Somerset College

College history was recently made as 43 students from the Sport and Public Services National Diploma and the Introduction to Sport Diploma got together to take part in a week long residential at Outdoor Adventures in Bude, Cornwall. The aim of the residential wasn’t just to have fun, which they did, but it also had an educational element running through it. 

Students on both Diploma courses are required to study Outdoor and Adventurous Activities and this involves gaining an insight into how companies run activities, safety and legal requirements, learning how to evaluate performance and having a go at the activities themselves.  To that end, the week involved kayaking and canoeing on Bude Canal, surfing at Widemouth bay, abseiling and climbing on the cliffs above the beach. 

Residential organiser and lecturer, Jim Bee said: “It was a brilliant week. Right from the start the staff at Outdoor Adventures were outstanding and nothing was too much bother. To say that the students achieved would be an understatement. Not only did they meet the assessment criteria for their course but also gained several recognised qualifications.  Despite going in February, the weather was dry, if a little cold but that brought added experiences as at one stage the group canoeing had to act as icebreakers for the group kayaking! Now that’s teamwork!’

The students also really enjoyed the experience as Connor Leckie, a second Year Sports student reports,”It was a full-on week and it was good to get away from the college environment and work with other people as this what we will be doing when we finish our course this summer”. 

The venture was so successful that plans are underway to go back to Bude next year and do it all again!

The photograph shows the students having a surfing lesson at Widemouth Bay, Cornwall.