Mendip Activity Centre

What We Offer Visiting Schools:

Design your own action-packed week with a range of adventurous activities. Learning objectives can be incorporated into all activities; if there are specific curriculum aims, the team is more than happy to tailor them into the programme.

An example 5-day residential might include:

– Rock Climbing
– Kayaking
– Paddleboarding
– Assault Course
– Team Challenges
– Bushcraft
– Low Ropes
– Abseiling
– Caving
– Archery
– Axe Throwing

Evening activities could include night walks, team challenges, tobogganing, orienteering, blind trails, frisbee golf, competitions, campfires, discos and film nights.

Mendip have a fleet of PCV minibuses; transport is always included to any offsite activities, such as their private watersports site, Hewish, or caving at Burrington Combe.

Outdoor activity residentials are legendary at Mendip, with three tented villages and an indoor residential centre that book up quickly – so early enquiries are recommended. Fully catered and packed with activities, these residentials challenge, inspire, and excite students. Ideal for end-of-year treats, inductions, rewards, or fostering an active lifestyle.

Why Choose Us for an Educational Visit:

Mendip Activity Centre offers schools an unparalleled outdoor education experience, combining adventure with learning in the heart of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. With over 25 real activities, including rock climbing, caving, and water sports, students are guided by passionate professionals who respect risk and encourage personal growth. The 250-acre ancient woodland site provides unique learning environments, fostering confidence, resilience, and a deep connection with nature.

Recognised as a leading provider of outdoor adventure trips, Mendip Activity Centre tailor’s programmes to meet educational objectives, ensuring each school visit is both memorable and impactful.

Subjects and Topics Covered:

Team Building

Outdoor education allows young people to foster essential team and individual skills that are invaluable for students’ personal growth.

At Mendip Activity Centre, school residentials are designed to include a range of group initiative and problem-solving activities. Throughout the ancient woodland, a series of fun and customizable challenges can be tailored to include specific goals such as:

– Leadership Development
– Team Skills
– Relationship Building
– Improving Communication
– Building Confidence and Trust

Team building allows young people to develop and improve skills in a safe and fun environment. Mendip Activity Centre also offers dedicated activity days focused solely on team building and team development.

Field Studies – Mapping, Ecology, Ecosystems, Geology, Rivers and Sustainability

We help you take your Learning Outside the Classroom! Immerse your students in the great outdoors, where they can explore a diverse range of curriculum-focused topics such as geography, history, science, and creative studies.

At Mendip Activity Centre, we offer a wide variety of captivating field study topics:

– Delve into the fascinating geology and rich history of caves and mines in the Mendip Hills.
– Source to sea: follow the journey of rivers and discover their sources as they flow from the majestic hills to the sea.
– Witness the effects of climate change first-hand and discover practical ways to make a positive impact on sustainability.
– Uncover the secrets of the unique ecology and ecosystems of the Mendip Hills National Landscape. Mendip’s 250-acre land thrives with vibrant butterflies, grasses, orchids, and ancient trees.
– Rocks and relics: Mendip’s very own limestone quarry is a great place to learn about rocks and their uses.

Physical Education – Climbing, Canoeing, Orienteering, Archery, Kayaking, Caving

Engage and energize young minds through outdoor adventure activities that promote an active lifestyle. Mendip Activity Centre not only encourages physical fitness but also foster the development of essential skills such as leadership, problem-solving, teamwork, and coordination.

Mendip work with schools and colleges to offer tailored Physical Education courses for GCSE, BTEC and T Level. Students are given the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to learn and put into practice new physical skills, whilst trying new sports.

Activities that work most effectively for physical education include:

– Rock Climbing
– Kayaking
– Canoeing
– Paddle Boarding
– Archery
– Air Rifle
– Navigation
– Orienteering
– Caving

Enrich your physical education curriculum with Mendip’s range of exciting activities that promote physical well-being and skill development.

Accreditation and Awards:

Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge
Institute for Outdoor Learning Membership
AHOEC Leading Outdoor Learning
Approved Activity Provider by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for the Expedition section (UK) and for the Residential section
AALA: Adventure Activities Licensing Authority
AAIAC: AdventureMark

Group Sizes Catered For:

We cater for group sizes from 30 up to 300.

Itineraries, Resources, and Workshops:

With bases across the Mendip Hills National Landscape, Cheddar Gorge, and Bristol Harbour, our environments are alive with learning opportunities:

• Geography fieldwork
• Science and nature studies
• PSHE and wellbeing
• Physical Education
• Rivers, Rocks and Ecosystems

Every trip is designed with clear learning outcomes. We provide everything teachers need to plan and justify their visit, from full risk assessments to sample itineraries and activity outlines. Our team can also support with workshops that weave national curriculum links into the adventure

Risk Assessment:

Safety always comes first. Where a qualification exists, our instructors hold it. Every session is risk assessed, regularly reviewed, and adapted for the needs of each group. With a long history of putting safety at the heart of adventure, schools can be confident that pupils are in experienced hands.

Risk Assessments can be downloaded at www.mendip.co.uk/downloads/

Education Department Information:

Our dedicated schools booking team are here to support teachers from first enquiry to waving the coach goodbye. Contact info@mendip.co.uk and one of our experienced team will guide you through options, paperwork, and planning.

Pricing Information:

We want outdoor learning to be accessible. Activity days start from just £4 per pupil, while residential programmes can be tailored from simple bunkhouse stays to fully-catered multi-day packages. Prices vary depending on the time of year and chosen adventures. Group discounts are available.

Facilities:

We’ve got a wide choice of sites and facilities across the Mendip Hills and beyond, giving schools the flexibility to design the perfect visit:

• Mendip Activity Centre (250 acres, Mendip Hills AONB)
o Ski and snowboard slope, toboggan slope, climbing and abseiling quarry, onsite cave, target sports ranges, assault course, frisbee golf, bushcraft areas, woodland trails.
o The Alpine Lounge café with classroom space.
• Mendip Lodge (on-site bunkhouse)
o Residential accommodation for up to 86 students.
o Dining facilities and communal spaces.
• Mendip Basecamp (summer only)
o Family-friendly adventure campsite with flexible group camping.
o Fire pits, outdoor seating, and access to activities.
• YHA Cheddar
o Characterful Victorian house near Cheddar Gorge.
o Ideal for school groups and fieldwork residentials.
• Watersports Venues
o Private lake near Weston-super-Mare.
o SUP and kayaking in Bristol Harbour.
• Caving Sites
o Burrington Combe and other Mendip cave systems.

Accessibility and Disabled Facilities:

Adventure should be for everyone. Many of our activities are adaptable for those with additional needs. If your group requires extra support, let us know at booking and we’ll make adjustments whether that’s equipment, supervision, or adapting the challenge.

Opening Hours:

Mendip Activity Centre is open seven days a week, all year round, making it easy to plan day trips or residentials at a time that works for your school calendar