School and group activitieS

LeArning just got A whoLe Lot more

exciting!

epic adventures that inspire and motivate

Providing people of all ages and abilities with world class experiences, which give them the confidence to enjoy a lifetime’s participation in the outdoors.

Welcome to plas Menai

Our world class National Outdoor Centre has been delivering action-packed adventure activity programmes for over 30 years, each one individually tailored to deliver unforgettable experiences, which help develop confidence and communication skills and encourage the physical, social, and personal development of pupils.

The stunning natural scenery of North Wales provides an inspirational backdrop, and our location; set in seven acres of landscaped grounds, overlooking the isle of Anglesey, on the banks of the menai strait, and only a short drive from snowdonia national Park, means the variety of activities we can offer are second to none.

We are open all year round, and regardless of the weather or time of year, there is always plenty to do.

What’s included Bring learning to life 3.

Itinerary examples 5.

Water based activities 7. Land based activities 9.

Facilities 11.

Trip planning and booking guide 13. Serious about safety 15.

In good hands 16.

Frequently asked Q&A’s 17.

A cut above the rest 19.

2.

Bring learning to life

getting outdoors is a great way for pupils to learn, and we are all about making the outdoors accessible.

Our experienced team are dedicated to ensuring pupils get the most out of their visit by helping them to positively embrace new opportunities and learning experiences. We endeavour to ensure our activities are mapped against the National Curriculum, and provide cross curricular links, as well as developing key skills, like decision making, teamwork, and communication.

Whether pupils are at Key Stage 2, 3, or 4, an activity trip to Plas Menai will not only meet curriculum requirements, but will provide them with a truly memorable experience.

The Centre holds the Learning Outside the Classroom and Adventure Mark badges, as well as an AALA licence. We are also regularly inspected by the RYA, and Canoe Wales, so you can rest assured your pupils will be in safe hands.

3.

At Plas Menai we offer a range of epic activities, whether you’re looking for a simple day trip to a full on residential adventure week.

Each individual trip is packed with adventure to excite, inspire and build confidence, something that cannot always be achieved in the classroom.

By enticing pupils out of their comfort zone and creating situations that may be new or unfimiliar to them, pupils are encouraged to take a positive approach to problems and find effective solutions. Multi-activity programmes combine a variety of activities which will challenge personal ability, inspire creative thinking and teach pupils to respond positively to each other.

itinerary example

no two school trips are ever the same, as all our school bookings are tailored to the individual school groups, and their specific needs and requirements.

day 1 day 2 day 3 day 4 day 5aM

Arrive 12.00pm for packed lunch

1. Gorge Walk2. Gorge Walk3. Moutnain Bike4. Rock Wall5. Sail

1. Windsurf2. Kayak3. Gorge Walk4. Gorge Walk5. Rock Wall

1. Mountain Bike2. Powerboat3. Windsurf4. Sail5. Gorge Walk

1. Powerboat2. Rock Wall3. Sail4. Kayak5. Mountain Bike

pM1. Sail2. Windsurfing3. Kayak 4. Mountain Bike5. Powerboat

1. SUP 2. SUP3. Rock Wall4. Powerboat5. Windsurf

1. Rock Wall2. Mountain Bike3. SUP 4. SUP5. Kayak

1. Kayak 2. Sail 3. Powerboat4. Windsurf5. SUP

Depart 1.00pm with packed lunch

eveningAllorienteering

Grps 1. 2. & 3. indoor ArcheryGrps 4. & 5. camp Fire

Grps 1. 2. & 3. camp FireGrps 4. & 5. indoor Archery

All egg Drop

Below is a sample plan of a 5 day residential adventure trip to plas Menai:

36 Students + 4 teachers = Total participants 40Split into 5 groups of 8Each pupil will participate in 8 activity sessions + 4 evening activities

Activities can vary depending on your group’s specific needs and the centre’s availability.

5. 6.

Water Based activities .

catamaran Sailing

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gorge Walk

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dinghy Sailing

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Windsurfing

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canoeing

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powerboating

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Kayaking

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Keelboat Sailing

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raft Building

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Sup

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coasteering

7.

land Based activities .

indoor climb .

high and low rope challenges

.

village Walk

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den Building

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indoor archery

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Snowdon ascent

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Mountain Walk

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Mountain climb

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Mountain Bike

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orienteering

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Frisbee golf

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Sport & team games

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camp Fire

9.

