Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre provides adventurous outdoor school trips, where students have the opportunity to develop essential life skills, such as confidence, teamwork, leadership and communication.
West Midlands
Beaudesert Trust, Cannock Wood, Staffordshire, WS15 4JJ
MONTHS OPEN
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
DAYS OPEN
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
AGE GROUPs
5 to 7 years, 8 to 10 years, 11 to 13 years, 14 to 16 years, College, University
What we offer on a school trip
Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre offers a choice of residential visits, from one to seven nights in either tented accommodation or lodge accommodation. Our tented facilities use 8 man Vango dome tents with 2 rooms and a communal space in between, with 6 mattresses leaving plenty of room for kit. Teachers get a room each in a tent between 2. There is also a large marquee with kitchen facilities and tables and benches and an outdoor fire pit. The toilets and showers are a short 1 minute walk away.
Our lodges are rustic, practical, clean and comfortable. All have toilets for nighttime use and additional toilets and showers are a short walk away. Each school is allocated an entire tented facility or lodge (s) to themselves you never share a building with another school. http://www.beaudesert.org/accommodation/indoor-accomodation
Take a look at our accommodation floorplans and photos here.
Our activities include all the usual outdoor centre high ropes and target sports and additionally we have coracling (see our youtube channel) and a via ferrata. Our Via Ferrata is a metalwork path around our quarry with a number of exciting elements including the budgie swings, the postmans walk and the traverse finishing with a fantastic Burma bridge to the top.
Take a tour round our activities here http://www.beaudesert.org/activities
Our cafeteria serves great home cooked food. Take a look at our menu here. http://www.beaudesert.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/Menu-2023-large.pdf
We also offer a wide range of day visits including end of term fun or reward days, team building days and some amazing induction days in September and October suitable for whole year groups.
You can also come and run your own programme, with 120 acres to explore we offer a group day visitor fee, allowing you the opportunity to create your own Learning Outside the Classroom adventure.
We are also a great location for D of E overnight camps, with Cannock Chase next door for your expedition.
What makes us a great choice for education
Beaudesert literally “meaning beautiful place” Beaudesert Outdoor Activity Centre is located on the edge of Cannock Chase, an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and offers a truly unique experience for schools and youth groups.
Our 120 acres of mixed woodland and parkland offer fantastic opportunities to learn and experience the outdoors.
Your adventure starts when you make contact with us. Our friendly Customer Experience Team will talk you through the options and provide you with a quotation. You are more than welcome to come and look around the centre to see the facilities for yourself.
Our staff genuinely enjoy their jobs and as a non-profit making charity our aim is to ensure every child makes some fantastic memories. Alongside this we aim to make the visit as simple as possible for the organising staff.
Accreditation and Awards
- LOtC
- AdventureMark
- BAPA
- AALA
What is typically included on our school trips
Our overnight residentials include, accommodation, tented or lodge. Please note bedding is not provided as standard, so bring a sleeping bag and pillow. Bedding can be booked for a small charge per person. Catering is offered in our cafeteria from the evening meal on day one to lunch on your last day, with hot options on every meal. This also includes hot chocolate and biscuits in the evening. Tea and coffee facilities for teachers in the accommodation. The activity package starts after lunch on day one and runs up to lunch on the last day and includes evening activities. There is plenty of time to explore the grounds including a visit to our view points with their stunning views across the neighboring countryside or to the ancient Castle ring iron age fort next door. Our refreshments and souvenir shop is open daily. One of our group leaders will meet you from your coach and look after you right throughout your stay.
Group Sizes Catered For
- In lodge accommodation 156 beds
- Lodges sleep, The Den 41 beds, Alpine Barn 40 beds, The Lodge 24 beds, Owls Nest 24 beds, Chantrey House 22 beds, Dorothy Dean 3 beds and Woodland chalet 2 beds.
- In tented accommodation up to 300 beds
- Day visits up to 350 per day
- Catering up to 1000 people
- Own tents, self catered up to 2000 people
Materials, Resources & Information Provided
We provide a PowerPoint presentation on request to help promote your visit.
Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions
Yes groups may take photos, videos and audio recordings and we welcome the opportunity share photos and videos to help promote the centre.
Risk Assessment Details
All of our risk assessments are audited during our AALA, LOtC, Adventuremark and BAPA inspections and we provide individual copies on request.
Pricing Information
Example cost for 2023
- A 4 night residential is £325 per child
- An adventure day visit is £36 per child
- Adults come free
Clothing Requirements
We issue a recommended kit list when booking.
First Aid Information
We ask visiting groups to provide their own first aider, however all of our activity and reception staff are trained first aiders and first aid kits are available.
Available Facilities
- Shop open daily
- Outdoor shelters or marquees to eat lunch in
- Toilets and showers
- Disabled toilets and showers
- Tea and coffee on sale in the shop
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities
Some buildings, the cafeteria and some activities are wheel chair friendly. Please discuss your requirements with us.
Opening Hours & Information
Reception is open 7 days a week 9am to 5pm with a ½ hour break at lunch.
We close for Christmas for 2 weeks otherwise we are open all year round.
Other Information
As a charity and not for profit organization our goal is to ensure every child has great opportunities to experience the outdoors and push themselves in adventure and make some amazing memories. We also like to make the experience as comfortable, fun, relaxing and simple as possible for the teachers.
Booking information
Please contact our reception sales team on 01543 682278 email info@beaudesert.org.uk
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