UKSA Watersports Activity Centre Isle of Wight

Set on a unique 4-acre waterfront campus in Cowes, Isle of Wight, UKSA offers exciting half-day, full-day and multi-activity experiences for schools, colleges and youth groups.

Students can take part in a range of water sports and team-building activities including sailing, kayaking, paddle boarding, windsurfing and raft building. Suitable for ages 8+, our sessions are designed to be engaging, accessible and enjoyable for participants of all abilities, with no previous experience required.

Every visit is tailored to the needs of your group, whether you’re looking for a curriculum-linked activity day, enrichment visit, reward trip or team-building experience. Our experienced instructors provide all tuition and equipment, allowing teachers and group leaders to relax and enjoy the day alongside their students.

For groups looking for a longer experience, many of our activities can also be incorporated into our fully catered residential programmes.

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As a maritime youth charity, UKSA uses the water as a platform for learning, personal development and discovery.

Water sports provide a unique opportunity for young people to challenge themselves, work collaboratively and develop new skills in a supportive environment. Whether learning to sail for the first time, navigating a kayak or tackling a team challenge, students are encouraged to take ownership of their learning and celebrate their achievements.

Our programmes help young people develop communication, participation, self-belief, determination, resilience and decision-making skills through practical, hands-on experiences. These transferable skills support learning both inside and beyond the classroom.

We work closely with schools and youth groups to ensure every visit delivers meaningful educational value alongside an enjoyable and memorable day on the water.

UKSA is accredited by the Council for Learning Outside the Classroom. Our site, facilities and activities have all been evaluated for learning and safety by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority and meet the exacting standards required to pass annual inspections.

Our activity days are designed to be straightforward to organise and easy to tailor to your group’s needs.

Day visits typically include:

• Half-day or full-day instructor-led activity sessions
• Sailing, kayaking, paddleboarding, windsurfing, raft building or team challenges
• Qualified instructors with low instructor-to-student ratios
• Wetsuits, buoyancy aids and all specialist safety equipment
• Use of changing facilities and on-site amenities
• Pre-visit information and support from our Schools and Groups team

Activities can be tailored to suit different age groups, abilities and educational objectives, helping every participant get the most from their experience.

UKSA’s large 4-acre waterfront campus allows us to accommodate groups of all sizes, from small class visits to large school and youth group bookings of 200+ participants.

Our activity programmes can support a range of curriculum areas including PE, outdoor learning, geography and personal development. We are happy to work with teachers to tailor activities and outcomes to specific learning objectives wherever possible.

With our proximity to the water, we don’t always recommend children bringing cameras and other electronics however teachers and leaders are welcome to take photos of their group.

The safety, well-being, and enjoyment of those visiting UKSA are our number one priority. We are a home-from-home for our young people and pride ourselves on our exemplary safety protocols that sit within a robust and fully compliant framework.

We have risk assessments for all of our day and evening activities, as well as for all of our sites used. Teachers are more than welcome to complete their own risk assessments or ask the team any queries they may have.

Our dedicated Schools and Groups team can be contacted on 01983 203045 or schools@uksa.org

Day trips for groups of 10+ start from £35 per student.

We issue kit lists before visits, but students will need to bring; swimwear, towel, sunglasses, sun cream, sun hat, shoes they don’t mind getting wet, a rash vest or T-shirt to wear under their kit and warm casual clothes for coming off the water.

All our Water sports and evening entertainment instructors are fully qualified first aiders.

Onsite facilities include:

• Dining room and in-house catering serving freshly cooked meals
• Indoor heated swimming pool
• Full-sized sports hall
• Drying room for wet kit
• Changing rooms and toilets
• Wi-Fi
• Bar (The Bridge)
• Dedicated young person’s chill out area
• Study areas and classrooms

UKSA welcome individuals with special educational and disabled needs, all on and off the water activities are adaptable and inclusive. We are accessible with disabled access.

Lifts are situated in our main building with a hoist for the swimming pool. We are also able to take disabled people out onto the water using a hoist from our pontoons to boats. Please speak to our dedicated Schools and Groups team so we can ensure we meet your needs.

We are open all year round, with the exception of a few days over the Christmas period.

Test the Water, day trip participant: “The whole sailing experience was amazing and it was great to learn new things. At the start I was nervous because I’ve never been on a boat before, but it was really fun and I can’t wait to do it again.”

Feedback from Sarah Earl, Outdoor Education Lead, Wrenn School “Watching the students grow in confidence and overcoming fears and challenges. For them to realise that even when these are difficult or a challenge by not giving up they can achieve success or a sense of pride. By the end they grew as individuals, I couldn’t have been prouder of them.”

We offer complimentary teacher familiarisation visits with no obligation to book, providing an opportunity to explore our facilities, meet the team and discuss your requirements. If you’re considering a longer stay, our Schools and Groups team can also advise on our fully catered residential programmes.

UKSA is easily accessible from Southampton ferry terminals.

We are a ten minute walk from the heart of Cowes where the foot passenger terminal is location, or a short hop across the river to the car ferry terminal. Many groups enjoy getting a boat directly to our pontoons, which we can arrange.