Secondary School Activity Options

Adventurous Activities

We will develop a program of activities with the school or group. This will enable us to fulfil your aims and objectives. With secondary aged groups full day out on activities produce the best results for students. These can be a full day on one activity or as a multi activity day from the ideas below.

Canoeing and kayaking

The canoes (also called open or Canadian canoes) are typically paddled by a team of two people. They use paddles with a blade on one end.

Kayaks are typically paddled solo with a paddle that has a blade on both ends. Although stable the students enthusiasm may cause the canoe to capsize.

All paddlers, whether they can swim or not, are equipped with safety equipment.

Secondary students will be able to canoe on a section of the river Wye which has over 100 miles of paddling. This venue does depend on water levels and alternatives include one of the larger reservoirs in the National Park. River trips are a full day, lakes and reservoirs can be half or full day. River trips may include gentle rapids. The rivers Wye and Severn can be used for multiday canoeing expeditions. Competent Gold DofE expeditions may also canoe these rivers.

For more advanced groups there is sea paddling on the beautiful Gower coast which has a mixture of sandy beaches and limestone cliffs.

Rock climbing and abseiling

Secondary students will use off-site venues for full days. The on-site wall for half day sessions. A full day session enables a wider choice of venue, including climbing by the sea. In inclement weather we may use a local indoor climbing wall.

Caving

Secondary students may visit a range of caves. These include Porth yr Ogof (which has miles of passages and so many options that even if you have visited before you will be challenged!), Ogof Clogwyn, Eglwys Faen, Ogof y Ci, Little Neath River Cave, White Lady Cave or Ogof Pasg. At some venues there is an option to include an element of climbing or abseiling in the cave.

Mountain walks

The Bannau Brycheiniog National Park (Brecon Beacons) was created to protect the mountain scenery. We are ideally positioned to explore this National Park. Our local mountains include Pen y Fan (the highest mountain in southern Britain), Corn Du, the Black Mountains, Carmarthen Black Mountain. The pupils get a great sense of achievement no matter which one they climb.

They will travel through woodland, farmland and over mountain and moorland seeing springs, streams, rivers, wildlife, and plenty of sheep (in summer anyway). There are opportunities for map reading/route finding, and learning opportunities in geography (e.g. land use, geology), science (e.g. habitats, rocks) and history (old hill forts and changing ways of life) as well as working together as a team to ensure everyone completes the journey.

The highest mountains require a full day to climb, but there are half day options too.

Gorge Journey

Climb, scramble, slide, jump, swim; different ways to overcome the challenges but one thing is certain, you will get wet!

Orienteering

Use your brain and your legs to navigate your way around the course. We have a variety of courses to suit all abilities. In our garden, Pendarren Park, our local Bluebell Wood, a mountain top course and indoors for the wet evenings.

Team Challenges

A series of challenges designed to get you working as a team, with a final challenge that brings the different teams together.

Bushcraft

Build your own shelter, light a fire without matches, discover wild food, learn how to safely use a knife. A half or full day session.

Horse riding

Horse riding can be arranged through another provider, there is an extra charge for this which is payable in advance. Over the session students are shown how to care for and prepare their pony, and how to control their pony. Each activity group must be accompanied by a visiting member of staff who is required to ride.

Expeditions/Camping

Pendarren is well resourced to offer a camping experience which can be part of a walking or canoeing expedition. The Brecon Beacons offer lots of scope for a mountain walks with an overnight camp in the mountains. The river Wye has over 100 miles of navigable river suitable for canoes and is ideal for multiday journeys with camping on the riverbank.

Duke of Edinburgh

Pendarren is a DofE Approved Activity Provider and offers expedition training, practice and qualifying expeditions at all levels of the Award. We now have a good selection of equipment for expedition groups.

Field Studies

There is a wealth of natural resources that can be incorporated into a programme for geography, biology, science, history, art, maths, English.

This includes mountains, moorland, forest, waterfalls, rivers, streams, lakes, wildlife, coast (rocky and sandy shores), caves, archaeology, industrial heritage, farms and rural communities.

As well as the natural environment there is a variety of heritage sites including Big Pit coal mine museum: includes an underground tour of a coal mine. It is part of a World Heritage site along with some of the earliest blast furnaces in Britain. Caerleon – the Romans:  garrison, amphitheatre, barracks and baths. Castles: Over the centuries the Welsh and the English built many castles along the border to try and control the region.