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Children love outdoor learning centres, but many are being forced to close The traditional residential trip to experience climbing, camping and canoeing may never return without government action, warn experts Adventures: A residential trip is a treasured part of school Credit: Craig Stennett When my eldest son finished primary school last year, without any of the usual final year six rituals of leaving parties, last assemblies or signing of shirts, thanks to Covid, I asked him what he had enjoyed and would remember most about his years at primary school. “Easy,” he said. “Our residential trip to Marle Hall.” It was exactly the same for me when I was at primary school and I, along with around 60,000 other school children from Warwickshire, also enjoyed a week of climbing, orienteering and sharing bunk beds with my best friends at the marvellous Marle Hall, which first opened as a Centre for Outdoor Learning, 50 years ago. ....
The Weardale Adventure Centre, in Ireshopeburn, has taken children on adventures in Upper Weardale for decades. It was previously owned by the YMCA, but when the centre fell into administration the current team bought the building and kept it going. Now, the centre faces its biggest challenge yet. As a result of the Covid pandemic, all school trips have been cancelled, holidaymakers have been scarce, and the business has been put in a tight spot. As the lockdowns have increased, schools started cancelling activities and asking for a refund because many are not able to travel outside of their tiers. ....
The Weardale Adventure Centre, in Ireshopeburn, has taken children on adventures in Upper Weardale for decades. It was previously owned by the YMCA, but when the centre fell into administration the current team bought the building and kept it going. Now, the centre faces its biggest challenge yet. As a result of the Covid pandemic, all school trips have been cancelled, holidaymakers have been scarce, and the business has been put in a tight spot. As the lockdowns have increased, schools started cancelling activities and asking for a refund because many are not able to travel outside of their tiers. ....