School Bookings

Albany Park Banner with logo

Albany Park Canoe and Sailing Centre has a proven track record of supporting schools in the Kingston and surrounding areas delivering a high quality service working in the main towards accredited outcomes.

Albany Park holds the appropriate licences, giving you ultimate confidence in our ability to deliver a first class service every visit. The licence that is of most importance to schools is the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority Licence giving reassurance regarding standards, safety and staffing levels, however, Albany Park also holds governing body approval/accreditation from the Royal Yachting Association and the British Canoe Union.

Most of our work with schools is undertaken at the Centre, however some of our more specialised work with schools takes groups around the Country. Some of our clients are based outside the immediate area, one of our more targeted pieces of schools work involves a residential week with a sports college from Devon. If you have an idea, event or residential that you require assistance with please contact the Centre, we are more than happy to assist in developing your programme.

Please contact Jon or Chris at the centre direct to discuss bookings on 020 8549 3066.

What type of activities and options do we offer schools?

Albany Park Canoe & Sailing Centre is licenced, staffed and equipped to offer the following activities to schools:

Kayaking ( BCU approved Centre)
Open Canoeing (BCU approved Centre)
Dinghy Sailing (RYA Approved Centre)
Power boating (RYA Approved Centre)
Bellboating ( BCU approved Centre)
Dragon Boating
RaftBuilding
Improvised canoe sailing
Mountain biking / off road cycling

These core activities are then used to develop school programmes which are outlined below:

Structured RYA (dinghy sailing & power boat) BCU (kayak and canoe) courses with accredited outcomes from novice level to advanced.
Multi activity programmes giving students the opportunity to sample a range of activities over a series of weekly sessions
One off taster days
End of term activity days or half days
Residential experiences / enrichment weeks
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Scheme
After schools clubs
Programs linked with Youth service, PRU’s and Intervention programmes

All forms available on request, please contact the centre.

Awards

All sessions of six weeks duration or longer will result in the young person, on successful completion of the syllabus, gaining a National BCU / RYA Award, which can be added to their National Records of Achievement File.

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Scheme

We offer full training in the Expedition and Physical Recreation sections of the Award, as well as provide information and advice on the other sections. If your Award designated teacher already has a large workload, we are able to take the pressure off the two most challenging aspects of the Scheme. We hold weekly 2 hour, after school sessions.

A thirteen-week period will cover all aspects and training in the two aforementioned sections and an additional practice and final expedition sees the completion of these two areas. Pupils will need to arrange the Service and Skills sections themselves, as part of a group or individually, or through the Award designated teacher at the school. However we are able to access up to date information regarding these sections, through the Local Operating Authority, and can provide practical advice and information for all participants.

Residentials

We are pleased to be able to offer residential trips of 3 or 5 days duration in the upper Thames area and Wye Valley. All residentials are on an all-inclusive basis, covering transport, instruction, accommodation, equipment, and food. In our experience we find that groups involved in residentials learn to work well as part of a team, as they meet the challenges of the journey and become self-sufficient when meal times occur. Residentials, by their nature give the group, a common bond when returning to school. Observing how the group dynamics change as the residential progresses is a real learning experience for all teachers and instructors. We have found that residentials fit in perfectly with the schools PSE (or equivalent) lesson aims.

The Upper Thames Residential Experience (3 day)

A 3-day open canoe/camping exploration of the upper Thames. With a spirit of adventure your pupils will undoubtedly have fun learning new skills and spending 2 nights under canvas. The upper Thames area is renowned as one of the most beautiful parts of the river. As well as the wonderful scenery, the pupils are able to observe and study the many species of wildlife at very close quarters, and have the chance to view one of England's most famous cities of Oxford, uniquely from the Thames.

The Wye Valley Adventure (5 days)

The Wye Valley Adventure is aimed at the older age group of the 12+ years. We will spend 2 days of watersports and camp craft familiarisation based at Albany Park. We will then travel to the Wye Valley for the remainder of the week where the group will take part in a river trip on the Wye, using open canoes. This will be followed with a day of mountain bike trail riding in the surrounding woodland area of the Wye Valley. The final day will be spent kayaking on Symonds Yat rapids, enjoying an introduction to moving water in a safe environment with instruction from BCU qualified senior staff.

