by Joe Winfield5 Facts About Exmoor
5 Facts About Exmoor
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we’re lucky enough to be surrounded by stretches of Exmoor’s stunning landscape. Our accessible site is set amongst beautiful rolling hills, putting you in a prime position to enjoy peaceful views spanning across moorland, water and woods.
As a local charity in Devon, we love to make the most of our surroundings – Exmoor National Park is a renowned area of natural beauty and makes an excellent location for exciting adventure breaks with lots of outdoor activities!
Here, we share some of our favourite Exmoor facts to help you get to know the place a little better.
Exmoor is Home to Unique Plants
Exmoor is teeming with flora and fauna, making it a great place to visit for those that love wildlife and celebrating the natural world. In fact, Exmoor is home to unique plants that don’t grow anywhere else.
These Exmoor-exclusive plants include various species of the whitebeam tree. The National Park is also home to a plethora of various nationally rare plants, including lichens which have only been found on one specific Exmoor tree!
There are Herds of Roaming Ponies
When visiting Exmoor, you’ll see many awe-inspiring sights – if you’re lucky, one of these sights will be a herd of roaming Exmoor ponies!
These native ponies are free to roam the moors, with twenty different herds grazing across various commons. There is nothing more exciting than crossing paths with these lovely creatures during a walk or drive through the moors.
Exmoor Boasts England’s Highest Cliffs
The first thing you think about when considering Exmoor is probably the expansive moorland, but Exmoor is also home to the highest coastline on the British mainland.
The highest cliff named Great Hangman has a spectacular 800ft cliff face looming over the roaring waves below.
As well as having the highest cliffs, Exmoor can also claim one of the most isolated stretches of coastline as the cliff’s extreme heights make the shoreline extremely remote.
Exmoor has Inspired Generations of Writers
Countless writers and poets have been inspired by the stunning views and natural beauty found at Exmoor.
Early Romantic poets William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge are among just some of the most notable examples. The origins of their seminal work ‘Lyrical Ballads’, which transformed 18th century English poetry, has often been attributed to their shared love of Exmoor’s coastal walks.
Calvert Trust Exmoor itself has a connection to Wordsworth too as our name ‘Calvert’ comes from his friend Raisley Calvert, who he dedicated a poem to upon his death.
There are Rumours of a Mysterious Exmoor Beast
With such a rugged and isolated landscape, it comes as no surprise that Exmoor has birthed a couple of mysteries. One of the biggest mysteries to come out of the moors is the popular tale of the supposed ‘Beast of Exmoor’.
Eyewitnesses have described seeing a large, black cat-like creature roaming various locations, with the first sighting being reported in the 1970s.
Since then, there have been numerous alleged sightings of the Beast despite no real concrete evidence that big cats are roaming the wilds of Exmoor!
Exmoor has countless wonders just waiting to be explored! Why not get a taste of what it has to offer by visiting us at Calvert Trust Exmoor? Exmoor is the perfect backdrop for our exciting and inclusive adventure activities.
The rest of North Devon is full of some great sights and attractions too – you can discover more in our blog below!
To find out more about our site and the kinds of activities we offer, you can get in touch by calling 01598 763221 or emailing receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk.
by Joe WinfieldHow an Adventure Break can Help You Set Goals
How an Adventure Break can Help You Set Goals
Embarking on new challenges through disability adventure activities can be a great way to help you set and achieve your goals.
Whether your goals are oriented around overcoming fears or focus on pushing yourself to try something new, getting involved in exciting adventure activities can help anyone reach their full potential.
When surrounded by support and encouragement, new accomplishments can be achieved in no time!
The Benefits of Setting Goals
Setting clear goals is one of the best ways to help you make positive changes in your life. It helps you look to the future and make plans about what you want to improve or overcome.
Thinking about your goals, whether they are long or short term, also gives you an opportunity to reflect on yourself, thinking about your feelings and aspirations. It will prompt you to really think about what you want to do and how you can make it happen.
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we’re dedicated to supporting our guests as they work towards their goals on their adventure break. With unique, fully accessible experiences, we are always striving to help everyone achieve their full potential!
Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone
A goal is something you have to work towards. It will likely be a challenge, but the sense of the achievement you will gain when you reach it will be more than worth it!
When taking part in an adventure activity, you might find yourself leaving your comfort zone a little bit. This can be nerve-wracking, but it’s also a good thing!
It will allow you to work towards any goal, big or small, and prompt you to gain new experiences that you might not have had if you hadn’t pushed yourself slightly.
Gaining Confidence
This point goes hand-in-hand with the idea of getting out of your comfort zone.
One of the biggest obstacles to overcome when setting goals is the fear that comes with thinking you can’t achieve your goals or when you are too nervous to try.
An adventure break can really help when it comes to building general confidence and showing you you’re capable of much more than you thought possible!
Our friendly team at Calvert Trust will support you when building your confidence as you participate in a range of exciting outdoor activities.
Check out our blog below for more advice on struggling with confidence and dealing with adventure activity anxiety:
Learning Something New
When you try a new activity, there’s always something to be learnt from it. An adventure break is full of great, new experiences that might help you think about what kind of future goals you want to set or what you want to try next time.
When you do something you’ve never done before, you’ll learn things about yourself and the others around you, giving you a fresh perspective!
If you want to find out more about our adventure breaks and the exciting experiences we offer, please get in touch today. You can speak to one of our team members by calling 01598 763221 or emailing receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk.
by Joe WinfieldWhat to Expect: Climbing Activities at Calvert Trust
We know that trying a new activity for the first time can be daunting, even when you’re excited at the same time. That’s why we’ve created a new series here on our blog to take you through what to expect from each of our adventure activities.
As a dedicated provider of accessible holidays in Devon, we offer a range of activities, supporting everyone to reach their full potential and discover new experiences! Below, we run through what you can expect from our climbing activities to help settle any nerves by showing you exactly what it’s all about.
Climbing Experiences at Calvert Trust
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we have both outdoor and indoor climbing walls, meaning you will be able to try the activity, whatever the weather.
We offer climbing to individuals, families and larger groups, giving everyone the opportunity to make their way up the climbing walls.
Our fully qualified and specially trained instructors will guide you through everything and answer all your questions, making sure you feel safe, comfortable and confident as you strive to reach new heights!
Climbing Activities Adapted to Individuals
All of our activities are inclusive and accessible – climbing is no different and can be adapted for all disabilities. Guests who use wheelchairs or have limited strength are supported by harnesses and hoisted out of their chair to the top of the climbing wall. Individuals with limited movement can also touch and climb the wall while supported by their friends, family or other group members as they help to hoist them up and down.
Teamwork and communal spirit are big parts of all of our activities – particularly here where climbers help each other out, participate together and cheer each other on!
Building Confidence Through Climbing
Climbing is a wonderful activity that can build confidence, boost self-esteem and help conquer fears. The activity can also be beneficial in helping to develop motor skills and coordination.
Although some may find the thought of climbing to be a daunting one, the sense of achievement you get once you’ve completed the climb will help you build up your confidence.
We’re all about motivating our guests to adopt that ‘I CAN do it’ spirit, helping them to see what they’re capable of in a fun and supportive environment!
Tips For First Time Climbers
For first time climbers, we give our top tips on getting the most out of this exciting experience.
- It’s okay to feel anxious. Embracing a new challenge can always be a little nerve-wracking, but you can also try to find the excitement in that fear.
- Remember you’re not alone. It’s likely that others in your group will have never had experience with a climbing wall either, so don’t worry about not being a climbing expert – it’s all part of the adventure!
- Remember you’re completely supported and safely clipped in. Our instructors will take you through everything, making sure you are confident with all the equipment and how you’ll climb.
- Take things slowly. Climbing isn’t a race, so if you want to make your way slowly up the wall, that’s fine.
When it comes down to it, climbing is a lot of fun and can be beneficial for a variety of reasons, so why not think about giving it a go?
If you have any questions about our accessible activity breaks here at Calvert Trust Exmoor or would like to find out more about a particular activity, don’t hesitate to get in touch by calling 01598 763221 or emailing receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk.
by Joe Winfield9 Tips for Socialising on an Adventure Break
For a lot of people, socialising can be an exciting, but daunting endeavour, which is completely understandable. This can be for a number of reasons, such as anxiety, or uncertainty about oneself, the facilities or others.
