Year 5/6 Residential: Arete Outdoor Activity Centre

We are proud to offer all our year 5/6 children the opportunity to spend a week away in Wales to take part in some outdoor adventurous activity whilst developing their independence and social skills.

Using expert instructors and top of the range equipment in the picturesque Snowdonia National Park this trip is a perfect opportunity for everyone to take on new challenges and create amazing memories whilst away from home with friends.

 

About Arete

Arete is a non profit company that specialises in school residentials, providing outdoor education.

Arete centre holds an Adventurous Activity Licencing, Learning outside the classroom award, provider of Mountain Training awards and Duke of Edinburgh.

The centre is located in North Wales in a small village called Llanrug.

The village is five minutes drive away from the popular village of Llanberis, home of the Welsh Mountain Railway, Mount Snowdon and Llyn Padarn.

The centre has little outdoor space meaning all activities take place in the local area.

There are no shortages of options for activities, we are a short drive away from Lake Padarn, the Snowdonia, Glyderau and Carneddau mountain ranges (the biggest mountain ranges in Wales), old mines and several other exciting places to explore.

Activities

We have a choice of activities at Arete, this is normally planned around the ability of the groups and the weather.

Our typical week could include the following:

A mountain walk which may be low level or working to reach a summit depending on group ability.

A water day which may include gorge walking, canoeing, rafting or paddleboarding.

Underground exploration in the old mines.

Rope work including Traversing and rock climbing.

Night walk using torches

Camp fire

Orienteering

Disco

Bushcraft

Participation

All activities are based around the ability of the group, therefore there should not be any reason for your child to not want to join in.

There may be elements of the day that encourage children to come out of their comfort zone and try some new challenges, these may include jumping in rockpools whilst gorge walking, however should your child not want to do these challenges then they will not be forced as we want their experience to be a positive one.

Risk Management

As with all activities there is an element is risk, after all nothing we do is ever completely risk free.

With outdoor adventurous activities the risk is often higher than regular sporting activities due to the environment, weather and demanding nature of the activity.

Every activity we go on is risk assessed and safety measures put in place to ensure the experience is not just fun, but as safe as possible, minimising risk by use of equipment where required.

Arete centre will provide every child with and safety equipment they may need, including helmets, harnesses, footwear, waterproofs, wetsuits, buoyancy aids.

Staffing

To ensure the best possible learning experience and to minimise risk all adventurous activities are led by highly qualified Arete centre staff.

School staff will also be joining in the activities so your child will always be supervised.

Behaviour Expectations

Behaviour expectations will be high whilst at Arete due to the nature of the activities and the additional risk.

Children that are not meeting these expectations may be required to change groups away from peers, miss out on activities and lose any free time the group may have.

We always have excellent behaviour whilst away on residentials which has resulted in no injuries in our previous trips.

Food Menu

Breakfast at Arete will include:

A choice of cereals, toast and jam, a small cooked breakfast (this varies each day and could include beans on toast, bacon sandwiches or egg on toast).

 

Lunch at Arete is a packed lunch including:

A sandwich, fruit, crisps, cake, water.

Children are responsible for making their own sandwich and choosing their packed lunch items.

Tea at Arete will include:

Soup and bread, a freshly cooked nutritious meal, dessert.

Dietary requirements such as vegetarian alternatives or allergies can be catered for providing they are expressed on the Arete consent form.

Please note that the meals are set and children will be expected to try all meals, if your child is a fussy eater we ask you to consider that the kitchen staff will not be asked to provide alternative meals.

An average week at Arete will be, pizza and wedges, chicken curry, spaghetti bolognaise and chicken roast dinner.

Sleeping Arrangements

Children will be in dorms, sharing with friends.

Boys and girls are on separate sides of the building with staff bedrooms situated between.

Bed wetting is not a barrier for attending our residential.

We have on many occasions supported children that bed wet so they can enjoy the trip and have their bedding washed discretely.

If you would like any more information on this or your child will require any support whilst away please get in touch with Mr Bloodworth.

Hygiene

The showers at Arete are split so boys and girls do not mix.

All the showers have doors for privacy.

Children will be asked to shower each day

Kit List

Packed into your holdall (not a solid/rigid suitcase as they can’t be stored):

  • T shirts/tops/shirts, enough for five days
  • 2 warm sweaters
  • a spare pair of old trainers (must be secure and laced)
  • Slippers for indoors
  • Changes of underwear. Changes of socks – not trainer socks
  • Trousers e.g. leggings, tracksuit bottoms.  Jeans are not suitable for outdoor wear when doing activities.
  • Disco Clothes
  • Woollen socks – three pairs for walking. Wool is best as it is warmest
  • Towels, toiletries in a toilet bag. No aerosols please.
  • Gloves, warm hat and scarf (weather forecast?)
  • Single duvet cover, pillowcase and sheet.
  • Plastic bin liner for dirty clothes.
  • Pyjamas
  • Torch with spare batteries.
  • Swimming costume / trunks for water activities (weather dependant)

Please ensure your child’s name is in all their clothing as unclaimed lost property without names will not be returned to school.

A downloadable version of the kit list is available in the documents section.

Special Equipment

Arete will supply all specialist equipment that is not on the kit list.

Please don’t buy anything specially for the trip.

We recommend old clothes and trainers.

Tuck Shop

The tuck shop sells lots of souvenirs with the Arete branding.

Although we do not put a limit on the amount your child can take we do ask that you don’t send an excessive amount of money.

Please see downloadable documents below for a tuck shop list.

Updates whilst at Arete

School will update Facebook on a regular basis.

These updates may come late at night once all children are in bed.

The Day We Leave

Your child does not need to wear school uniform.

School will be open from 8.30am to those going on the trip, earlier for those booked into breakfast club.

Parents will be asked to register children in before leaving.

Medication, sweets and money to be handed into staff.

Bags to be left in the hall for children to put on the coach.

Parents to then leave the hall, you are welcome to wave us off when we leave (expected to be 10am)

A printable reminder sheet can be found here