next log. Success requires good communication and trust in each other which makes it an invaluable learning experience.
Tree Climb
The tree climb is another of our unique activities and makes use of one of the many large trees within the grounds of The Adventure Centre. Climbers make use of artificial holds, a rope ladder and the tree’s branches to reach the top while the rest of the group belay and offer encouragement.
Tree Abseil
Located next to the High Ropes Course, our tree abseil is an excellent opportunity for students to experience abseiling from a platform in the woods. Part of the abseil is ‘free’ (with no body parts touching the tree itself) and this is a very different and exciting feeling compared to abseiling down a wall or crag. Students have control over their own descent and are always backed up by a safety rope.
Initiative Exercises
Communication, teamwork and lateral thinking are all involved in our problem solving tasks which are designed to encourage everyone to develop these key skills. The ability to draw on these skills in a variety of different situations goes further than merely keeping an egg intact or crossing a river full of crocodiles, which is why we give participants the opportunity to review their actions and really take something away from each task.
Archery
Archery is one of the more traditional activities enjoyed by visitors to The Adventure Centre and is a great way for individuals to try something different. All budding Robin Hoods should report to the archery range for some interesting shooting practice. We use a number of exciting games and activities to challenge all archers... who knew you could play cricket on the archery field?
Orienteering
Map reading at The Adventure Centre doesn’t resemble your average orienteering course. It’s fun, fast-paced and full of hidden makers which teams work together to identify and record. There is even a photo based orienteering course to challenge participants’ observation skills.
Off-site
Camping/NCF/Bivy
Leaving the comforts of The Adventure Centre behind, we enjoy taking groups away for overnight expeditions on Dartmoor. There are three types of expedition: camping, bivvying and staying at Nun’s Cross Farm. All options offer the opportunity to get away from the sights and sounds of residential life and really connect with the people and places around you. They are also a fun way to learn more about the natural world and can be extremely useful for developing traditional outdoor skills.
Abseiling
Abseiling involves descending a rope, typically down a cliff or other high point. The thrill experienced while abseiling is special because participants are in control of their movement, along with an instructor, giving them a real sense of achievement as they near the bottom. We take groups abseiling at spectacular venues across Dartmoor and it is often combined with rock climbing.
Rock Climbing
One of the staple activities for any outdoor enthusiast, rock climbing is a great activity for groups with any level of experience. Indoor climbing takes place at our wall on-site and is a useful venue to introduce the basics or hide from the elements if necessary. Outdoor climbing takes place at crags across Dartmoor where students learn about the types of holds and styles of climbing that take place on the region’s granite tors and quarries.
Canoeing/Kayaking
We are very lucky to be surrounded by excellent water venues in the South West and we make full use of these for our canoeing and kayaking sessions. The rivers, lakes and estuaries are great for introducing the basics of paddling both craft and once basic skills have been mastered there may be an opportunity to go on a journey. There are also countless games to be played, testing balance, agility, teamwork and each student’s ability to stay dry!
Hill Walking
Dartmoor National Park is only a stone’s throw from The Adventure Centre and provides an ideal base for hill walking, navigation and camping. The beautiful and peculiar tors, rivers and ancient features make for a very interesting walk and so much can be learned about its history and geology as you travel across different areas.
Bog Run
Another of our unique activities, and often a highlight of the week, the Bog Run makes excellent use of the region’s infamous bogs to give everyone the opportunity for a full body mud pack. The Bog Run finishes at a flooded quarry where students can practice jumping from height or take a slightly more sedate swim across the quarry to help get rid of all that glorious mud.
Raft Building
The ultimate in team work, practical thinking and communication, Raft Building involves constructing a raft which will carry all members of the team across the water during an assigned challenge. Typical materials include old barrels, ropes and wooden beams, which each group must use to create their own work of art. Looks can be deceiving and often some of the more unlikely designs fair better when put to the test!
Evening
Astroturf games
Astroturf games are always high energy and can include three legged rounders, dodgeball and rugby football among others. They take place on the Kelly College Astroturf pitch just across the road from The Adventure Centre and are all about having fun after a busy day of activities.
Wide games on the moor
Similar to the games played on the Astroturf pitch, wide games involve everyone and often make use of the moorland for hiding places and camouflage. They can be purely recreational or linked to the ecology of the area and some are even designed to be played in the dark.
Swimming (weekend only)
We have use of Kelly Swimming Pool on a Sunday evening which is on-site and a great place to play water-based games regardless of the weather.
Concerts
At the end of the week each group performs a short play, skit or song about a particular topic (usually their week at The Adventure Centre) which they have been working on throughout their visit. It is an opportunity for everyone to contribute and often produces some very entertaining performances!
Campfire
Campfires are normally combined with the Concert on the last night to finish the week with laughter, reflection... and of course toasted marshmallows!