School Residentials at Heatree: A Guide for Teachers

School Residentials

A Guide for Teachers

Welcome to Heatree Activity Centre, a Christian residential outdoor centre situated in the heart of Dartmoor National Park in Devon.

I hope that you enjoy reading through this brochure, finding out who we are and whether you would like to partner with us to enhance your school’s outdoor and faith-based learning provision.

At Heatree we see adventurous outdoor activities as a tool to facilitate new learning and to develop skills. All of our activities are designed to help young people explore and understand new ideas about the Christian faith, to develop their personal confidence and

wellbeing and to increase their wonder and understanding of the natural world.

If these exciting aims align with your school’s educational and learning objectives, please get in touch as we would love to discuss how we can partner with you.

Warm regards

Steve McIlhenny, Centre Manager

It was a really amazing week where we saw the pupils develop their skills and become a team Teacher, Appledore School

I tried new activities and loved every second!

William, aged 11

Why choose Heatree?

Partnership

We aim to complement and assist in your school’s learning and Christian ethos by basing our programmes on the Standing Advisory Council on Religious Education (SACRE) Syllabus for Devon.

Each programme is designed to make the syllabus outcomes tangible and accessible through different types of learning that take place throughout the week.

We aim to make complex ideas and beliefs come alive through stories, assemblies,

activity debriefs and first-hand experience of the natural world.

Adventure

Outdoor activities are an excellent way to experience adventure in a fun and safe environment. By providing experiences that are out of young people’s normal comfort zone, we can enable unique opportunities for them to develop, physically, emotionally, spiritually and socially.

Safety

Heatree is licensed by AALA (the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority), and has a highly experienced and

qualified instructor team. We have been delivering high quality outdoor education programmes for over 30 years.

Inspiration

Heatree’s stunning 180-acre estate within Dartmoor National Park provides fantastic opportunities to experience the beauty of God’s creation.

Whether it is in our Bronze Age roundhouse, rock scrambling over a nearby tor or experiencing the thrill of the Big Tree Climb, our aspiration is that each young person who comes to Heatree will experience moments of awe and wonder at the incredible world surrounding them.

Activity Programmes

Our Outdoor Education team specialises in delivering engaging and adventurous activity sessions all year round. A typical weekly programme includes 20 hours of formal activity sessions led by our instructors (typically 2.5 hour sessions). The group ratio for most activities is 1:12 and must include a group leader or teacher. We offer free places for teachers in a ratio of 1:10 and free places for all SEND support staff. Choose from over 30 activities here

Themes

We offer a choice of three themes which will be the focus of your activity programme. These are Foundations, Journey and Character.

The learning outcomes of these themes focus on Christian values and principles that are supported in the RE Syllabus (SACRE Syllabus for Devon), and facilitate an holistic experience, integrating adventurous activities with Christian stories and Bible teaching.

Each theme has a slightly different focus, and all are underpinned by high quality outdoor instruction and will develop elements of individual character, teamwork and relationships.

If you have not been to Heatree before we recommend coming for a site visit where we will be happy to show you around and answer any questions. Please contact us to arrange this.

Foundations

Journey

The foundation on which we build our life can help us to feel stable and secure...

Develop teamwork and resilience through adventurous activities, survival skills and exploring how Dartmoor has been used by people for thousands of years.

Example Discussions

BLUEPRINTS: What is the purpose of a blueprint or a plan, and do you have ideas about what you would like to achieve this week? We will be thinking about biblical characters and how God had a plan for them. Who do you trust to help you?

Life is an exciting journey that each of us is on...

Explore the opportunities and challenges of an adventurous residential week, building confidence and resilience to face the challenges of life’s journey.

Example Discussions

BUMPY ROADS: Will your life journey always go smoothly and how will you overcome some of the obstacles that you face? Looking at the life of Jesus and some of the miracles that he performed we will be thinking about how challenges can be overcome.

Developing mental strength, resilience and integrity while celebrating the parts that make us unique...

Focus on individual identity and the impact that each individual can have on the world around them. This theme is suitable for all year groups and stages of the school year.