One off days / taster sessions

We can provide one off short taster sessions for pupils, and whole multi activity days / half days for an exciting and fun time, incorporating, kayaking, open canoeing, raft building, bellboating etc. A thoroughly enjoyable wet and wild day ideal for the end of term. We also have a purpose built barbecue on site to offer a lunch for pupils… and teachers!

Quotes from schools or teaching staff and students

Prices available on request from the centre

Sport	Cost
Sailing	£48.00 Per hour per group (Multiples of 6)
Kayaking/Canoeing	£48.00 Per hour per group (Multiples of 8)
Multi Activity	£48.00 Per hour per group (Multiples of 8)
Duke of Edinburgh's Award Bronze	£248.00 All inclusive (After school sessions)
Residential trips will be advised	Per pupil, all inclusive
Wye Valley Residential	Per pupil, all inclusive

Notes to Teachers

These prices are calculated in multiples of 8 Young People per session(6 for Sailing only), therefore if a group of 11 Young People are to attend, you will be invoiced for a group of 16(12 for Sailing only). This is to cover the cost of staffing, and ensure we are in line with strict Health and Safety Operating Guidelines.
All pupils must have a completed parental/guardian consent form, to enable them to take part in any activities at Albany Park.
Telephone enquiries are welcome, but a booking form must be completed and returned before we can confirm the place. Please note that the number of places booked on a form will be the number billed for.
Whilst the ability to swim is not a necessity, all pupils must be confident in water. Regardless of swimming ability the wearing of buoyancy aids or lifejackets is mandatory for all users.
All pupils must bring suitable OLD clothing, including a complete set of dry clothes to change into, towel and wash kit. The best clothing option for water based activities is old comfortable clothes which do not restrict movement (no jeans) old T-shirts or sweatshirts, shorts or tracksuit bottoms are ideal. Footwear must be worn at all times, and again old soft-soled shoes or trainers are best.
Please contact the centre direct to discuss bookings on 020 8549 3066

Programme Plan: BCU One Star Certificate (Kayak)

Session	Skills Taught	Theory
Week 1	Lifting, carrying, launching, forward paddling, stopping, turning/sweep strokes	Safety brief, environmental issues, awareness of wildlife, other water users, equipment.
Week 2	Re-cap on week 1, forward paddling, turning, reverse paddling, ruddering.	Safety when afloat, hypothermia, first aid
Week 3	Re-cap of skills learned, moving sideways, evidence of trunk rotation, preventing capsize	General kayaking, one star syllabus information
Week 4	Full session working on students needs in practising the skills needed for the one star test
Week 5	Mock one star assessment, helping students gain confidence in their paddling	Re-cap theory aspects learned. Group question and answer session of theory and skills learned
Week 6	BCU. One Star Assessment
Week 7	Lifting, carrying and launching the kayak, efficient forward paddling, reverse paddling and stopping, moving the kayak sideways	Equipment, safety access issues
Week 8	Eskimo rescue, deep water rescue, low recovery stroke	Environmental issues, trip planning

Programme Plan: RYA Level One (Sailing)

Session	Skills Taught	Theory
Week 1	Rigging, wind awareness, launching and recovery, leaving the shore, coming ashore, reaching, tacking drills	No go zones, clothing, equipment
Week 2	Re-cap on rigging drill, reaching, stopping sailing upwind, getting out of irons	Ropework (knots) points of sailing, capsize recovery
Week 3	Re-cap upwind sailing, sailing downwind, gybing drill, gybing practice	Basic dinghy rules, rules of the road, meteorology
Week 4	Re-cap of all skills learned	Question and answer theory session
Week 5	All skills practiced and performed. By this stage if the wind has been sufficient and candidates are performing to a competent standard the R.Y.A. level 1 is complete
Week 6	Rigging a training dinghy or dayboat, the five essentials	Points of sailing, no go zone, the five essentials
Week 7	Man overboard recovery, five essentials	Capsize recovery, aerodynamic theory
Week 8	Coming alongside, reefing, capsize recovery	Racing, lee shore dangers, ropework

Please read our Terms and Conditions