If you wish to stay with us, we have accommodation for up to 140 people, with 35 bright and welcoming ensuite bedrooms within the main Centre complex, accommodating up to 75 people. We also have three onsite houses offering dormitory style accommodation.

The centre’s location means we have the spectacular Menai Strait and the Snowdonia National Park as their classroom, however the centre also has a range of purpose built, wet and dry classrooms available on site.

Our Coast Cafe provides freshly prepared food on-site by our own catering staff. Ingredients are fresh, and locally sourced giving each child all the energy they need to enjoy their action-packed adventure.

Facilities

11.

initial enQuirYPlease provide us with the following information; preferred dates, arrival & departure times, estimatednumbers, age of group, residential/non-residential, any specific activities and whether your group has anyspecial needs or requirements.

availaBiltYWe will then check availability and put together a provisional cost/booking form based on yourrequirements. This will be valid for 4 weeks.If your original dates are unavailable, we will suggest alternatives.

depoSit paYMentIf you wish to go ahead with the booking, you are required to pay a 25% non-refundable deposit based onyour provisional numbers. This will secure your booking.If we do not receive this payment within 10 weeks the dates may be offered to another group.

Final nuMBerSWe require final numbers 12 weeks prior to arrival. We will then send you a balance invoice based onthese numbers. Final payment must be received at least 6 weeks prior to arrival.Once the balance invoice has been sent, any cancellations/amendments are subject to our Terms and Conditions.

School pacK A school pack will be sent to you along with the balance invoice.This must be completed and returned to us 6 weeks prior to your arrival.The school pack includes Parental Consent Forms requesting age, medical conditions, and any special dietary or access requirements we need to be aware of.

pleaSe note: Any person under the age of 18 years without a parental consent form completed and signed, will not be permitted to take part in any activity.

trip planning and Booking guide

MaKing Your neXt adventure eaSY

Given our unique location, the range of activities we offer on a multi-activity programme is second to none. The action-packed programmes are fun and exciting, taking pupils out of their comfort zone, and challenging them to try activities they may never have tried before. Pupils are encouraged to take a positive approach to trying new things, and to support and help others, providing experiences that will stay with them long after they return to school.

The Plas Menai team offer a personal planning service to make your trip with us as easy as possible. We have plenty of experience, with over 3000 pupils and teachers visiting the Centre every year, we really appreciate and understand the complexities of planning.

Our team endeavour to make the process as straightforward and manageable as possible, and our friendly and knowledgeable team are always on hand to support and guide you through the process, and to answer all your questions.

13. 14.

Serious about Safety in good hands

ALL our instructors hold a valid First Aid certificate

EVERY student, teacher, staff member and instructor, MUST wear a buoyancy aid when on the water - all Personal Protection Equipment is provided by us

NO ONE is allowed on the water without a safety boat in attendance

ALL our main safety boats carry a First Aid Kit, and suitable communications

EACH group of students is always supervised by a fully qualified instructor

We have staff on duty 24 hours a day - our staff make regular patrols during the night

our committed and highly qualified team of staff are our greatest asset - at plas Menai, it is our team who ensure that a trip with us is one you and your school will choose year after year.

With 35 years of delivering action-packed adventure activity programmes, we have an enviable reputation for our high safety standards.

plas Menai is one of the largest and most well equipped outdoor centres in Britain. the centre is owned and operated by the Sports council for Wales, the government agency responsible for the development of sport in Wales.

to manage the risks associated with the operation of Plas Menai, the following measures are in place;

