Frequently Asked Questions

Contents

1. What is a Wildchild Adventure?
2. Where do Wildchild Adventures take place?
3. What does a Wildchild adventure include?
4. Why would we choose Wildchild Adventure over larger residential trip providers?
5. What are the minimum and maximum numbers for a Wildchild Adventure?
6. Where do teachers and pupils sleep?
7. What qualifications do Wildchild staff hold?
8. Do you cater for specific dietary requirements and allergies?
9. Are shower facilities available?
10. What happens in bad weather?
11. Do teachers join in?
12. What kind of food will be available on the trip?
13. Do you operate all year round?
14. Can I visit your centre before I book?
15. How do I make a booking?
16. Can we provisionally hold a date while we check with parents?
17. What is your payment procedure?
18. What do I do if my numbers change?
19. Do you provide any help with promoting the trip?

1. What is a Wildchild Adventure?

A Wildchild Adventure isn’t about who can be the highest or the fastest. It’s about challenging yourself, trying something new, working together, using imagination and developing a love and appreciation for the great outdoors. Our outdoor centres are chosen for their extensive natural woodland and wide range of outdoor adventure activities, allowing pupils to immerse themselves in the great outdoors

2. Where do Wildchild Adventures take place?

Our outdoor centres are situated in the South East of England (Surrey and Hertfordshire) are all easily accessible and within a short distance of the M1 / M25. All centres offer flexible accommodation options including our camping village, offering an authentic under canvas camping experience, or stylish ‘glamping pods’ (Surrey) complete with underfloor heating.

3. What does a Wildchild adventure include?

We provide all activities, equipment, instruction, meals (except packed lunch on day 1) and accommodation, so schools benefit from an all-inclusive activity package.

4. Why would we choose Wildchild Adventure over larger residential trip providers?

At Wildchild Adventure we’re proud to offer something a little bit different to many of the residential trip providers you may have worked previously or heard of. Our focus is on helping children connect with the outdoors through bushcraft and teambuilding experiences utilising natural woodland spaces and resources, with an element of outdoor adventure activities that complement rather than dominate our programmes. We aim to ensure our programmes are fully inclusive and affordable, tailored to every school / group’s objectives and budget.

In 2019 we were proud to have won the following award:

‘Best School Residential Trip Provider for Southern England’ – Private Education and Development  Awards

Click here to read testimonials from our customers.

5. What are the minimum and maximum numbers for a Wildchild Adventure?

We can accommodate group sizes of between 30 – 144. If you have a group smaller than 30, please contact us to discuss your requirements, as we may be able to adapt a programme for you.

6. Where do teachers and pupils sleep?

For camping trips, teachers and pupils are accommodated in our traditional bell tented village. Pupils tents sleep 6 in bunk beds. Teachers tents sleep up to 2 with separate sleeping compartments, and a double air bed per compartment. Indoor accommodation is provided in our cosy woodland Pod villages.

There are separate boys and girls tents / rooms, and where possible male teachers will be located in the boys’ section, female teachers in the girls’ section.

7. What qualifications do Wildchild staff hold?

All Wildchild instructors and leaders are first aid trained, DBS checked, and have specialised experience in outdoor education as well as all the necessary qualifications for the activities undertaken (archery, bushcraft, climbing etc.). Most importantly, our team are friendly, energetic, and share our passion for working with children to inspire a love of the great outdoors.

8. Do you cater for specific dietary requirements and allergies?

Yes, all dietary requirements are catered for as long as we are aware of them in advance. A group information and medical form will be provided, to be completed and returned by 8 weeks prior to the trip.

9. Are shower facilities available?

Yes, separate male / female toilet and shower facilities are available, as well as on-camp night-time toilets.

10. What happens in bad weather?

The odds are that your group will experience at least some rain or bad weather during your trip. As long as children have enough layers and waterproof clothing they are generally happy to undertake outdoor activities undeterred by the British weather! An indoor area is available for mealtimes.

11. Do teachers join in?

We find teachers who get involved in the activities help to ensure that their pupils get the most out of the outdoor experience, as well as improving communication and relationship-building that directly benefits classroom learning and teaching. Our Teacher Guide provides more information on teacher support and involvement during the trip.

12. What kind of food will be available on the trip?

All meals are freshly prepared on site including a balance of meat, vegetables, fruit and carbohydrates. We also provide the all-important marshmallows around the campfire! Typical meals may include spaghetti bolognese, chicken curry, or cottage pie and selection of hot deserts.

13. Do you operate all year round?

Yes! With the unpredictability of the British weather, we often find that weather in Autumn and even Winter can be just as good and sometimes better than the summer! There are benefits to opting for an Autumn/Winter residential trip, and our instructors tailor activities to suit the weather as much as possible. Our camping village is set up through May-October, and indoor accommodation is available September through to May.

14. Can I visit your centre before I book?

Yes! We welcome any school wishing to have a tour of the site prior to booking.

15. How do I make a booking?

All our activity programmes are tailored for each school to take into account your objectives, budget, group size, age of pupils etc. so do get in touch to discuss your requirements, check availability and for a detailed quote. We recommend booking early to secure your preferred dates, as we take bookings 12-18 months in advance and the peak Summer term in particular fills quickly.

16. Can we provisionally hold a date while we check with parents?

We can hold dates provisionally for up to 14 days,  subject to demand and availability, to give you time to put arrangements in place and check dates and costs with your school and parents.

17. What is your payment procedure?

Once you have agreed your dates, you will have up to 14 days to complete and return your booking form, and on receipt of your completed form we will issue a deposit for 30% of the trip costs, to be paid within 14 days of receipt of your booking form. The balance of your trip is payable 8 weeks before.

18. What do I do if my numbers change?

We recognise that schools won’t know exact numbers at the time of booking, so we will ask for an approximate expected number, and allow a 10% flexibility, so you can adjust your numbers by 10% up or down at any time prior to 8 weeks before the trip. If your numbers change by more than 10%, please let us know as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you, but this will be subject to availability, and subject to meeting the minimum numbers agreed at the time of booking.

19. Do you provide any help with promoting the trip?

Yes, we have a launch letter template that you can adapt and send to parents when launching the trip. We are also happy to provide a powerpoint presentation you can share with parents to inform them of their child’s upcoming trip, and the Parent Guide on our website should provide answers to the questions commonly asked by parents and carers. If you’re holding a parent presentation in advance of the trip, we will do our best to come along and present on behalf of Wildchild, and answer parents’ queries.  If you would like us to be at your presentation please give us as much notice as possible.