Example Discussions

IMPACT: What impact can we have on the world around us? We will be thinking about biblical characters who had an impact on the people or places around them and finding out that everyone can chose to make a difference.

Outdoor Learning

At Heatree we believe that time spent in the outdoors is an important part of supporting a young person's happiness and wellbeing, as it helps improve their mental health, and physical and spiritual development. Each activity provides moments to challenge themselves, step out of routine thought and action pathways and discover a new way to interact with the world.

As young people marvel at the beauty of the created world and expand the horizons of their perceived limitations, they will have opportunities to develop confidence, resilience and build relationships with others and God the creator.

Outdoor education enables access to places and activities that need specialised knowledge or equipment, which can leave them to be experienced by only a small percentage of the population.

We are committed to making outdoor education accessible to all, regardless of a young person’s life experiences, background or abilities. Our highly qualified and experienced team will adapt and tailor the activities to meet the needs of pupils; facilitating individualised learning.

We hope that the experiences young people have here will be memorable and of long-lasting benefit, with the opportunity to use teamwork skills, develop trust in each other and learn more about the God who cares for them.

Archery

Archery is a brilliant opportunity to test and develop your skills in this ancient art. Our instructors provide one-to-one coaching until the basics of archery are established.

Through a variety of team games and point scoring competitions, you can practice your aim and accuracy on our purpose-built archery range.

Beach Study

South Devon’s beautiful coastline is the perfect place to study life on the shore. Using sampling methods, study different zones and encounter the fascinating creatures and seaweeds that line the rocky shore in the marine conservation area.

Spend the afternoon creating weird and wonderful sculptures in our Sand Dunes activity; a unique celebration of all that can be seen beside the sea!

Big Tree Climb

Stand underneath and gaze up at ‘Doug,’ one of the tallest Douglas Fir trees at Heatree. Using a combination of climbing holds and branches, see how high you can get as you push yourself out of your comfort zone.

Your team will belay you and help encourage you as you climb as high as you dare. See the spectacular view across the treetops and the woodland below.

Bronze Age

Travel back 4,000 years and experience life as it would have been for a Bronze Age family. Based in our authentic roundhouse and garden, dress up and take part in daily tasks such as cooking, pottery making, willow work and musicmaking.

This hands-on and immersive experience ends by sharing your experiences and reflections around the glowing embers of the campfire.

Climbing Tower

Cycle Factory

Challenge your determination and courage by scaling our 30ft woodland climbing tower. Under full guidance and tuition, learn how to belay a climber safely and support your peers through encouragement and praise. This is an excellent opportunity for pushing boundaries of self-confidence and stamina. A stairway leads you to the top of the tower where you can look out over the treetops and descend our abseiling tower.

This is a hands-on way to learn how natural cycles play a crucial part in the world around us. By operating a huge working model of the air, water and nutrient cycles, you enable your ‘tree’ to grow.

Learn about transpiration, condensation, precipitation, decomposition and photosynthesis and encounter factors such as environmental change and pollution in a practical way.

Bushcraft

Based in our forest school, learn valuable and essential skills necessary for survival in a wilderness situation. Experience fire lighting, shelter building, forest cooking and woodland crafts whilst immersed in our beautiful woodlands, with the freedom to create and build from the natural materials gathered around you.

Bushcraft is a hugely enjoyable and popular activity for all ages and abilities.

Earth Walk

Rich in historical and literary tradition, Dartmoor has inspired many authors with the unique and unusual land features. Using these as the starting point, create your own weird and wonderful legends with an art walk across the moors. This is a fantastic way of exploring patterns, colours and textures found in nature. Short activities focusing on individual senses lead you to discover how to describe the woodland in a variety of creative ways.

Eco Challenge Going Global

This fast-paced game involves teamwork, tactics and determination. Two teams play a combination of tag and human chess where each player has a specific character role; the key to winning is to ensure that these roles are fulfilled.

Whether it’s sacrificing yourself for the sake of another or making a heroic dash to free your captured team, this activity highlights the need for individual roles within a team.

