Outposts Outdoor Education Centre Somerset
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Outposts Ltd Lydeard Farm, Broomfield, Somerset, TA5 2EG
MONTHS OPEN
DAYS OPEN
AGE GROUPS SERVED
Listed under: Archery | Residential School Trips | Water Sports | Team Building | Special Educational Needs (SEN) | Personal Development-Mentoring | Outdoor Education | Duke of Edinburgh Award | Climbing, High Ropes & Zipwires | Cycling & Mountain Biking | Bushcraft | Outdoor Residential Centres | Camping and Glamping | Bunkhouses | Accommodation & Residential | Science | PE (Physical Education/Sport) | Geography | Environmental Studies
What we offer on a school trip
Outposts is an outdoor education centre based on a farm on the Quantock Hills in Somerset – an Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The 70-acre site has plenty of space for free-range children to explore with numerous outdoor activities to suit students from age eight upwards with accommodation and catering for up to 80. Groups can come for the day or a week-long residential camp.
All our programmes are tailor-made to suit our client’s specific objectives, curriculum links, age group, abilities and budget. Types of programmes include team building, transition days, leadership qualifications, staff inset days, first aid, well-being retreats, bush craft & survival training.
The on-site activities include low ropes, archery and air gun ranges, various problem-solving and command tasks, an assault course, pond for coracle building, orienteering, slippery slide and woods for bush craft & den-building.
We are ideally placed for activities off-site including high ropes, raft-building, caving, climbing, abseiling, coasteering, sea kayaking, stand-up-paddle boarding and surfing. These can be built into day or residential programmes.
Our African style Bush Camp is the hub of the site. The rustic communal area houses a commercial kitchen and dining area, which doubles up as a games room and break-out space. There is a wood burner to make it cosy on colder evenings and outside there is a campfire, BBQ and picnic tables. The Bush Camp grounds have male and female shower blocks and eco-loos, for an off-grid experience.
Accommodation is in five brand new wooden lodges complete with showers, toilets and heating. There is space for up to 80 fully catered. Our food is homemade, wholesome, where possible locally sourced and menus are designed with young people in mind. Special dietary requirements are catered for and we are a completely nut free site.
For those wanting a more ‘back to nature’ experience, we have our Orchard Campsite and use of the eco-showers and toilets.
We aim to be somewhere that the whole group can get away from the day to day, especially technology. There is little or no mobile signal and wifi is only available for staff.
The company has been operating since 1997. We are extremely proud of the positive feedback that we receive from our customers, many of whom have been coming back year on year since we opened.
Health, safety and child protection are top priority. All our staff are first aid and child protection trained, we are AALA certified and hold a LOtC Quality Badge. Risk assessments and insurance documents are available upon request.
What makes us a great choice for education?
Reason #1: Although based in an Area of Outstanding Natural beauty with uninterrupted views, we are just 15 minutes from junction 24 on the M5.
Reason #2: There is little or no mobile reception at the Bush Camp and Wi-Fi is only available for staff. It offers the chance to get away from technology for a digital detox and re-connect with nature.
Reason #3: There are numerous activities on site to keep young people more than amused for a week-long residential, keeping costs down.
Reason #4: For those who wish to take part in some more adventurous activities, we a short journey from the Mendips for caving, climbing and abseiling and the Devon coastline for sea kayaking, stand-up-paddling and coasteering.
Reason #5: We are passionate about what we do. Our staff are dedicated and enthusiastic. We want you to go away having had a valuable and memorable experience, that will continue to benefit you long after you have left.
Reason #6: We take care of as much of that administrative burden as we can, so you don’t to add more time into an already bulging schedule.
Reason #7: Learning outside the classroom is important. We hope that after visiting you will have gained some new ideas that you can take back to school to help continue to engage students and develop life skills such as communication, team work, resilience and self-confidence.
What is typically included on our school trips?
All meals, accommodation, full days of activities and evening entertainment, transfers, instruction and any specialist equipment are included. If there is anything you would rather not be included, if you have your own transport for example, that will be reflected in the final cost.
Group Sizes Catered For
We can cater for groups of up to 80 on a full board basis. Our food is homemade, wholesome, where possible locally sourced and menus are designed with young people in mind. Special dietary requirements are catered for and we are a completely nut free site. We have a food hygiene rating of 5.
Materials, Resources & Information Provided
Once your programme is finalised, we can send you resources to work on with your group prior to and post your residential with Outposts.
Photography, Filming & Audio Restrictions
Groups are free to take photos or videos as they see fit. No photos or videos taken of groups by Outposts will be used anywhere unless where express permission has been given.
Risk Assessment Details
All our activities are risk assessed and we are audited annually by AALA. These are available for staff to review upon request. Our risk assessments are reviewed each year, however dynamic risk assessments are performed by our staff as each activity is taking place.
Education Officer Information
Your primary booking contacts are Katie Dorpman and Alex McCallum.
The email address to contact them on is info@outposts.co.uk or call 01823 451959.
Pricing Information
A typical week-long residential camp in peak season for 50 fully catered with on-site activities only, excluding transport to and from Outposts would be from approx. £275 + VAT per student. We provide one free staff place per 10 students.
Please note prices depend on the size of group, activities that are being undertaken and the catering options. For the most accurate quote, please contact us directly.
Clothing Requirements
A full kit list will be issued before your trip. Usually you will need clothes you don’t mind getting dirty, comfortable shoes like trainers, sun cream, hats, wellies and waterproofs (there is no such thing as bad weather, just the wrong clothes) and something to read before lights out.
First Aid Information
All our staff are first aid qualified and a member of staff is on-site 24 hours a day. First aid equipment is carried to each activity, therefore readily available in case of an incident.
Available Facilities
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Communal dining and social area.
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Tea, coffee and water station available in the communal area at all times.
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Showers.
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Toilets.
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Wi-Fi for staff.
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Drying area.
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Campfire and seating.
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Picnic tables.
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Plenty of space to run free and play.
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CCTV monitoring the farm entrance.
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Accessible wet room.
Accessibility & Disabled Facilities
Our lodge bedrooms are all accessible and one has an accessible wet room and toilet. The wider site is accessible using an off-road wheelchair. Please contact us to talk through your specific requirements as everyone is welcome and we do our upmost to cater for all needs.
Opening Hours & Information
We are open 7 days a week all year round apart from a two-week period over Christmas.
Testimonials
“The Bush Camp itself is an incredibly special place and the children are free to explore and play. We are extremely grateful for all that Outposts has done for our children in enabling them to be stretched, challenged and develop as communicators and leaders.”
– The Elms Residential Camp
Location Information
We are situated on the Quantock Hills just 15 minutes from junction 24 of the M5. Taunton, the nearest town is 20 minutes’ drive away and has a train station. Trains from London to Taunton take 1 hour 40 minutes, from Exeter an hour and Bristol 35 minutes.
Room Sizes and Facilities
Accommodation is in ten-man tents with camp beds just a few metres from the Bush Camp communal area. In May 2019, we will be opening new wooden lodges for those who do not wish to camp. The site capacity is for groups of up to 64.
Booking information
To enquire about a programme, please email: info@outposts.co.uk
If Contacting via phone please quote UKST for latest group discounts on: 01823 451959
