Courses...

The Oaklands Centre
Capel Garmon Road
Betws-y-Coed
Conwy, NORTH WALES
LL26 0RB

T: 01690 710500
F: 01690 710420

We offer a wide range of courses all of which are tailor made to meet our use's needs. Courses vary in length from week long Monday to Friday, weekends, half weeks or day visits. Expeditions and special projects can be extended beyond this.

(Outdoor) Education

The Oaklands experience promotes personal and social development, environmental awareness, and enriches learning. This helps people to become successful learners, confident individuals and responsible citizens. Outcomes from an Oaklands experience contribute towards being healthy, staying safe, enjoying and achieving, making positive contributions and achieving economic well-being.

The majority of our Outdoor Education courses are multi activity, and designed to be flexible in order to meet the groups aims and work with prevailing weather conditions.

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Primary

These courses are aimed at year 5 and 6 children giving them a real taste of adventure and challenge.

The children will be expected to take on responsibility for themselves and their equipment during the course, and to work in a team. They will learn about themselves, others and the environment through taking part in a number of challenging activities.

This is a great opportunity for primary aged children to gain experience of independence before going on to secondary school, for a teacher to build a strong self assured hard working team for the coming year, or as a finale to their primary school life.

Our instructors are well used to relating experiences back to curriculum areas in schools as a matter of course, and can relate sessions to specific topics  if requested.

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Secondary

Whether it is part of an introduction to secondary education for year 7, an alternative curriculum programme or part of a programme for gifted and talented children, we have plenty to offer this age range.

Outdoor Education fits with many curriculum areas from PSHE and Geography to PE. Our staff will tailor your course to meet your aims and objective.

We can offer GCSE and A level PE modules in rock climbing, canoeing and orienteering. BTec modules can culminate  in expeditions or a residential at the Centre. We  could also  be used for art, geography or maths groups.

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Youth Groups

We are renowned for our flexible needs led approach and our staff ability to relate to young people. We offer a whole range of tailored experience for this type of group whether it is part of an on-going project to cover specific issues in the youth work curriculum or a fun filled  weekend stay. Others come for day visits spread over a period of time to enhance work undertaken back at their base.

We are also able to work at your base in some circumstances either as a one off or part of a longer programme.

We have worked with a wide variety of groups from youth offending programmes to Scouts and Guides.

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Duke of Edinburgh Award

We can act as supervisors or assessors for your expeditions, both on foot or by boat. We also run a Gold residential each October based at the Centre

John Muir Award

We are now an approved provider of the John Muir Award and are currently able to provide resources FREE of charge on these courses.

We are able to provide the programme to any organisation interested.

The John Muir Award encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to discover, enjoy and conserve the planet's wild places, through a structures yet adaptable scheme. For further information on the award scheme either contact us at the Centre or go to www.johnmuiraward.org.

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Expedition Projects

We have successfully run expeditions for numerous groups over the years as part of youth programmes, Duke of Edinburgh and BTech courses.

An expedition provides an intensive experience which enables young people to really succeed and shine. Examples are a crossing of Scotland by canoe (over 6 days) and a Snowdonia coast to coast walk (over 5 days).

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Training and Development

National Governing Body Awards (NGBs)

We run a range of courses for National Governing Bodies: in canoeing, climbing, mountain walking, orienteering and first aid. You will find a list and further information on any currently planed course on the home page of our website.

We can also put on a course for a specific group, for example teachers wishing to do a Climbing Wall Leader Award at their school. Please contact the Centre for further details.

Personal Skills Development

If you are not interested in leadership awards and just want to advance your personal skills then we run courses to suit you. From rock climbing courses based in Snowdonia or Pembrokeshire through to teachers, leaders' weekends or personal canoe/kayak coaching sessions.

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Team Development/Corporate Programmes

We have delivered successful corporate training packages from Oaklands for the past 20 years; clients have included Vauxhall, Merseyside Fire Brigade, the NHS and Wirral Partnership Homes.

We can provide a range of team development days using activities to promote learning and understanding. These days are excellent for allowing individuals to use their particular strengths and to help recognise that everyone has a part to play, bringing out the best in each other and themselves.

The activities will allow your team to develop trust, confidence and understanding whilst highlighting the importance of leadership and communication.

Here are some examples of some of the days we can offer. We can also put on extended programmes, giving participants a chance to learn more and reap the rewards back in the workplace...

Leisure and Recreation

We are also open to friends, families, and community groups to come and experience what Oaklands can offer, weekends, days or week long courses.

We have hosted hen weekends, family get together's and 50th birthday parties to name but a few.

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