The Kingsway Centre - Primary Outdoor Education Specialist in County Durham
  • Home
  • Schools
    • School Adventure Residential Packages
    • In school Experience Days
    • Stone Age residential
    • Therapeutic Outreach Provision
    • Teacher training CPD
    • Geography Field Studies
  • About Us
  • Group Bookings
  • Accommodation
  • Kingsway Centre Documents
  • Rotary Club Partnership
  • Rotary RYLA Course

I came, I saw, I conquered..

29/9/2015

0 Comments

 
Every year Primary Schools come from all over County Durham and beyond to experience an adventure like no other. We pride ourselves on building confidence and resolve amongst our young adventurers, and we have no doubts that they go home more confident, and with a sense of achievement like they may never have experienced before. Standing at the face of a cliff or looking down a waterfall, it is easy to doubt yourself, but with a little encouragement and some self belief it is amazing what these young people can do! I am surprised every week, and the victory is not about getting to the top or jumping off the highest waterfall, the victory is about learning to believe in yourself. For us one step off the ground is just as impressive as reaching the top!

Seeing that sense of achievement in the young person's eyes is incredibly rewarding. I will never tire of that.

Rob Atkinson
Centre Manager
Picture
0 Comments

An instructor's insight on their first summer

4/9/2015

0 Comments

 
My summer at Kingsway

My first summer working at Kingsway Adventure Centre turned out to be a summer that I will never forget. Moving away to an area where I didn’t know anyone and hadn’t visited before was something that I was rather nervous about at first,  but upon my arrival at the centre, the staff where all extremely welcoming making me feel a bit more at home and within less than a week I was no longer nervous and being myself. The first two weeks were staff training where I was taught the ins and outs of every activity the centre provides. This was a big learning process for me as I was learning things which I had never been shown before, I wasn’t afraid to ask questions on areas which I was unfamiliar on and the staff at Kingsway took the time out to ensure that I was confident in performing and teaching the activities. It was in the first two weeks where I had the chance to take in every activity and at the same time gaining knowledge that will help in the future when I wish to gain qualifications such as my SPA.

The summer season which I worked is the busiest time for centre with schools coming in every week to take part in the activities. The majority of the school’s students where year 6 who had just finished their SATS and heading to different schools in September. For a lot of the students and teachers the trip away was a chance for them all to be together and create memories which will never be forgotten before they had to say goodbye. It was a pleasure to be a part of these memories, a part of my job here at Kingsway was to ensure that everyone involved had the best time and that everyone had accomplished something by the end of their stay. Although that part of my job was made easy as all the schools where so full of energy, including the teachers, and it was them that made every activity different no matter how many may have done it before. Whether it was the gorge walk or high ropes - canoeing and rock climbing each school brought in a different atmosphere which meant there was never a dull moment. With Kingsway only being a small centre compared to other outdoor centres in the UK, it meant that I was able to get to know each one of the students, knowing their strengths and weaknesses to try and encourage them to participate in something which they never thought they would be able to do. Although a lot of the students were able to accomplish certain activities prior to their friends in their class, I loved to see them encouraging each other to go on which for me was something I loved to see on a daily bases as well as the children working together as team.

What made my time here at Kingsway was the friendly atmosphere, all the staff became a sort of family which I believe is the most important part working in a centre like this. As I was able to enjoy the company of the staff and we were able to get involved as much as the children who participated which made their stay as well. I have loved every single second of my summer here so much that getting up to go to work has never been so easy. The food was incredible, the pod where I stayed was adorable and the activities which I have had the chance to be a part of has been truly amazing.


Leah

0 Comments

    Author

    Hi everyone,

    keep posted for news on whats going on.

    Rob Atkinson

    Archives

    August 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    December 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    August 2013

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

    Get in Touch..

Submit
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
Picture
  • Home
  • Schools
    • School Adventure Residential Packages
    • In school Experience Days
    • Stone Age residential
    • Therapeutic Outreach Provision
    • Teacher training CPD
    • Geography Field Studies
  • About Us
  • Group Bookings
  • Accommodation
  • Kingsway Centre Documents
  • Rotary Club Partnership
  • Rotary RYLA Course