Freshwater Study

Streams are teeming with exciting water creatures waiting to be discovered. Suitable for all ages, this activity can be adapted to suit curriculum requirements. Focus on adaptations, using identification keys, sampling and sorting, or simply just see what you can find! Compare fast and slow areas of a stream or our on-site stream with a moorland stream, this is a great opportunity to learn about river habitats and physical geography.

Haytor Quarry

The whole process of Victorian mining, from blasting to shipping, can be re-enacted through a visit to Haytor Quarries. Take on the role of a quarryman and discover the energy and skill needed to carry out the various jobs required to extract the granite and transport it to Teignmouth docks. Reenacted accidents, strict foremen and running for cover are all features of this activity, which brings the quarry alive.

Designed to illustrate how trade can affect the prosperity of a country, this game highlights how world trading systems are often designed to help the wealthy, well-developed countries, while neglecting the underdeveloped ones. In groups you must manufacture shapes using the materials provided. The game can go in any number of fascinating directions as the countries begin to trade together.

High Ropes

Our high ropes sessions are the perfect opportunity to challenge yourself both physically and mentally. Test your balance on the High Postman’s Walk, navigate the Vines high up in the trees, walk across the log Catwalk, work together to climb up Jacob’s Ladder or build a tall tower of milk crates, sturdy enough to balance your teammates. You will be taught how to belay each other safely and are supervised at all times.

Hound Tor Village Kayaking

A short walk from Hound Tor lies the remains of a medieval village. Travel back in time to explore the layout of the village and its position on the moors. Take on the role of the villagers, bartering goods and skills with each other in order to survive the harsh winter of 1349. This activity can be adapted to focus from a more technological perspective, looking at the design and structure of longhouses and the materials used in their construction.

Low Adventure

Awaken your sense of adventure and be prepared to get wet and muddy! This very popular and fun activity is designed with both team elements and individual obstacles. Navigate around the course as a team, testing communication, balance and determination. Travel through the bog, then through our woodland stream for a refreshing rinse. Full waterproofs are provided for this physical and exciting activity, suitable for all ages.

Using the kayaking ponds on-site, learn the basic skills and paddling techniques to be able to move your boat safely on land and on the water. With our wide variety of boats from our fleet, experience and enjoy paddling in single kayaks, twin boats or open canoes. Once the basic skills have been taught and practised, you have the chance to develop skills further through games and team challenges. Be prepared to get wet!

Mission Impossible Mountain Biking

This exhilarating activity is ideal for larger groups and combines the challenges of orienteering and raft building. You begin by navigating around the Centre grounds in small teams, armed with just an orienteering map, whistle and score sheet. Each marker found represents an item of raft building equipment, which is then later used to build a team raft. Once the rafts are built and the team members aboard, it is a race across the pond to the finish.

Our three levels of tracks and trails offer riders of mixed abilities the opportunity to learn the essential skills required to ride safely and enjoyably. Beginning in our Skills Area, learn how to navigate banked corners, roll overs, table tops and rock gardens before trying our woodland trails. With full equipment provided, you will receive progressive coaching and instruction to enjoy offroad trails. All participants must be competent cyclists.

Orienteering

Working in small groups, navigate around the Centre grounds equipped with a map, whistle and marker sheet to locate a number of hidden markers. Each marker has a number, shape and colour, which must be recorded in order to score points.

Explore the outdoors and test your navigational and leadership skills in this popular and enjoyable activity, suitable for all ages.

River Lemon

The source of the River Lemon can be found at the foot of Haytor, a short drive from the Centre. Stopping at several places along the way we can measure how the river changes from its youthful, bubbling stage to the old, sluggish stage before it enters the sea at Teignmouth.

The River Lemon study is an exciting and hands-on activity that develops skills in many subject areas.

Prehistory Day

Spend a day travelling back in time to experience the nomadic life of the Stone Age, through to the settled farmers of the Bronze Age.

Try your hand at wood whittling to make a willow spear, paint using natural dyes and pigments or learn shelter building. Share your experiences and reflections around the campfire.

Raft Building

As a team, design and create your own raft in which to paddle across our pond. You will be taught useful knots and techniques for constructing a strong and sturdy raft and how to do this safely.

