Activities Courses

Between Easter and October half term we offer a range of water based activities for all ages from 8+. Instruction takes place in sheltered water with safety boats always in attendance. Equipment is tailored to suit the size, strength and ability of students. All wetsuits and other protective clothing is provided, except footwear and a towel. Although a minimum standard of swimming ability is strongly recommended, upon consultation we will not exclude weak swimmers provided they are water confident.

Sailing

We have a large selection of craft, ranging from a fleet of Oppies suitable for junior age children, to Picos which provide an exciting introduction for older students, sailing singly or in pairs. Larger high performance dinghies and catamarans are available for the experts!

Kayaking

Paddling their own kayak, students quickly gain skills and confidence in our sheltered creek before embarking on longer expeditions along the coast or the River Beaulieu.

Open Canoeing

Sharing a boat with friends or an instructor is an excellent way to learn the value of teamwork and organisation. This provides an ideal medium for those with special needs to experience the fun and exhilaration of being afloat

Windsurfing

Using our modern super stable light weight boards and rigs, everyone can quickly learn the basics of how to sail away from the beach and return without the long swims often associated with the early stages of learning this popular sport.

Raft Building

A classic team building activity using barrels and poles to construct a raft which will be tested (often to destruction!) in our canoe pool.

We boast three indoor floodlit dry slopes surfaced with snowflex. It’s easier to turn on, softer to fall on and has no holes to catch fingers and thumbs. Variable speed drag lifts ensure those early steps are easier.

Skiing

The emphasis is on energetic and fun sessions, where progression is at the pace of the individual’s capabilities.

Ski Bobbing and Ringos

For our younger (and young at heart) visitors. These are small steerable toboggans, or inflatable toys – just pure fun!

Snowboarding

For the older age group (11+), we provide an introduction to this exhilarating sport. We provide elbow and wrist guards to ensure maximum enjoyment – minimum pain! Maximum group size is eight students.

Climbing and Abseiling

We possess the South’s premiere indoor climbing facility, 520m2, from short easy angled slabs, to a 13m overhang with abseiling platform. Groups work in three’s and have therefore plenty of opportunity to learn and practise the skills associated with this fast growing and accessible sport. Developing trust, support and communication are also important factors.

Track Cycling

A unique opportunity to have a go on the only indoor banked velodrome in the South of England. The cycle track provides a safe yet challenging introduction to this Olympic sport.

Archery

Requires good concentration, a sharp eye and a steady hand. Archery is approached in a disciplined but supportive atmosphere, and provides a change of pace from many of our more physically demanding activities.

Team Building/Problem Solving Activities

High Ropes

Our unique indoor facility provides groups with a year round opportunity to explore the concepts of support and trust whilst facing personal challenge.

Low Ropes

Our recently upgraded outdoor course features many exciting challenges which provide a basis for discussions on assessing risk, problem solving, recognising leadership and other qualities which are the hallmarks of successful teams.

Initiative Course

Elements such as ‘The Spider’s Web’, ‘The Tunnel’, ‘Washed Out Bridge’, and ‘Mushroom Field’ emphasize different team qualities and stimulate discussion when reviewing. Students are encouraged to think about how they are perceived within the team, and how they contribute to its success.

Nightline

Blindfolded team mates take turns to lead each other through various elements of an obstacle course, whilst following a rope trail. Leadership, cooperation, listening skills and team spirit all play a part in achieving success.

A week long course at Calshot is greatly enhanced by one or more trips out into the New Forest to experience its beauty at first hand.

Forest Orienteering

Map skills are developed progressively, using simple colour maps of fenced Inclosures. Responsibility for independent decision making is increasingly handed to students showing maturity and experience, as supervision becomes less obvious to them.

River Crossing

A fun, problem solving exercise, which entails building a rope bridge across a river, or alternatively, our own pool can be spanned.

Forest Mountain Biking

We use the beautiful off-road cycle routes of the New Forest, to introduce safe and responsible use of sensitive areas for adventure and recreation. Groups navigate themselves using handlebar mounted OS maps.

Rivers and Streams

Darkwater Discovery

Students follow a New Forest stream from source to mouth, investigating and measuring the changes along its course. Follow up work includes averages, graphs, ICT and poster design.

Stream Mapping

Using co-ordinates and mathematical skills, students map geographical landforms along a stream and reproduce them to scale back in the classroom.

Pondamonium

Freshwater animals are collected and identified to help students create their own food chain and food web mobiles.

History in the Making

Troublesome Tudors

Students explore and investigate our on-site Tudor Castle and create a besom broom using Tudor technology.

The Solent

With such a diverse eco-system on our doorstep, students love the opportunity to investigate the marine life in and around the Calshot coastline. Back in the classroom they get a close up view of life underwater in our Marine Aquarium.

