By utilising our approach to Outdoor Learning we deliver high quality outdoor learning residentials to a range of groups from Year 2 pupils to adults.
Lots of options!
We offer lots of flexibility and different options to ensure that our residentials match what visiting groups want. Our staff team support visit leaders to create the residential experience that they want for their teams.
- Visit length – 2, 3 and 5 day residentials are available.
- We make the most of arrival and departure days with the option of activities from 10am on day one to 4pm on your last day.
- Visit timing – we operate 12 months a year and provide great experiences whatever the weather.
- Group size – we offer residentials for groups of 6-100+.
- Accommodation – you can stay in our Lodge, Farm House, Bell tents or camp in your own tents.
- Activities – we have a wide range of activities, many of which can be tailored to all ages.
- All activities can be lead by our instructors or visiting staff can choose to lead some activities.
- Catering – options range from self catering to fully catered.
Popular options:
- Year 2 & Year 3 – First Night Away is an ideal 2 day first residential
- Year 3 – Teambuilder is a 2 day visit focused on team building skills through our Thornbridge Challenge, bouldering room and low ropes course.
- Year 4 to Year 11 – Challenger 1 is a 3 day visit incorporating challenging activities such as the high ropes, Weaselling and mountain biking.
- Year 5 to Year 11 – ESCAPE Sheffield – Your instructor will come and meet you in Sheffield and help you ESCAPE (Every Sheffield Child a Peak Experience) to the Peak District.
- Routes taken will depend on where you are in Sheffield but for example you could get the train to Grindleford then walk, led by your instructor, to the centre
- Year 6 to Year 11 – Challenger 2 is a 5 day residential with activities such as canoeing, abseiling and an adventure walk.
- A longer residential to foster independence and great relationships peers and accompanying staff.
- Year 11 to Year 13 – Revision Camps give a great mix of adventurous activities and school led booster sessions.
- Year 11 to Adults – Team Building and Leadership visits give a mix of challenge tasks and adventurous activities to develop your participants team working and leadership skills.
- Used to great effect by universities and school prefect teams for many years.
Visit design:
There is no set programme – instead we encourage and support visiting staff to take an active role in planning their visit programme. This can be via email, phone, Teams or a face to face meeting.
By working with you to design your visit we can ensure that it matches your needs, makes the most of the opportunities available and fits into a progression of visits that your groups do.
Our Residential Bundles
To aid visit planning and budgeting we have an inclusive approach to prices for school residential visits called ‘bundles’. The final price paid will be:
- the ‘bundle’ price (per pupil)
- these vary depending on accommodation selected and number of instructed activities chosen
- + any evening instruction
- + any catering support chosen (per pupil)
- + any additional costs opted for
The ‘bundle’ price is based upon visit length, accommodation to be used and the number of instructed sessions of activities per pupil. The initial minimum number of pupils to pay for will be on your booking form, although this may be raised depending on the number of activity groups that you require.
What’s Included?
Prior to your visit
- Pre visit and programme meeting (if required).
- Places for staff on our visiting staff induction & training courses (biking leader induction and/or low ropes courses).
- Access to our visit leader login area full of resources to make planning your visit easier.
During your visit
- Accommodation & facilities
- Welcome by centre staff, assistance with handing out wellies and waterproofs and a site familiarisation on the morning of day one.
- Your accommodation from late afternoon on day one to 9.30am on your departure day.
- Up to 4 staff places per accommodation building booked (Lodge, Farm House and Base Camp), once the minimum number is met.
- Room/space on arrival and departure days.
- Shared use of our grounds.
- Kitchen items – oven gloves, bin bags, tea towels, washing up liquid, washing up scourers, cloths.
- Instructed activities
- Instructed sessions – number as per the bundle chosen.
- Use of relevant activity equipment e.g. harnesses, helmets etc.
- Minibus transport to and from instructor led activities offsite (for 1 offsite activity per 3 day visit or for 2 offsite activities per 5 day visit, more may be possible at times depending upon minibus availability)
- Equipment
- Use of a waterproof jacket and pair of wellies per person.
- Mountain bike hire for 1 session for each person during the visit.
- Use of resources and equipment for visiting staff led activities, including orienteering maps, low ropes course & problem solving equipment.
- Other
- A snack each day.
- Use of Wi-Fi onsite.
- Thornbridge Outdoors postcard per pupil.
What’s not included?
- Transport to and from Thornbridge Outdoors.
- Sheffield state funded schools may be able to make use of Sheffield City Council’s affordable transport services – contact us for details.
- Insurance – we recommend that groups take out insurance that covers medical, cancellation and loss.
- Food and catering – unless you have chosen one of our catering options (see Catering section below).
- Water bottle – please ask all children and staff to bring a water bottle to refill each day
Evening sessions
The majority of visiting groups choose to do visiting staff led activities during the evening, such as the nightline, a nightwalk and campfires, and we provide resources and ideas to support these. Some groups opt to book an instructor / multiple instructors for an evening session, which is typically 6pm-9pm. Popular options include booking an instructor to:
- Run a series of 60 minute bouldering wall sessions whilst the rest of the group do teacher led activities.
- Lead an evening or, depending on the time of year, ‘night’ walk. The instructor can then prepare and light a campfire before they leave at 9pm, but you’ll need to lead your own singing….
Catering
You have the choice to self cater during your visit using our fully equipped kitchens, or to buy catering support. Catering support is provided by external catering companies and is subject to availability. Please let us know as soon as possible whether you require this for your visit. We offer two different catering support options; ‘Shop and prep’ and ‘Fully done’. The details of these, and meal choices, can be found on our catering page.
Prices
The best way to get a price for your visit is to contact us to discuss your requirements and we’ll be in touch with more details.
For indicative pricing please click one of the links below to see prices for visits with 50% and 100% instructed daytime activity sessions.
Please note that we have seasonal prices, with winter residentials being the most affordable and mid-May to mid-July being most expensive.