Adventure breaks are a wonderful way to step out of your comfort zone and make real, memorable connections with others while in a safe and supportive environment. They facilitate both growing and habitual interests of people to share together.
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we offer a great range of outdoor activities for disabled adults. These activities will instantly break the ice, so you can enjoy a fun and exciting day filled with adventurous activities and social interaction!
In this article we will be exploring different tips and tricks to remember for your next social encounter, this way you can feel more confident and excited about your adventure break, so you can make the most of the experience!
Make Small Talk
Small talk is a very useful tool to use when first meeting someone. It allows you to take the first step in understanding who they are and what they’re about. You can gain insights such as if they’re chatty, funny, quiet or nice.
When first meeting someone, you generally want to keep things light and conversational. You can think of it more as a warm-up that might lead to a long-lasting friendship.
When sharing small talk, the topic isn’t necessarily important, as long as it builds some sort of familiarity and signals to them that you’re approachable and friendly.
On an adventure break, you can start up some small talk by asking them what their favourite activity is, or how they found one of the activities. Make sure you ask them something inclusive and general.
Have Approachable Body Language
Some people might find socialising daunting or difficult because they are not giving off approachable signals. Simple but effective signals include:
Keeping casual but consistent eye contact
Smiling when you greet people
Relax your face muscles when you feel yourself tensing – this may need a little practice in the mirror
Some people feel like they need to smile all the time, but there’s no need to force a smile! You only need to when greeting others or something funny or thoughtful has been said.
Make Lots of Small Interactions
If socialising makes you a bit nervous, you can use brief interactions to build your way up to a social activity or event.
Opening yourself up to saying simple and small things such as a passing ‘Hi’ or inviting others into a brief conversation is helpful if you’re unsure or nervous when it comes to socialising.
These pleasant but brief moments help to create social situations that are more comfortable and easier to manage, as opposed to something like a party or large social event.
Try Not to Overthink
Sometimes we can find ourselves overthinking minor details or being overwhelmed by unhelpful thoughts. These thoughts can then be internalised and enforced as a false reality.
Although it is easier said than done, try not to get caught up in overthinking. You will often find that the circulating thought hasn’t even crossed anyone else’s mind.
By letting yourself become distracted by these thoughts and ideas, you are preventing yourself from being present in the social situation. Instead of positively being involved and allowing the newly made connections to develop, you might actually prevent the positive experiences from unfolding.
Understand They Probably Feel The Same as You
The chances are that whatever emotions you are feeling, everyone else is probably feeling the same way. Instead of pushing your focus on internalising your worries, fears or anxieties, try and focus on what’s going on around you.
Adventure breaks are fantastic for the simple fact that they allow you to accomplish something in a supportive and safe environment. This will allow you to shift your focus away from your doubts and onto more productive tasks such as the shared activity.
Don’t Expect Things to Be Flawless
A factor that can often hold people up in social situations and steer them away from interacting with others is the fear of making a mistake or being laughed at.
As humans, it’s perfectly natural to make mistakes – often light-hearted mistakes make for entertaining antics that create memorable moments, break the ice and often make you more likeable.
Mistakes make you more relatable, and if they’re not positively noted, they are often very quickly forgotten.
Find a Common Interest
If you’re on an adventure break, or at any event for that matter, you have something in common with the people you are around, for example, if you’re on an adventure break, you and your group are all interested in either outdoor activities, conquering a new fear or challenging yourselves!
These hobbies provide a great foundation to find common ground, start some small talk and maybe even find a new friend!
Ask Questions and Share Information
Asking questions is a great way to show the other person in the conversation that you’re interested in what they have to say, but you should try to remember that it can be uncomfortable to keep sharing information about yourself when you know nothing about the other person.
When talking, mention bits here and there about yourself. It’s best not to offer too much information and overload the conversation to revolve around yourself but to find some sort of balance.
Don’t Try to Be Interesting
A lot of people worry about being boring. Being interesting doesn’t come from having a stash of stories and memories to share, it stems from being able to participate and hold an interesting conversation.
