Crowden Outdoor Education Centre

School Trips

Why book Crowden Outdoor Education Centre for Residential School Trips and Educational Visits?

Situated in the Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, Crowden has 40 beds spread across 14 bedrooms, drying room, TV room, lounge with a games room and dining room with the option of full board, half board or self-catering.

We can provide full or part week residential outdoor activity programmes or a daily activity programme.

We can also link into accredited outcomes such as The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Prince's Trust or other relevant courses.

Crowden Outdoor Education Centre photograph

school trip at Crowden Outdoor Education Centre

school groups Crowden Outdoor Education Centre

Teacher Checklist

Risk Assessments
Inspection Visits
Free Places for Teachers
Resource Packs
LOtC Quality Badge
AALA Licence
Institute of Outdoor Learning
Adventure Mark
Duke of Edinburgh Award
Adventure Activity Associates

What activities are available during group visits?

• rock climbing
• cave exploration
• kayaking
• canoeing
• raft building
• stream scrambling
• zip wire
• archery
• team-building exercises
• bush craft
• geo-cashing
• orienteering
• abseiling
• weaselling

Which Curriculum Subjects do you cater for?

Maths

Curriculum topics available: Fractions, Logic and Problem Solving, Measurement, Statistics, Ratio and proportion, Shape, Graphs and data.

We have designed a programme to support pupils understanding of maths, through practical application within an outdoor learning environment. The use of outdoor learning will help students to build resilience while they overcome maths based challenges.
Encouraging pupils to tackle problems in a new environment will provide an opportunity to engage students in a new and exciting way to encourage a positive attitude to learning.
Group size
Students will work in groups of up to 10 with an outdoor education facilitator. Working in small groups gives all students the opportunity to shine during tasks.

What will we be doing?
Team Challenge – Set of problem solving challenges using

- Fractions
- Angles
- Measuring distance
- Scale
- times tables

Archery – Hit the target, gather data in different formats. Raw data can then be used to identify Averages, high score and low score, Percentages, Fractions and many more. It’s a great way to bring numbers to life by giving a purpose to classroom exercises.

Orienteering – Use maps to discover scale, use of a compass to draw a shape in the landscape.
Zip wire – Take a thrill ride over the weir. Group will time the decent and can work out the speed of travel

The program is designed to support pupils by providing real life examples where use of a variety of maths principals can be applied to overcome real life challenges.

What equipment do we need?
Students in comfortable clothing
Packed Lunch

What size groups do you cater for?

Crowden OEC can accommodate up to 40 guests on a residential basis and up to 70 people for day activities.

Do you offer on-site classroom facilities?

We have three break out rooms in the centre each with white board.

The smaller break out rooms on the first floor have TV and white boards
The large room on the ground floor has interactive projector and white board

The centre is in a remote location so internet and mobile connectivity is limited. providing the ideal setting for targeted learning without the distractions personal technology allowing all participants to be present and engaged.

Is there first aid on site?

All our instructors hold appropriate first aid qualifications. Visiting school staff have responsibility for the supervision of pupils overnight and should make appropriate arrangements for first aid outside of supervised activities.

Do you offer access for visitors with disabilities?

The Centre building is fully accessible, a lift is provided for access to the first floor and accessible bathrooms are available on all floors. Please contact us to discuss particular needs as due to our remote location there is limited access to activities for guests who require mobility support.

Do you cater for visitors with Special Educational Needs (SEN)?

We have experience of working with a number of specialist needs and providers, please contact us to discuss your pupils specific needs. We can provide you with a number of options available to us, so you can decide if our provision is right for them. Our team has a wide range of experience, enabling us to support a variety of needs. We understand that due to the nature of the activities and the environment in which we work it is not right for everyone.

Anything else?

Groups have sole use of the facilities, which enables great flexibility within your programme. We provide the best possible programme, designed to meet your needs and visit aims.

The centre is purpose built, providing comfortable residential accommodation. The location also provides many study options, due to being located next to Sites of Special Scientific Interest (S.S.S.I); Special Protection Areas (S.P.A) and Brockholes Wood Nature Reserve, in the Peak District Derbyshire.

The benefits of choosing Crowden for your trip include:

- Value for money
- Safe environment
- Full activity programmes combining learning and fun
- Activities led by qualified and experienced outdoor education practitioners
- Idyllic countryside setting
- Comfortable, modern accommodation and facilities
- The Centre is easily accessible from the main road

Who are Crowden Outdoor Education Centre?

Crowden Outdoor Educational Centre is an activity retreat in the heart of the Peak District which offers children and young people the opportunity to experience the great outdoors under the professional guidance of experienced and enthusiastic instructors.

Pupils will have the chance to partake in a variety of different activities designed to build confidence, teamwork, communication, resilience, leadership and coordination - but most importantly, have fun in a relaxed, friendly environment!

When it's time to relax, Crowden OEC provides comfortable and modern accommodation, with hot showers, warm beds and plenty of space to unwind with friends after a long day of adventure.

Our programmes can be designed to challenge and push people outside their comfort zone, or tailored to meet group needs. Regardless of an individual’s ability, they will be able to achieve their goals with friends cheering them on.