Outdoor Education |
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2012 one again promises to be an action packed year for Outdoor Education at the Academy. The year kicks off with 4 new House residentials. Each House (staff and students) will be attending a residential at Bradley Woods in Brighouse for 2 days and one night camping. The residentials will be in September/October and will leave on alternate Thursdays at 3.10pm, returning on Friday at 3.10pm. Young people will take part in a variety of team/House building activities and games on Thursday evening and throughout Friday to develop their House ethos. All young people/staff at the Secondary site will be attending one of these residentials. The Bronze Duke of Edinburgh teams will be heading out once again this year with their practice expeditions in September and their assessed expedition in April. Young people involved in the Duke of Edinburgh will complete 4 modules; expedition, skills, physical activity and volunteering. All 4 modules need to be completed by students for them to be awarded the full Bronze Duke of Edinburgh award. This year’s Bike residential will take place in November for 2 days and 1 night visiting Dalby Forest, North Yorkshire. Students will have the opportunity to ride some fantastic routes in unspoilt scenery. Routes are available to all levels of rider and will challenge and develop riding skills in equal measure throughout the residential. During the winter term the Academy will once again be running a Ski Club, which will consist of a block of 6 lessons. The ski club is available to all young people at Appleton Academy’s secondary site and will develop all levels of skier, from complete beginners to competent advanced skiers looking for a further challenge. Year 7 students at Appleton Academy will experience a fantastic and exciting series of Year 7 Outdoor Learning Days. These days will take place in March allowing young people the opportunity to learn in the great outdoors. Pupils will take part in camp cooking, shelter building, navigation, exploring nature plus many more new and enjoyable experiences. Our Water residential this academic year will take place in late March. The water residential in 2010 - 2011 was a great success and brought on our students' kayaking skills tremendously. Young people will get the opportunity to develop their kayaking skills on some of Wales’ best rivers. This residential will be 2 days and 1 night in duration and will challenge all paddlers abilities on the water. This residential is only available to those pupils at Appleton Academy who are competent in a kayak. This year, 16 more young people in year 7 will be invited to join our Adventure Team who will be taking part in their outdoor activities during the summer term. Students will take part in a variety of activities whilst developing their expertise in problem solving, working with others and improving their own learning. Students will gain and develop valuable life skills and experiences, as well as creating a portfolio of work towards recognised qualifications. All adventure days for years 7 to 10 will take place between April and July. The Rock climbing residential will take place at the end of May and will take students to the unspoilt countryside in the Peak District. Young people will get the opportunity to climb on some of Britain’s best loved crags (weather providing), which will develop the climbing skills of beginners and experienced climbers alike. Some of our Year 12 BTEC Sport students will take part in a 4-day residential based in the Yorkshire Dales experiencing a variety of outdoor activities. As part of the required curriculum they will be critically analysing and reflecting these experiences in assignments for their course. Throughout the academic year we will also be running a variety of Outdoor Education clubs. The clubs that will be available to all young people from years 7 – 13 are;
Finally, the Academy will also be competing in a number of competitions throughout the academic year and hope to replicate the success of the teams in 2011. We will be entering the Fox Lane Challenge, Bradford Schools Regatta, Army Community Competition and hopefully the Inter District Sailing Competition.
Rock Climbing Residential
In June Academy pupils embarked on the first ever rock climbing residential in the Peak District. A group of 11 pupils spent two days learning the fundamental skills of rock climbing whilst testing their nerve and technique against the gritstone crags of Derbyshire.
The weather was glorious for both days climbing in the Burbage Valley and at the world famous climbing Mecca of Stanage Edge.
Every pupil made great progress and there was some promising talent to be developed in the upcoming Appleton Climbing Club. The enthusiasm for this new exciting sport was great to see and the residential was just the start of many more climbing adventures in the future at the Academy.
Outdoor Adventure summary 2011 - 2012
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Outdoor Adventure in 2012