Terrific Trawling

Using our 9.5m trawler, students catch a variety of marine life which they then identify and draw back in the classroom. Plankton is examined using a microscope and video camera. (This topic is weather dependent).

Beach Bonanza

Stepping out of the classroom, students examine our beaches to investigate adaptations of coastal marine life. Back indoors, Beach Life posters are made by identifying and drawing the animals and plants collected.

Coastline Catastrophe?

Taking the role of a newspaper reporter, students follow the progress of pebbles from cliff to spit, investigating coastal processes and management at Calshot Spit. Using ICT skills they then publish their headline stories in our ICT suite.

The New Forest

New Forestation

Using all their senses, students gain a hands-on (and eyes, ears, mouth and nose!) feel for the forest and use their experiences to create poetry.

Orienteering

Students navigate their way around a New Forest inclosure collecting markers and points along the way. Compass work, navigation and teamwork come together for a fun, yet challenging, activity.

Muddy Mayhem

A heathland slope and its soil are investigated. Using the results, students carry out a decision making exercise to determine the best site for trees to grow.

Tall Trees

Students use a variety of mathematical and sensory techniques to build up a fact file on a range of tree species in the New Forest.

The evening sessions incorporate teamwork and challenges with larger group sizes allowing students to work with different people. The activities, all one and a half hours long, include:

Egg Drop

Design a container to protect an egg from a large drop – design, teamwork and construction.

Bridge Build/Cane Tower

Students work together to construct a bridge or cane tower across an imaginary river. Will it survive the test of strength?

Glider Build

Design and build a paper glider to fly in the hangar.

Games Evening

A fun and active evening of competitions and team games all taking place indoors.

Disco

A chance to change out of those wellies! The disco takes place in our Recreation Room complete with smoke machine, disco lights and strobes.

Video night

Relax with a video from our collection, or alternatively bring your own. Large-screen projectors are available.

Make a video

Using props and drama skills, students work in teams to produce a sketch which is recorded and played back at the end of the session.

Beach Walk

Discover the nature of our seashore on an evening walk along Calshot beach. Students examine and find out about the wildlife on their doorstep. (Light and tide dependent).

Ballista Build

A chance for older students to try constructing replicas of medieval weapons.
Krypton Challenge A series of brainteasers and active problems to tackle.

Quiz night

A fun evening which tests general and musical knowledge, observation and teamwork.

Course Length

Please discuss with our experienced and knowledgeable booking staff the length of your stay, which can be Monday to Friday, a weekend or other duration. They will guide you through every stage of planning your stay. Our courses represent real value for money, with no hidden extras.

Fees include

• All instruction.
• All specialist equipment.
• Waterproof clothing (including wet suits if required).
• Transport within the programme

Residential courses also include

• An evening programme
• All meals, accommodation and bed linen.
• Hot drinks during breaks and prior to bedtime.

Not included:

• Travel to and from the Centre
• Footwear
• Towels
• Examination Fees
• National Governing Body log books/certificates

Special Needs

We have many years' experience of teaching students with a wide range of special needs. We work with you to develop a programme which best suits the particular needs of your group. Some bedrooms and bathrooms have been adapted to accommodate people with special needs and have ground floor access.

Tuition/Staff

All our courses are fully tutored by Centre Staff and throughout each course we try to keep the same small team of instructors or teachers with the same group. This allows the development of an instructor/group bond and the fostering of a group identity.
Calshot’s instructional team includes a number of highly qualified and experienced teaching staff, whose qualifications include; RYA Dinghy coach/assessors, RYA Windsurfing trainers, RYA Powerboat trainers, BCU coaches and MTLB trainers/assessors.

The Field Studies team comprises of seven specialist, highly qualified graduates, two of whom are also qualified teachers. All have wide experience within environmental education, and have the subject/curricular knowledge and classroom/ outdoor skills necessary to develop high quality learning environments.
All instructional staff are supported by a professional customer service, catering and technical team.

The role of accompanying staff

We value the role of accompanying staff, who are crucial to the success of any visit. Students are fully occupied with instructor led sessions and there is very limited free time. Wherever possible we hope that you will wish to participate in activities alongside students. Otherwise, relax in our visiting staff lounge with TV, video, and tea and coffee making facilities. Clearly, you remain responsible for student pastoral care and for their safety outside Calshot instructor led sessions. Wherever possible, in addition to the student programme, we offer visiting staff a half day of tuition in activities of their own choice.

Equipment

The design, construction and performance of outdoor sports equipment is constantly improving and evolving. Many of these changes lead to safer, easier and more enjoyable participation for beginners and experts alike. To take advantage of these factors we are continually evaluating and updating our equipment. Equally, our Field Studies Department recognise the necessity to remain at the forefront of technology – the range and quality of our field equipment reflects this objective.