Once the raft is on the water and your team aboard, use it to paddle across the pond, racing the other team. Raft races and various games mean you should be prepared to get wet!

Rock Climbing

This activity is the perfect way to try outdoor climbing, even for those with little or no experience. With the granite tors of Dartmoor on our doorstep, we use a variety of locations suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

Under full instruction, you will learn the basic techniques of moving on rock and how to belay. Why not discover your adventurous side with abseiling amongst Dartmoor’s breath-taking views?

Rock Scramble

This activity takes place on nearby crags on Dartmoor, a short drive from the Centre. Under full instruction you can try your hand at going over ridges, ducking under rocks and squashing through squeezes, all whilst enjoying the fabulous views across Dartmoor. This activity takes on physical challenges, with the added adventure of exposure on high ground.

Tamakale Island

This is an exciting activity for all ages. In small groups, follow a trail through our beautiful woods and tackle a range of physical and mental challenges along the way.

Your mission is to collect the eggs of the Tamakale bird that have been stolen by pirates; if you don’t succeed the birds will face extinction. With an emphasis on teamwork, this activity brings out qualities you may never know you had.

Team Quest

This is a great icebreaker activity and an opportunity to develop teamwork, communication skills and learning how to recognise each other’s unique skills and abilities.

Based in our woods, teams navigate a series of challenges where they need to draw on strength, determination and lots of creative thinking.

Stream Scramble

A short drive from the Centre takes us to a Dartmoor stream where many natural objects reveal themselves as obstacles to be overcome.

This is a particularly exhilarating experience; staying dry is not an option as we wade upstream together. Transport and full waterproofs are provided.

Wilderness Venture

Walking directly from the Centre onto the local moors, this activity can include map reading skills, flora and fauna identification, foraging for wild food and letterboxing (combining orienteering with treasure hunting to find boxes across Dartmoor). Various local and historical landmarks may be included, such as the prehistoric settlement of Grimspound, Bowerman’s Nose, Jay’s Grave and the RAF stone.

Evening Activities

Below are some ideas for evening activities that can be self-led and are ideal for free time periods, outside of structured activity sessions:

 Sports barn - bouldering wall, unihoc, football...

 Campfire - don’t forget to bring marshmallows!

 Night walk (OS maps available to borrow)

 Movie night with popcorn

 Quiz night

 School disco

 Talent show

 Star gazing

 Heatree Hunt detective game (activity materials provided)

 Wide Games - we have sports equipment available to borrow

 Creator’s Game - learning about life cycles (activity materials provided)

 Games night

 Awards evening: ‘and the Best Kept Bedroom goes to...’

We also provide:

 Free parking with turning space for coaches

 Free wi-fi

 Out of hours emergency assistance

 Tea, coffee, squash and hot chocolate provided throughout your stay

 Tea and coffee making facilities in staff bedrooms*

 Fridge and freezer space including a lockable refrigerated medical box

 Internet phones for teachers

 Lockable cupboard with spare bedding

 Easy access to the moors and local areas of interest

 Extensive green fields and woodlands to explore

* Full week bookings only

Accommodation

Heatree and Farmhouse are our main accommodation wings with Stables wing providing additional space if required. When you book your trip with us you will be allocated a wing which your group will have exclusive use of (plus additional space depending on your group requirements and subject to availability).

Bedrooms are dorm-style rooms with bunk beds, the majority with en-suite facilities. Our standard bedding consists of a fitted sheet,

Heatree Wing

For medium/large groups

On the ground floor there is a large lounge, breakout room, toilets and a spacious dining room with tea and coffee making facilities.

 Disabled access lift

 Drying room

 Professional catering kitchen

 Ceiling-mounted projector, screen and surround sound

pillows, pillow cases and duvets. We ask all guests to bring their own duvet cover or sleeping bag, unless a duvet cover is required (at an additional cost).

Accessibility

We have several bedrooms with wet rooms and in Heatree wing we have a lift for our disabled guests. We have portable wheelchair ramps for access to the main buildings (please let us know in advance what access requirements you may have).

