Aylmerton Outdoor Education Centre
School Trips
Why book Aylmerton Outdoor Education Centre for Residential School Trips and Educational Visits?
We are set in a truly outstandingly beautiful part of the world BUT what makes our schools return year after year is our warm, family atmosphere and our amazing staff. Our ethos is to employ all staff on a permanent basis, and to pay them more than any other centre, so that they stay with us for many years and build up a wealth of local knowledge and experience, becoming experts in the local area. They are intelligent, warm, funny and kind and returning schools greet them as old friends. Each and every one genuinely shares our aim to provide the best school trip ever.
Teacher Checklist
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Institute of Outdoor Learning
Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?
Pirates
The purpose of this day is the personal development of the individual child combined with team building. It is an extremely popular activity and can be successfully used as a half-day or full-day activity.
The day begins with your group presenting themselves to the ‘School for Pirates.’ The tasks are presented as the entrance exam to assess whether they can gain a place at the school.
The ropes course (Year 4 onwards) stretches many of the children but uncovers hidden talents in others – often the quieter members of the group. For those who can perform the task easily, there are optional harder tasks. No child is ever forced to participate but we are extremely skilled at getting even the most timid children across. Their pride and sense of achievement afterwards is self-evident! We also operate a buddy system where the children look after each other and give encouragement.
The remaining activities – a selection from the bosun’s chair, bushcraft/firelighting, walking the planks and shelter building, island challenge and climbing wall, rely on good teamwork. Emphasis is placed on good communication, co-operation and encouragement and this is continually reinforced throughout the day.
For the extension activity on the full-day option, groups are given a treasure map to follow a simple route through Felbrigg woods looking for clues. On their return, with the necessary information, the map is swapped for an AOEC site map showing the location of the treasure chest. This contains the prize (although sometimes a little surprise as well).
This is an exceptionally good activity for increasing self-confidence.
Team Building
This activity is based around teamwork, problem-solving and map-reading.
The day begins with an introduction to the idea of being in a team. Groups will discuss the important elements that make up a successful team – communication, co-operation and encouragement. Groups are divided into smaller teams (eight to 13 children), ideally not with their “best” friends.
The morning is spent on co-operative team building activities to prepare the group for the Monster Trail in the afternoon. Teams must successfully defuse the bomb and get through the spider’s web, across the acid river and around the water challenge on the agility course.
After lunch, the teams will receive basic instruction in map-reading, and follow a simple map to locate clues in the woods. Each team is accompanied by a supervising adult from your party. Teams must keep a close eye out for “monsters” who hide in the woods – if they are quiet and alert they can pacify the monsters and gain their help by using the magic password. Teams who do get “zapped” may lose a life.
With clues, puzzles, cryptograms, anagrams and rewards for the successful, this is one of our most popular days. Group leaders tell us that they can actually see the children growing in confidence during this day. Many schools have even brought forward their stay with us to the start of the academic year after experiencing the positive effects of this activity on their class, so that they can reap the benefits of their pupil’s growth.
Local History
Cromer, described as the “Gem of the Norfolk Coast” is a small seaside town perched on the cliff top and buffeted by winds sweeping straight down from the North Pole. It is also frequently one of the sunniest places in Britain.
It is famous for its jet and particularly for its crabs. Because of its position, Cromer originally relied on the sea for fishing and trade. To this day, fishing is still a very visible industry here. However, since the coming of the railways, Cromer has owed its existence to tourism and is now a popular family holiday resort. There are many interesting places to visit in Cromer.
The new Lifeboat Museum tells the story of Cromer’s origins as a fishing village, the old lifeboat and the many disasters at sea. The recently refurbished Cromer Museum provides information on the geology of the area, a replica of a fisherman’s cottage and the story behind the development of the tourist industry.
You can visit the extraordinarily grand parish church where you can find out about the history of the town. You can also visit the pier and the lifeboat at the end of it. We also have a town trail during which you can find out more about the history of Cromer.
Cromer is ideal as a local history study with the activities being available as a full-day or half-day, depending on your requirements
Geology
Fossils Rocks West Runton is known throughout the world for its geology. The pupils will look at the rock formations, glacial deposits, erratics, fossils (including the site where the famous West Runton elephant was discovered) and the forest bed series. They will also look for evidence of pollution. In addition, the children will closely observe the rock pools for life forms. Great emphasis is placed on conservation and observing creatures in their natural habitat.
