Top School Trips -Issue 7

A typical day on a YHA residential trip might involve... 8:00am – Breakfast Choose from an unlimited continental buffet with cereal, fruit, and pastries, or a cooked full English breakfast. Drinks like Yorkshire Tea, coffee, and fruit juice are included. 9:00am – Map skills For hundreds of years maps have helped people travel from one place to another. Where could a map take you? Learn how to get started with a map, understand its symbols and practise navigation skills. 10:30am – Compass skills It’s time to find your bearings! Learn the parts and purpose of a compass and practise using it. 12:00pm – Lunch YHA provides convenient packed lunches for groups on the go that are ideal for days out. Across England &Wales, YHA offers accessible, curriculum-linked geography residentials that bring classroom theory to life outdoors. Pupils engage in hands-on fieldwork, using real data to analyse landscape change, coastal/ river features, and human-environment interaction – and because YHA hostels are often located in diverse natural settings, you spend less time travelling and more time learning on site. Here’s what a sample day could look like on one of its KS2 packages, which are available at the following YHA sites: Castleton Losehill Hall, Ravenstor, IlamHall, Malham, Boggle Hole, Whitby, Langdale, Sherwood Forest, and Grinton Lodge. 1:00pm – River dipping A hands-on fieldwork activity where groups work in teams to collect data and observe a local river and its environment. 3:30pm – Mini beast hunt A hands-on outdoor activity observing and exploring micro-habitats using investigative tools. 6:00pm – Evening meal The evening meal is a hearty, rotating menu that changes daily. It can be served in a buffet-style or plated format, and both vegetarian and vegan options are available. 7:00pm – Evening walk or Night line As the sun sets and the stars begin to twinkle, groups are invited to explore the great outdoors with YHA’s expert and friendly teams. { BEFORE YOU GO } www.yha.org.uk/group-bookings ASK How is the area around your school different from where you live? (E.g. the landscape, buildings, and what people do there.) Now apply this to the YHA hostel you plan to visit. READ Read resources that provide details about the area you will be visiting to ensure your group can get the most out of their experience when you’re there in real life. DO Take the time to complete a Goal-Setting worksheet before your residential, and take advantage of a free planning trip to ensure you’re prepared for your stay. From themoment your group arrives at a YHA, there are opportunities for discovery, adventure and learning at every turn… GOOD TO KNOW YHA provides free leader places and bursary support for eligible schools, helping more students access the benefits of school residentials. // YHA EVERY MAGICAL MINUTE Bring th e great outdoor s to life www.teachwire.net/school-trips | 39 PARTNER CONT ENT