1. The Centre is licensed by the Adventure Activity Licensing Authority. The licence number is L9590/R0071.2. The Centre is inspected and approved to deliver sailing, cruising, powerboating and windsurfing by the Royal Yachting Association the UK National Governing Body.3. The Centre is inspected and approved to provide all aspects of canoe sport by the British Canoe Union.4. The Centre is inspected and approved by Visit Wales for accommodation.5. The above inspections and approvals result in the Centre only employing qualified / trained staff. Records of qualifications are maintained on-site for inspection.6. The Centre has a comprehensive risk management system approved by AALA, RYA and BCU.7. The Centre holds a full fire certificate and has a comprehensive fire risk assessment.8. The Centre has handbooks on health and safety, operation and safety of all activities and child protection.9. The Centre operates a policy of obtained disclosure checks on all appropriate staff through the Criminal Records Bureau.10. The Centre has Government Indemnity instead of insurance, however all vehicles are covered by separate insurances.11. The Centre holds ‘Quest’, the leisure industry standard for service and facility quality management. The Centre also has ‘Investors in People’ through the Sports Council for Wales.12. The centre provides a wide range of technical equipment and personal protective clothing for participants use. All equipment will be fit for purpose and is inspected as a part of our activities licence. Records of equipment checks are available on-site for inspection. 16.

can we come and visit the centre and see the facilities before making a booking?

Yes, we run school preview days which provide you with the opportunity to visit the Centre, see the accommodation, have a tour of the facilities, try out some of the activities for yourself, and have a chat to somebody about bringing a group to the Centre. Alternatively, we are very happy to visit your school, please get in touch.

are your staff fully qualified?

Yes, all our staff are fully qualified to instruct the activities they will be running. We carefully select our staff for their enthusiasm, dedication, and passion, and ensure there are all highly trained.

do you cater for special dietary requirements?

Yes, we can cater for almost all dietary requirements, provided we are informed in advance. We may require some input from parents for any particularly uncommon requirements or allergies, but we will ensure every child is catered for. A vegetarian option is always provided as a standard option at meal times. Examples of special dietary requirements include, gluten free, dairy free, nut free and halal.

can you cater for pupils with physical and medical needs?

we can cater for the majority of physical and medical conditions, provided we have knowledge of these limitations prior to your groups’ arrival. Should we feel the need for a particular pupil to have extra supervision from a carer in relation to their needs, we will ensure that we inform you of this in good time, to ensure that you can make the necessary arrangements. We are able to store any medicines that need to be kept cold in the fridge.

does the trip include insurance?

whilst at the centre, all activities are covered by the sport wales, welsh government indemnity, details of which are included in the Health and Safety Pack. However, we do not provide insurance specifically for group trips. This must be arranged through your school and be in place prior to your departure to us.

What should i bring?Plas Menai will provide all necessary personal protective clothing: wetsuits, waterproofs, helmets and buoyancy aids.

please ensure pupils bring with them:• Shoes for on the water: Old trainers or wetsuit boots/shoes (these will get wet)• Towels: We do not provide towels in the accommodation, so please ensure pupils bring a couple of towels with

them, these can be dried in the Centre’s drying room overnight.• Swimwear: They will need this to wear under their wetsuit when doing water-based activities• Warm Clothes: i.e. Thermals layers, fleece, jacket• Trainers: Needed for land-based activities and for around the centre• Hair Ties: pupils with long hair will need to tie it up for some activities• 50p for lockers (returnable)• Casual comfortable clothes• underwear and socks - not ankle socks - long ones that cover ankles and shins• Hat, gloves, scarf: Autumn, Winter, Spring• Suncream & Sun hat: Spring, Summer• toiletries and any personal medication• Pocket money: we have a small range of Plas menai merchandise available which range in price from £1 - £10 as

well as vending machines available for drinks and snacks.

Frequently Asked Q&A’s

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17. 18.

a cut above the rest

over the years, teachers and group leaders like you have taught us everything we know about what you want from our centre, and we continually invest to maintain the standards you require.

There’s variety

There’s adventure

There’s comfort

and good food

So, if what you want is a centre that’s a cut above the rest, why look anywhere else?

19.

the nAtionAL outDoor centre For wALes

Bringing LeArning to LiFe For PeoPLe oF ALL Ages AnD ABiLities

@plaSMenai

plaS Menai,national outdoor centrecaernarfongwynedd, ll55 1ue

info@plasmenai.co.uk0300 300 3112www.plasMenai.co.uk/School-trips

We are plaS Menai

the nAtionAL outDoor centre For wALes

Bringing LeArning to LiFe For PeoPLe oF ALL Ages AnD ABiLities