Schools and Colleges:
Centre programmes for schools normally take the form of a 4 day (Monday-Thursday) residential(other options are available). Teachers now have the choice of one or more of the following "packages" which will form the curriculum focus for their course. Supporting activities will be agreed after consultation with the duty instructor approximately one month prior to the residential.
Each of the "packages" depends on visiting teachers working alongside our instructors, thereby enabling a maximum of 32 pupils to experience the session. Support and follow-up material is available for all these "curriculum packs"
All courses support the NI curriculum with personal and social education as a general characteristic of the entire programme, reflecting learning for life & work, PE, Environment & Society, and cross curricular elements.
Multi-Activity Adventure Course
- Target group:
- 16 x Key Stage 2, 3 or 4.
- Content:
- Climbing, surfing, sailing, canoeing, orienteering, archery, hill-walking, camping and initiative exercises (all dependent on time of year).
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- Personal and Social Education, learning for life & work, Environment & Society, P.E, RE, and Cross-curricular element.
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- Pupils participate in a variety of challenging activities out-of-doors.
- Follow-up:
- Evenings in B.E.C and later in school.
- Duration:
Ballintoy Harbour - Rocky Shoreline
- Target group:
- 32 x Key Stage 2 or 3 pupils.
- Content:
- Outdoor Education - abseiling, snorkelling, boating, obstacle course.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- English, History, Geography, Science and P.S.E, Environment and Society
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- Rock pools - History/Geography trail.
- Follow-up:
- In B.E.C. including IT element and later back at school.
- Duration:
River Bann Exploration
- Target group:
- 32 x Key Stage 2 or 3 pupils.
- Content:
- Outdoor Education - canoeing, navigation and raft building.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- English, History, Geography, Science and P.S.E, Environment and Society
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- Pupils participate in two sessions.. canoe rafting and forest trail.
- Follow-up:
- A variety of activities including elements of technology in B.E.C. and in school.
- Duration:
Roe Valley Trail
- Target group:
- 32 x Key Stage 2 or 3 pupils.
- Content:
- Outdoor Education - climbing, abseiling and navigation.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- English, Geography and P.S.E, Environment and Society
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- Students participate in two sessions: climbing/abseiling and map trail.
- Follow-up:
- Extension activities (in pupils' booklets) in B.E.C. and at school.
- Duration:
Dunluce Castle Adventure Trail
- Target group:
- 32 x Key Stage 3 students.
- Content:
- Outdoor Education - bouldering, zip-wiring, navigation and possible boating.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- English, History, Geography and P.S.E, Environment and Society
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- A role play scenario, attacking the castle, with B.E.C. instructors and teachers guiding the activities. Includes an audio-visual session.
- Follow-up:
- Problem-solving computer based exercise in B.E.C. and at school.
- Duration:
GCSE PE: Training/Assessment
- Target group:
- 16 x GCSE students (Key Stage 4).
- Content:
- Outdoor Education - orienteering, canoeing, adventure training.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- Preparation:
- In school or at B.E.C. as part of package.
- Fieldwork:
- As appropriate to selected course.
- Follow-up:
- Assessment either as part of single visit to B.E.C. or as a separate visit.
- Duration:
- Training - normally 4 days (Monday-Thursday) Assessment - 3 x half-day sessions.
Residential Short Environmental Education Course
- Target group:
- 24 x Upper Key Stage 2 pupils.
- Content:
- Exploration of a range of environments involving a number of subject areas.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- English, Science and Geography, Environment and Society
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- Investigating a variety of environments including seashore, forest, rivers and bogland.
- Follow-up:
- In B.E.C. and later in school.
- Duration:
Rock and Soil Studies on the North Coast
- Target group:
- 32 x Key Stage 3 or 4 pupils.
- Content:
- A journey from Giant's Causeway to Fair Head investigating basic rock types and formations. Caving and Orienteering.
- N. Ireland Curriculum:
- Geography, Environment and Society
- Preparation:
- Fieldwork:
- Investigating main rock types and formations on North Antrim coast.
- Follow-up:
- Resource booklet and associated computer prog. in B.E.C. (evenings)
- Duration:
- 2 x half-day sessions (Rock Study). 1 x half-day session (Soil Study)
Youth Service:
The Centre offers an ideal conference/training facility for Youth Service groups – OCN NI Introduction to Youth Work/Programme Development courses, Trainee Leaders courses, Youth leadership courses, Principle & Practice Courses and training in Outdoor Activities (Hillwalking, Canoeing, Archery and Adventure Activities). The Centre Sports Hall also offers an ideal venue for "Sports leaders Award" and Games Proficiency courses, whilst the Laboratory with its suite of 9 Computers has proved an invaluable resource for Desk Top Publishing courses.
Summer Courses:
A full range of Adventure Courses for all ages is available in July and August. Some are Centre based whilst others take the form of an expedition to the West of Ireland. Some weeks are also available for self-programming groups; Disabled groups, Christian youth camps, Arts youth camps and Duke of Edinburgh Award Courses.
Conferences:
The Centre is an excellent venue for conferences and training days. Large groups have the option of filling all of our 72 beds - our main Conference Room and our Dining Hall can comfortably cater for this number. Smaller groups of less than 20, find Illancarragh (a separate unit within the grounds of the Centre) to be ideal - it has its own conference area, but groups still have access to all facilities in the main building.
For further details regarding all programmes and accommodation, contact the Warden (Tel. 028 2073 1599)