Farmhouse Wing

For small/medium groups

On the ground floor there is a lounge, toilets and a dining room with tea and coffee making facilities.

 Large drying room

 Breakout room with bean bags and sofas

 Car parking spaces in front of main entrance

 Ceiling-mounted projector, screen and surround sound

Catering

Our kitchen team provides fresh and wholesome meals, all of which are cooked on site. We do our best to accommodate special dietary requirements or provide alternatives where this is not possible.

Alternative foods can be pre-ordered to cater for the following dietary needs:

Vegetarian

Vegan Coeliac Dairy free Egg free Gluten free

If you have specific food allergies or dietary needs that you wish to discuss, please speak to our kitchen team who will be happy to help, on 01647 221927.

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate and squash are always readily available throughout your stay in our dining rooms. There are fridges available for storing your own items, or for any medication requiring cool storage.

Please do not bring any foods containing nuts as we have frequent visitors with severe allergies.

School Menu Options

Breakfast

A selection of cereals, toast with honey, jam or marmalade, fresh fruit, a selection of yogurt, fruit juice, milk, tea or coffee.

Packed Lunch

A bread roll with a choice of fillings, crisps, homemade snack bar, apple or orange and a drink. A hot sausage roll instead of a bread roll is provided on Fridays (pasties are available for adults, if preferred).

Dinner

Monday Pasta bake with salad and garlic bread

Tuesday Chicken pie with mashed potato, peas and sweetcorn

Wednesday Sausages (fish is available for adults) with chips and baked beans

Thursday Roast turkey with roast potatoes, fresh vegetables, Yorkshire puddings and pigs in blankets

Dessert

Monday - Wednesday

One of the following (different each day): Apple crumble, syrup sponge with custard, chocolate brownie with chocolate sauce, sticky toffee pudding and toffee sauce or Manchester tart

Thursday Ice cream with homemade honeycomb and flavoured sauces or fresh fruit

Evening Supper Cake

One of the following (different each day): plain shortbread, toffee muffins, caramel chews, flapjack, white chocolate rocky road or millionaire shortbread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you have to be a strong swimmer for the water activities?

No, not at all. Anyone taking part in a water activity wears a buoyancy aid and our ponds are not deep.

Will children be supervised at all times?

School staff are responsible for their group outside of activity sessions. In the event of an emergency there is an emergency assistance number available outside of office hours.

Is there 24 hour first aid cover?

All of our outdoor instructors are first aid qualified as well as other staff on site. However, outside of normal office hours it is the responsibility of school staff to provide first aid cover for their group, and we recommend groups bring their own first aid kit and also a staff car in case a trip to get further treatment is required during the visit.

Will children need any particular clothing or equipment?

As part of the pre-visit documents trip leaders will be sent a kit list of items we recommend children bring with them. Dartmoor weather is notoriously unpredictable so it is always better to come prepared.

What if children have specific dietary needs?

Lead teachers will be asked to complete a form prior to their arrival indicating any dietary and/or medical needs for the group. We do our very best to accommodate any special dietary requirements or provide alternatives where necessary.

What happens in severe weather?

Our instructors are all highly experienced when it comes to adverse weather and if necessary, an alternative activity will be offered. Please refer to our terms and conditions for more details.

Can I contact the school and/or parents during our stay?

Yes, we provide internet phones for teachers to contact the school, or speak to parents if the need arises.

Will our school need travel insurance?

We recommend that all groups take out travel insurance to cover their trip, please see our terms and conditions for more details.

Do you have fire drills?

Yes, on your arrival day all children will practise a fire drill to familiarise themselves with fire escape routes and the fire assembly point.

Can we visit the Centre before making a booking?

Yes absolutely! We are always happy to arrange visits from school staff, please contact us to arrange this. We also welcome visits from parents who have children with particular needs (e.g. those who may be very anxious or have special dietary needs) to see the facilities and speak to us in person.

Is there a gift shop?

Yes, we have a selection of branded Heatree goodies to purchase, please request this as part of your programme so we can add it to your schedule. You can view our products here.

Thank you for teaching us new things and making everything as fun as possible!

Pippa,