Interesting conversations are based on topics that interest the listeners, so there’s no need to talk too much if you don’t feel like you have much to share. All that matters is that you listen to the topic and try to share in bits of the conversation.
If you don’t have any interest in the conversation, then why not try and find something somewhat relevant to bring into the mix?
Here, we’ve suggested only a few tips you can use on your adventure break. If you use any others that we haven’t mentioned, why not share some on our social media channels? Visit our website to discover more about our safe and supportive activity centres.
by Joe WinfieldLooking After Your Mental Wellbeing as a Carer
Looking after your mental and physical wellbeing is essential as a carer. It may feel challenging because much of your time is devoted to caring for a loved one. However, it is beneficial for both you and the person you are looking after to treat yourself with appreciation.
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we provide outdoor adventure activities in Devon for people of all ages and abilities. We support and encourage all our guests in a safe environment in trying new experiences. In our blog, we offer our advice on the importance of taking the time to support your mental health.
Being Appreciative and Understanding Of Yourself
Understanding that you are only human is important in accepting that you can only do so much as one individual.
Acknowledge the things you can do to care for your loved one and try to identify areas where you could use some support.
It is also essential to not compare your responsibilities and feelings to other carers in a similar position. They are not you, and each circumstance will be different. Each situation will have its challenges that people outside of it may not know about or understand.
Finding Someone to Talk To
Having a listening ear that you genuinely trust can help significantly if you feel like you are struggling as a carer. The person you share your thoughts with might be another family member, a friend, or you may prefer to discuss your feelings with someone who is not familiar with your circumstances, such as a counsellor.
There is no right or wrong person to speak to, as long as you feel like you can open up to them. Talking through how you feel can help you to work out how to manage any difficult emotions. Sharing how much you do as a carer can also help others understand how they could offer additional support.
Talking might also relieve any feelings of isolation. With the responsibility of care on your shoulders, it can help you to change your perspective. If things feel like they are too much, you should try and speak to someone as soon as possible.
Making Time For Yourself
This can be hard if you feel overwhelmed by responsibilities as a carer, but it shouldn’t be overlooked. If you find that you don’t have sufficient time for yourself, working out how you can should be a priority.
One or two hours a day might help you to maintain your mental health at a healthy level. It can give you time to do something for yourself, such as exercising, socialising, or simply taking a relaxing bath. Small and consistent things to look forward to can be very uplifting as well as motivational.
Prioritising the Basics
Keeping on top of the basics is an essential part of managing your mental wellbeing. Ensuring you are getting the required amount of sleep, a healthy diet and enough exercise can all positively contribute.
Family time is an integral part of anyone’s life, and enjoying an activity holiday altogether can be just what you need. Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we provide accessible holidays for everyone to enjoy and ensure that all our guests are supported in our activities. Why not browse our site to discover more about the holidays we provide or speak to one of our team today for more information calling 01598 763221. You can also email receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk
by Joe WinfieldHow to Cope with Adventure Activity Anxiety
An adventure activity break is a fantastic way to learn more about yourself and challenge yourself with attainable goals while surrounded by a supportive and encouraging environment.
Feeling Anxious
If you are apprehensive about new experiences, booking your adventure holiday can feel like the first big step conquered. However, once you arrive at your adventure break, and you are about to try something new, anxiety can find a way to creep up on you once again.
For some, you may feel excited up until the point you are about to do the activity and then suddenly feel consumed by a feeling of nervousness that you haven’t experienced before or weren’t expecting.
How can you manage this sudden feeling, and what should you do if you are about to attempt your activity?
Here at Calvert Trust, we encourage people of all age groups and abilities to strive for their dreams during our accessible Devon activity breaks. We have plenty of experience with coaching guests through feelings of anxiety and want to share our top tips if you get caught out at the last minute!
For more information about anxiety and the signs, take a look at our blog below:
Accept Your Feelings
The first step is to accept the feeling. It may sound relatively simple, but acknowledging the unsettling feeling is constructive to help you manage it. It is important to remember that your feelings are entirely valid, and you shouldn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed of them.
When you feel secure enough to continue the activity, it will feel like an even more significant achievement for you to be proud of.