We will also examine the cliffs here and discuss the problems facing the community in light of the government’s current policy on sea defences. If tide conditions are favourable, the pupils will be able to try their hand at sea defences themselves in the Sea Defence Game and watch the process of erosion as their castles are eroded.
This activity can make an excellent start to your visit, if low tide falls in the afternoon but is extremely worthwhile as a half-day option at any point during your stay. For coastal erosion studies, it is particularly effective in conjunction with our Blakeney visit as the entire process of erosion and deposition can be vividly demonstrated.
Fieldstudies
Ecology Towns and Cities Geology Rivers Coastal Ecosystems Sustainability Mapping This activity involves following the River Glaven, one of a limited number of chalk streams in the UK, along its course from as near to the source at Baconsthorpe as possible to the estuary at Blakeney.
The day will begin with a physical demonstration showing the formation of a river. This will be followed by visiting three different points along the river recording the characteristics at each site and measuring the width, depth and speed of flow before finally visiting the point where it becomes tidal, and the estuary. If time and tide allow, the group will be able to walk out onto the tidal mudflats to see the estuary at close range.
Environmental Geography
Climate change Flooding Plastic pollution Conservation A study of the Broads can be a full-day or half-day activity depending on your requirements.
A half-day activity will involve using self-drive boats from Wroxham, travelling to Wroxham and Salhouse Broads. This is an ideal way to examine the habitat and examine the problems it faces from tourism which has led to erosion of the banks and destruction of the natural habitat, as well as from climate change. The group will be asked to reflect upon the conflict between the continued and expanding use of the Broads by pleasure craft and the need for conservation to protect the environment and the creatures that live there.
For the remaining half-day, if the full-day option is chosen, you will travel to Sea Palling to examine the sea defences designed to protect the broadland habitat and to see how they are changing the very nature of the coast there. You will then visit Happisburgh where the serious erosion of the cliffs is not only leading to the gradual disappearance of the village but could undermine the whole Sea Defence Plan for the Broads.
This is an excellent opportunity to experience this unique environment which is unlike anywhere else in the UK.
Physical Geography
Environment Coasts and seaside Rivers Fieldwork Map and atlas Water cycles This is a unique opportunity for your group to spend a day with our marsh experts and discover the beauty and solitude of Blakeney Point. It combines an examination of different habitats with the pleasure of being in an environment that few people are ever able to experience. It is one of our most popular days – an unmissable activity for many of our groups.
We are the only Centre to offer this activity due to the level of experience and training required before an instructor is able to safely lead the activity. It takes at least two years before AOEC instructors are considered potentially able to lead a Blakeney day and, even then, no instructor is permitted to lead a day until their ability to do so has been formally assessed and deemed highly competent. The comfort and safety of the group depends on their ability to balance their local knowledge of tides, winds, weather systems and the area to ensure that the group gains the most from this experience.
You will wade across the estuary of the River Glaven at low tide, crossing the mud flats and examining the salt marsh environment and the wildlife it supports. The children will examine the flora and fauna of these different habitats comparing the sheer abundance of life in the marshes to the paucity of life on the shingle bank and reflect on the conflict between conservation and tourism, the problems facing the environment and pollution.
There is the potential to spot birds’ nests camouflaged on the beach and there will also be an opportunity to hunt for semi-precious stones. Common finds include quartz, agates and jasper but we have found jet and amber on occasions. A highlight is the “chill-out” when your entire group will lie silently in the marram grass, hearing nothing but the wind and the distant sound of bird song. Finally, there is the option for you to charter a private ferry trip (at an additional cost) to see the common and grey seals at the far end of the spit. They are guaranteed to be there at any time of year and provide plenty of photo opportunities.
Medieval
Medieval Society and Feudalism This study unit is based on a visit to the village of Walsingham in North Norfolk. The pupils will visit the priory ruins and explore the village (much of which is medieval) and walk from the Slipper Chapel to the Friday Market following the route of the original pilgrims. They will also examine the reasons for the growth of the village away from its original centre around the village church. The original 14th century plans will be examined and the effects on them of the break with Rome and the dissolution of the monasteries will be considered.
Bushcraft
This activity involves an examination of the woodland habitat of the National Trust estate at Felbrigg which is directly opposite our Centre.
The pupils will observe the flora and fauna of this habitat and reflect on the conflict between conservation and tourism and the problems facing the environment and pollution. In addition to the above, this activity includes bug hunts and homes, tree studies and lichens and can, if required, involve hide building.
