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Activity Options This Page provides a brief insight into the range of activities available.

All courses will be allocated a Course Director, who will help plan your programme and advise on the suitability of each activity, taking into consideration ages, prior experience and abilities enabling the adaptation of your course to suit the needs of your students. Please provide as much information regarding your groups objectives, experience and ability with your booking form to enable the selection of appropriate activities.

While enjoyable, the activities are more than just fun and games; carefully selected they help develop personal and social skills. While undertaking activities group members may learn about commitment, communication, co-operation, self-discovery, self-discipline, problem solving, leadership, confidence, self-esteem, responsibility and trust.

Abseiling

Following tuition from our trained staff, participants will be taught how to use the equipment and with guidance, support and encouragement from their peers will descend sixty feet down the face of an old granite quarry

Archery

In a single session, novices can progress considerably. The Centre’s archery range and equipment caters for all levels of ability and provides a different style of activity from the high adrenaline challenges on the ropes courses.

Bell Boating

Based at Upton Warren the bell boats are ideal for providing a first taste of water activities. Securely rafted together the boats can each take 12 youngsters or 8 adults, encouraging team work and providing a new way of exploring the lake

Blindfold Trail and Trust Exercises

Over and under obstacles you go, with only the instructions of a partner to guide you. Immense fun and very educational; a great way of developing support, trust and communication skills.

Camping

The Centre’s campsite can accommodate up to 20 campers. A covered cooking and dining area with hot and cold water, electric light, washrooms and nearby flush toilets, provide a base for groups whatever the weather.

Canoeing

Canoeing gives a great introduction to water sports for youngsters. When lashed together in pairs canoes are highly stable and are suitable for nervous or special needs groups, more advanced groups might choose to use them as a craft to journey down some of the local rivers, possibly including an overnight camp as part of a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Expedition.

Climbing

A unique set of 10-metre high artificial rock pinnacles make climbing at the Centre safe and challenging. A wide variety of climbs and technical problems can provide challenges for all participants. Throughout the session a high level of involvement is maintained either actually climbing, or with the students on the ground encouraging and belaying their colleagues. This is a team activity as well as an individual challenge.

Field Studies and Curriculum Enhancement

The local area provides a wealth of opportunities for programmes of study, including:

• A study of varied Habitats from streams to open hillside
• Investigation of rocks and fossils making up the local geology Soil studies
• Forces in action using the grass sledges to evaluate factors affecting speed and velocity,
• Historical Malvern a Victorian spa town, Iron age settlements and dwellings
• Maths trails and Urban Geography studies.
• Other studies may be available, please ring to discuss your requirements.

Grass Sledging

A fun way to appreciate the effects of gravity, different angles of slope and different weights of riders, enable the investigation of simple physics concepts into  practical realty outside the classroom; it’s also great fun!  Grass Sledges have low friction caterpillar tracks and equipped with brakes, participants can ride them as fast or as slow as they please. Skills and control are built on the lower slopes before speed is increased.

High Ropes Course

This is one of the best high ropes courses in the Country. Under expert guidance, and at low level, participants are taught how to use the equipment, before taking to the trees.Thirty feet up in the air this one really gets the adrenalin pumping, even though belays, body harnesses and advanced steel wire safety system ensure you cannot fall.

King Swing and Parachute Jump

Even secure in the knowledge that the ropes and safety systems have been checked and double-checked. It takes considerable bravery to launch yourself off the platform high in the tree and let gravity try to do its worst!  Although other group members may lend their encouragement these are highly individual and memorable challenges.

Poles Course

The High Poles course includes a Jacobs Ladder, Quad and Trapeze Jump, all of which encourage teamwork and self-confidence. Partners will belay their friends using friction devices, involving the entire group in the challenge of the activity. Those ascending the poles, in small teams, will benefit from the support and encouragement of their peers, who will soon be following them skywards.

Hill Walking

The eight-mile switchback walk along the Malvern Ridge is a major challenge, particularly for younger children. By the time they’ve finished (it takes about five hours) the ups and downs mean they have climbed a height greater than that of Snowdon! Over 3500 feet.

Kayaking

Using the centre’s fleet of plastic kayaks at lake or local river locations, as appropriate, these sessions provide an introduction to the sport for the novice paddler. Participants will have a chance to try and learn how to control their craft before setting out on a small journey or playing a range of Kayak based games.

Low Ropes Courses

Balance and cooperation are a key feature of this activity. Working as buddies the challenge is to get around the course, while your partner looks after, supports and assists as best they can. The average height is just 0.5m from the ground and elements include rope, wire rope, nets and logs.

Orienteering

With sloping woodlands all around, this is an ideal orienteering area. A great way of acquiring and developing valuable map reading skills, participants have the chance to progress map reading and interpretation skills beyond those that are usually available in the school environment. The centre has a range of graded courses, providing opportunities for all ages and experience.

Problem Solving, Team Work and Initiative Challenges

‘Treasury Recovery’, ‘Spiders Web’ and ‘Team Ski’ are just some of the problem solving exercises designed to test and develop ingenuity, co-operation and leadership. Using basic equipment and following a careful briefing students are set challenges which require them to share ideas, plan and work together to achieve the goal set. Long used by management trainers and the Armed Forces, these activities are just as enjoyable for youngsters.

Rifle Shooting

As with archery this is a different style of activity from the physical challenges that many of the other activities involve, thus providing the possibility of a more varied programme and opportunities for those less physical to achieve.  On our all weather shooting range, .117 air rifles are used with varied target sizes. Students are taught to respect weapons and the strict codes of discipline involved in the sport of shooting.

Raft Building

Great for all those who don’t mind getting wet; a warm weather activity with immersion a distinct possibility. This activity is an exercise in forward planning, involving careful design, knotting skills and considerable team commitment. Barrels, logs and ropes are used to make a craft that will carry the group across a lake.

Zip Wire

Our excellent aerial runway starts from a platform up in an enormous oak, crosses a small, 40-foot deep valley and glides through the trees before ending at ground level. As with all out high level activities, annual testing by a professional engineer, trained staff, together with regular system and harness checks ensure the safety of your ride, without diminishing from the thrill and excitement.

Other Activities may be available at the other Worcestershire Outdoor Centres