Let Someone Know How You Feel
Next, tell someone you trust how you are genuinely feeling. ‘A problem shared is a problem halved’, and being honest about your feelings can help you accept them. You might want to tell a family member enjoying your activity break with you, a friend or an activity instructor.
All of our activity instructors are here to support you; they’ll want to know how you feel so they know the best ways to help you during your stay.
Visualise a Positive Experience
If you can, take some time to visualise what you want to do. This will help you build a positive picture in your brain and encourage you to try the activity you may feel apprehensive about.
Try Breathing Exercises
If you feel incredibly overwhelmed, the NHS website recommends trying breathing exercises when you feel onset anxiety.
This will change your focus from the activity at hand and also help you to regulate your breathing. For more advice on breathing exercises to try, take a look at the NHS advice on their website.
Remind Yourself of the Importance of Being Active
A fundamental way to combat anxiety, in general, is to do physical activity. When you don’t feel like doing the activity at hand, this might not feel easy but trying to remind yourself that it will help lift your feelings can help motivate you to give the activity a go.
If your child is attending an activity break and needs extra encouragement before the trip, our advice on how to get your child excited for a residential trip may help!
We ensure each of our guests has a wonderful time during our activity breaks. We also encourage everyone to conquer their fears with the support of our friendly and qualified activity instructors.
If you are interested in finding out more about the adventure breaks we provide, why not contact us today? We would love to hear from you! Feel free to speak to one of our team by calling 01598 763221 or emailing receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk
by Joe WinfieldLooking to the Future: Life After Lockdown
It is undeniable that the past year has been challenging for everybody. While seeing friends and family again is something to look forward to, returning to life after lockdown is a daunting prospect for many.
After a year of self-isolation, closed shops and limited activities, getting back to the new normal of life after lockdown can pose a challenging time for some, especially if confidence has been lost over the past year.
Calvert Trust Exmoor is dedicated to helping those of all ages develop skills, build confidence and gain independence through accessible outdoor activities, exciting workshops and adventure breaks.
As we emerge from lockdown, we hope that these activities can once again help people to rebuild confidence and develop new skills. After an extended time of being encouraged to stay at home, our fun adventure activities offer an exciting way of making the most of outdoor spaces.
Read on to discover why accessible holidays in Devon are ideal for both individuals and families in the time after lockdown ends.
Rebuilding Confidence With Others
During the COVID-19 pandemic, we were encouraged to keep our socialisation to a minimum, often limited to interactions with parents and carers. While many of us were able to chat with friends via Zoom, the lack of physical contact with others has had an impact on some.
After a long time without regular interactions with our extended friendship groups or even strangers, the idea of returning to “normality” can bring up feelings of anxiety or concern.
Those who experience social anxiety or have difficulties communicating with others may feel like their confidence has been knocked after this time apart. Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, our goal is to bring people from all walks of life together and work to not only develop confidence, but to forge lasting friendships!
What better way to reacquaint yourself with others than while working together on exciting challenges?!
Accessibility
At Calvert Trust Exmoor, our unique experiences are fully accessible and can be tailored to suit your specific needs and concerns. Offering accessible accommodation for longer stays, our adventure breaks can help you to rebuild your self-esteem in talking and interacting with others in an environment that is supportive of your needs.
The Benefits of Nature
Calvert Trust Exmoor is based in the countryside near Exmoor National Park. The tranquil environment where our outdoor activities are based is quiet and away from the hustle and bustle of city life. The natural environment adds a calming air to our adventure breaks and helps to keep things relaxed and anxieties lowered.
Enjoying Adventure
Whether you’ve been self-isolating, shielding or working on the front line, we think every single person deserves a break after 2020! It’s always nice to get a change of scenery, but we are also aware of the challenges that finding an accessible holiday can bring.
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we offer a wide range of activities, both indoor and outdoor, suited to all abilities. Activities such as archery, canoeing, horse riding and bushcraft are led by our skilled and specially trained instructors, who can tailor these adventures to your abilities.
Calvert Trust Exmoor is accredited by the National Access Scheme, deeming it suitable for older and less mobile guests, wheelchair users, visually impaired guests and hearing impaired guests.
