Secondary School Courses
Adventurous Activities Key Stage 3 and 4
All of our programmes are prepared in consultation with visiting groups, and are carefully tailored to meet their needs. We run courses at all levels, from introductory to advanced and are shortly to celebrate our 40th anniversary.
All permanent instructional staff are qualified teachers and hold a range of nationally recognised outdoor activity qualifications. We are able to run general outdoor education courses at Key Stages 3 and 4 and also organise programmes specifically designed to satisfy the requirements of the GCSE and 'A' level PE syllabuses.
Canoeing
We are able to offer a range of courses from introductory to advanced. There are a variety of local venues available to suit the prevailing conditions. We have a fleet of open boats and a range of kayaks to satisfy the needs of paddlers at all levels of experience.
Caving
South Wales has some of the most spectacular karst scenery in the UK. There are extensive caving opportunities for groups from beginners to advanced. This environment provides an excellent outdoor classroom for developing environmental awareness and an understanding of basic geology.
Gorge Walking
This involves Exploration of steep sided river valleys, scrambling over rocks and negotiating waterfalls. At a more advanced level abseils and tyrolean traverses may be included.
Mountain Walking
With the Eastern Brecon Beacons nearby and the rest of the National Park within easy reach, this region provides a challenging environment for teaching navigation, improving walking skills and mountain awareness.
Orienteering
This can be undertaken in the Centre grounds or in a local forest and involves way finding around a preset course. This competitive activity combines navigational skill with athletic ability.
Rock Climbing/Abseiling
Local quarries provide an ideal setting for an introduction to this increasingly popular activity. In inclement weather it is possible to make use of the Centre's on-site climbing tower or visit a nearby climbing centre, for an additional charge.
Waterfalls
A challenging walk taking in several major waterfalls. This site has been designated an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with European significance and provides a spectacular backdrop for environmental education.
Ropes and Assault Course
The Centre has both a low level ropes course and a more challenging assault course. These are excellent activities for developing teamwork and provide an opportunity for individual achievement.
Outside all night
Overnight experiences can involve camping in remote mountain areas, within the Centre grounds, shelter building or sleeping in an Iron Age mud hut.
Archery
We have an archery range in the grounds and offer this as a taster activity which requires self discipline, concentration and encourages development of coordination.
Other activities
Other activities such as raft building and mountain biking are possible. Any external hire costs will incur an additional charge.
Progression Courses
The chance to develop the skills in various activities during weekends and the school holidays. We have previously organised caving trips in Yorkshire, France, climbing in the Peak District, expeditions across the Brecon Beacons and down the River Wye. Each year we organise a chilren's multi-activity course during the summer vacation.
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GCSE AS Level PE at Trewern
At Trewern, we are able to specialise in a range of Outdoor and Adventurous Activities at GCSE or AS/A2 level, such as canoeing, kayaking, climbing, mountain walking and orienteering. We will tailor your residential visit to the requirements of the syllabus you use. For more information
Field Studies
There is a wealth of opportunity for field-work at Trewern. We are ideally Situated for easy access to a wide variety of natural and human environments. Our specialist staff have provided GCSE and A level Geography and Biology courses for a number of schools, and working closely with visiting staff have developed courses in integrated science, art, history and humanities. Although the centre has many prepared study projects, these can be adapted to suit the needs of the visiting groups, and centre staff are able to use their extensive local knowledge and contacts to develop new projects. We are here to provide help in planning your field course to meet the curriculum needs of your students.
Opportunities for fieldwork are varied. The Old Red Sandstone mountains, moorlands and commons of the Black Mountains and the Brecon Beacons offer a range of landforms in this classically glaciated area. Further south overlying the sandstone, limestone outcrops provide karst scenery and access to cave systems.
In this area of high rainfall, rivers and streams provide opportunities for a variety of hydrological studies. The erosive power of water is dramatically shown in the deep gorges and spectacular waterfalls of the Ystradfellte area, while there are a number of lakes and bogs for ecological or management studies. The human use of water is demonstrated by local dams, reservoirs and canals
Our working area contains a wide variety of vegetation types from ancient and secondary woodland to upland heath and bog. Centre staff have negotiated access to many of these sensitive sites. The main land use in this area continues to be agriculture and forestry, and we have access arrangements with a variety of local farms.
The area has a long history of human occupation. Evidence for this is provided by the standing stones of the Neolithic period, the hill forts of the Iron Age and the extensive system of Roman roads and forts. The border country has a wealth of motte and bailey castles. In addition there are two well preserved medieval castles at Ludlow and Goodrich.
Most villages in Herefordshire have a superb range of houses, churches and other buildings to explore, as do the market and administrative towns of Hereford , Leominister, Ludlow and Brecon.
The landscape of South Wales still bears the signs of the changes brought about by the growth and decline of the coal industry. Students can study the geographical, historical, economic, and social changes in this area, and can even visit a coal mining museum.
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