Education Based Outdoor Learning at WWAC
WWAC has educational objectives firmly at the core of its methods of operation. Our methods and practices are designed to appeal to each of:
• Mainstream schools and colleges
• Special needs schools and groups
• Young people not engaged in education, employment or training (NEET)
DfES Educational Outcomes for High Quality Outdoor Education
The DfES has identified 10 specific outcomes that are required to be fulfilled from high quality outdoor education:
Enjoyment: This comes naturally to most, while even the more cautious and nervous find they enjoyed themselves, once they've had time to reflect.
Key Skills: Communication and cooperation skills are developed by all outdoor activities, through following instructions and becoming involved in keeping everyone safe.
Confidence: Gained through taking on and achieving personalised challenges.
Personal Qualities: Outdoor activities develop responsibility and self reliance.
Environmental Awareness: Simply by being outside in challenging environments and conditions brings an appreciation of nature.
Health and Fitness: Outdoor activities promote a healthier lifestyle with fresh air and physical exertion. We may even inspire young people to take up new sports and hobbies.
Activity Skills: Learning new physical and mental skills while gaining competence in exciting new sports.
Increased Motivation: Enjoyment and achievement in outdoor activities can lead to motivation in all areas of life.
Social Awareness: Gained through having to support and trust each other during activities.
Broadened Horizons: Outdoor activities encourage people to step out of that 'comfort zone' we all hide in and seek out new challenges and opportunities.
The programmes at WWAC are designed to ensure that these objectives are integrated into all the activities that we deliver for young people.
Mainstream Schools and Colleges
For mainstream education we specifically target objectives in each outdoor discipline to achieve specific required outcomes of Key Stage 3, 4 and 5 in the National Curriculum.
Special Needs Schools and Groups
At WWAC we can cater for a wide range of special needs in young people and pride ourselves on being able to offer positive outcomes for many types of differently abled individual.
Within the RYA scheme we can offer safe and beneficial training with equipment well suited to the purpose. For instance we have large boats that can accommodate wheelchairs and carers.
Training sessions can be tailored to meet a range of special educational needs including mixed ability groups which is often the case in special need education.
NEET – Young people Not in Education, Employment or Training
Our teaching approach applies equally to NEETs groups where we are experienced in training young people who may have slipped through the net of mainstream education. We provide opportunities in outdoor activities that consistently produce results with this type of young person. As well as encouraging responsibility we meet educational objectives in a way that appeals to many that struggle to learn in conventional educational settings. Across all the disciplines we provide full opportunities for those young people who are willing to develop careers in these disciplines. The work ethics that we encourage help prepare all young people for the world of work after their time with us.
Water Safety
Here at WWAC water safety plays an important part in any of our activities on and beside the water. Here you will find ideas and activities to support and develop water safety education through lesson ideas and fun water safety games and we also address sea safety. We have useful lesson plans and practical activities geared to all age groups, as well as a range of appropriate resources to develop water safety education. Pools, lakes, ponds, and beaches mean summer fun and cool relief from hot weather. But water also can be dangerous for kids if the proper precautions are not taken. It is the second leading cause of accidental death for people between the ages of 5 and 24. There are many ways to keep young people safe in the water and to make sure that they take the right precautions when they're on their own. And with our focus on water safety you can be sure that young people are safely supervised at all times at WWAC both on and off the water.
