The Importance of Learning Outside the Classroom

Schools play a central role in providing young people with the opportunity to experience outdoor education. Using badged organisations will enable teachers to plan high quality learning outside the classroom visits more effectively, while also helping to cut down on the paperwork involved in risk management planning.

Our courses focus on engaging and enjoyable learning, and encompass areas of the National curriculum that are often the most difficult to deliver in the school environment. They are cross curricular in their nature and therefore cover a number of key stage elements including English, Math's, Science, PE, PSE, Geography, History, ICT and Citizenship.

We believe that by achieving the quality badge and working together we can provide many opportunities for children and young people to experience the world beyond the classroom as an essential part of their learning and development. We recognise that quality learning experiences in ‘real' situations can raise achievement across a range of subjects and develop personal and social skills.

Our Manifesto Pledge to you, your school and your students

JCA is a leading provider of school activity courses in the UK. Operating from centres across the UK, we deliver high quality educational experiences that meet the needs of every individual.

Our courses encompass a range of outdoor activities which encourage personal and social development, inspire and motivate learning, foster independence and build confidence, all in a safe environment.

Our courses promote personal, social and health education by:

• Facing new challenges and overcoming fears
• Developing co-ordination and mastering new skills
• Developing effective communication skills
• Adapting to new situations and environments
• Solving problems and taking responsibility
• Encouraging discipline and self control
• Increasing self esteem and confidence
• Developing positive attitudes towards others and balancing points of view
• Promoting teamwork
• Gaining independence
• Promoting a healthy lifestyle

The importance of outdoor education is being recognised more than ever, with government initiatives such as "Every Child Matters" and the "Learning Outside the Classroom" Manifesto. We are delighted to be a signatory to the manifesto and are dedicated to its vision.

There are 7 JCA courses available for your group which meet the needs of every individual. Encompassing a wide range of outdoor activities to help develop understanding, knowledge and skills.

Our land based multi activity courses are available at all of our centres. This course aims to provide the opportunity to learn new skills and experience success in a vast range of exciting and challenging activities from climbing and abseiling to fencing and blind trail!

  Take the opportunity to visit some of the wonderful local attractions including Harlech Castle and Dinorwig Power Station in North Wales, the Eden Project and Tintagel in the South West and the Historic Dockyard and Portchester Castle in Hampshire. We will be happy to organise a full or part programme for your group.

Available at our Pestalozzi centre, given a disaster scenario, students need to quickly establish priorities, work as a team and make some important decisions. They then work on survival skills such as shelter building, search and rescue and first aid.

Survival Extreme is also available at our Pestalozzi Centre and would be tailored to your groups' requirements and can include a 24-hour self-sufficient expedition which focuses on different survival techniques such as fire lighting, shelter building and rescue techniques.

Bringing environmental education to life. Groups choose from a list of different land based and eco themed activities, what they wish to partake in. Groups participating in this course will have a real opportunity to become more aware of wild places, learn about them and take responsibility for their conservation. Enjoy activities such as the Waste Race, Solar Sensation, the Food Chain Game and much more.

A set programme run from Monday-Friday with a Certificate of Achievement upon completion. Students will cover particular modules throughout the week as well as enjoying different eco themed activities, for example, Bivi Building. This course offers accredited learning in a wilderness environment, providing groups with the opportunity to complete the first level of the John Muir Award, the Discovery Level.

Click here for our new Eco programme for 2009 available at Pestalozzi 

Available at Sandymouth and Croft Farm taking advantage of their coastal and lakeside locations. Groups can explore the rivers, lakes, beaches and bays when taking part in canoeing, surfing, boogie boarding, sailing, windsurfing, wave skiing and katakanuing. This course combines water and land-based sessions.   

   Available at Croft Farm, this course offers the opportunity to spend an entire midweek on the water participating in a superb range of high adrenaline waterports activities.