Your group can test their eyes with our scavenger hunt and their hearing with our owl and mice game. They can discover which tree has the most insects and finally, climb inside the hollow oak and marvel at it’s size and beauty – you might be able to get your entire group in there!
A very popular part of this day is our “Un-nature Trail” in which the group passes along a path identifying any ‘un-natural’ items they see there. It is, for adults and children alike, always astonishing to discover just how little we truly notice the world around us.
This activity is an excellent means of stimulating pupil’s interest in the woodland habitat and makes an excellent contribution to a study of different habitats if combined with a visit to Blakeney and/or West Runton.
Physical Education
Orienteering Archery High Ropes Our activities cover a range of different physical education skills, from the challenge of our high ropes course on the Pirates day or the agility course, spider's web and acid river on the Team Building Activities, to the exertion of the coastal walks at West Runton and Blakeney. Orienteering skills can be honed on the Monster Trail and Alien Rescue activities, and children can take part in den building and archery.
What size groups do you cater for?
We have two bases - Aylmerton can cater for groups of between 20 and 90 children and The Pleasaunce has a capacity of between 30 and 65 children.
Is there first aid on site?
ALL our staff (not just instructors) are first aid trained and we provide first aid cover during all activities. Overnight first aid cover is off-site but available on call at all times.
Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?
Yes. In addition we do our very best to accommodate the needs of every child - and do all that is possible to adapt programmes, transport etc. to allow all children to safely access as much of the visit as possible. We also have two fabulous all-terrain wheelchairs. You will be amazed at what can be achieved!
Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?
Yes. Again, we can accommodate and adapt, as needed, to ensure that maximum access for all children is possible.
Anything else?
Our prices include absolutely everything required for a fully active and busy trip except the coach to/from your school. The only optional extra would be to charter the ferry to the seals if a seal trip is required which is passed on at the ferry operator's cost. All accommodation, 3 meals a day from evening meal on the first day to packed lunch on the last, all activities, entrance fees and instruction, and any transport needed to activities while here, are all included. There are no hidden costs at all. We also offer one free adult place for every eight children (every ten children at The Pleasaunce).
Who are Aylmerton Outdoor Education Centre?
Our main centre is on the National Trust estate of Felbrigg with easy access to miles of open countryside and an incredible coastline. Our location and our professional, experienced instructors, make this the perfect base for bringing the Primary Curriculum to life through outdoor learning whether looking at erosion at Happisburgh, rockpools and fossils at West Runton or lifecycles on our unique Blakeney Day (with marsh walk and guaranteed seals) which is an unmissable annual experience for so many of our schools. We also offer a variety of different team building activities including Pirates and our famous Monster Trail. Programmes are tailored individually to each school's requirements. Our aim is to ensure that each and every child (and teacher) has their very best school trip EVER! This is outdoor learning at its very best..
Reviews from Schools..
★★★★★
"I have been bringing school parties to AFSC for many, many years and I have never been less than 100% satisfied! All the instructors are extremely knowledgeable, motivational and reliable. They manage to make a residential trip hassle free and hugely enjoyable for the children. I cannot recommend them too strongly and more importantly, nor could my children! They always speak highly of AFSC as do their parents. A must do experience for children and teachers!"
Greyfriars Primary School
★★★★★
"Aylmerton Field Study Centre and ALL its staff are a real gem in the crown of outdoor activity centres. Having taken parties of Year 5 pupils for many years the impact of a week in North Norfolk is amazing. I take a group of individuals and bring home a team. The children bring back memories for a lifetime, they experience things which they will never do again, things which they will tell their children about. Through the encouragement and teaching styles of the staff the children overcome fears, achieve things they never thought possible and learn an enormous amount about themselves. They are always extremely sad to pack and leave at the end of the week (as are the adults!!). Nothing is too much trouble for the staff to ensure that the youngsters enjoy and take learning outside of the four walls of the classroom. There is so much to do and experience that they are amazed that for a whole week they have survived without a 'screen', and not noticed!! The centre provides learning in it's widest interpretation. I could not recommend it more highly. One visit is all it will take to be 'hooked'."
Burgoyne Middle SchoolTeacher Checklist Aylmerton Outdoor Education Centre
Risk Assessments Inspection Visits Free Places for Teachers Resource Packs LOtC Quality Badge Institute of Outdoor Learning
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