Reconnect With Friends and Family
An exciting aspect of life after lockdown will be the freedom to reconnect with friends and family again. There may be some loved ones that you haven’t seen this past year that you can’t wait to visit again!
A group holiday can be a fantastic way to reconnect with your friends or family and enjoy time together as a group. As an accessible activity centre, Calvert Trust Exmoor is able to cater to the requirements of any group – no matter the size or individual needs.
We’re all about having fun together, which means that age and ability don’t matter! We love to see groups with young and old, disabled or non-disabled members enjoying adventures together.
We welcome groups to stay for three, four or seven-night breaks, offering an exciting mix of outdoor activities that can be tailored to your group’s specific needs and wishes. After a busy day of fun, you can continue to enjoy each other’s company in a more relaxing way, by socialising in the communal areas, taking a dip in the swimming pool or spending time in the sensory room together.
Looking to the Future
Calvert Trust Exmoor will be reopening on the 25th of June 2021. If you would like to make a booking to reserve an activity break for once lockdown has been lifted, then please email receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk.
If you have any questions about the centre, the activities we offer and queries about specific accessibility needs, then please do not hesitate to get in touch. You can contact us by calling 01598 763221 or email receptionexmoor@calvert-trust.org.uk.
by Joe DaleEncouraging Your Child to Make Friends on an Activity Trip
Encouraging Your Child to Make Friends on an Activity Trip
There are many benefits of visiting an activity centre like ours, such as helping with anxiety or improving mental health. An activity break can also give your child a chance to make new friends, helping to improve their confidence in making friends elsewhere.
Talking to new people can be scary whatever your age, yet for many children connecting with others can be difficult or frightening, especially if they have disabilities. To help, here is our guide to encouraging your child to make friends on an activity trip…
Encourage them before travelling
It can often be beneficial to prepare your children for their trip, from helping them pack to talking about the exciting activities and fun games they’ll be doing.
You could also mention that other children will be there too, possibly doing activities in your group or sitting near you during meals.
You could then suggest that your child talks to the other children, or give them a positive goal, like to find out other people’s names.
Some children may be anxious about this idea, some may not understand the point, whilst others will look forward to it. Whatever your child’s reaction, listen to their response and give them gentle encouragement to interact with others.
Doing this before your arrival gives them time to process the information and be more prepared to communicate with others.
Work out some ‘opening lines’ together
It may be a good idea to practice saying hello in various ways, especially if you predict your child will need extra encouragement to make friends. To assist them further, try to create some opening lines or questions your child could use to start a conversation.
Examples could be ‘My name is- what is yours?’ or ‘I like your jumper’ or ‘What did you enjoy about today?‘
Practising and rehearsing social skills in a safe and warm environment will support your child by teaching social cues. Planning out what they could say can make them feel that bit more prepared to meet new people.
Lead by example and encourage them to follow
Once you have arrived for your activity break, strive to speak to others in a friendly manner so that your children can pick up on it and possibly follow your example.
You could even use the opening lines you created to show them how they can progress and add prompts for your children to contribute or carry on the conversation.
By modelling positive, friendly behaviours, you can guide your children to do the same.
Talk to them about feelings and encourage empathy
Parents can help children develop social skills during a short activity break by focusing on feelings and empathy, which will help build friendships.
Empathy is the ability to understand and share the thoughts and feelings of others. Developing feelings and empathy is a complex process that starts from birth and continues throughout our lives, but it is a key factor in making friends.
- Identify feelings, both positive and negative – It’s important to put a name to what your child might be feeling whenever you can. Saying something as simple as, ‘You seem happy/excited/joyful/upset/angry/scared‘ helps a child identify what they are feeling in themselves and can be all they to hear to express their emotions
- Identify feelings in others – In the same way, saying ‘That person seems happy/angry‘ helps children see emotions in others and allows them to identify with them. This can be developed further by using them as conversation starters.
Use feelings to start conversations
During an activity break, giving children prompts increases empathy and provides an opportunity to start a conversation, laying the groundwork for friendship.
For example: ‘They seem happy they did the activity, why don’t you say well done and ask them what they enjoyed the most?’ or ‘That child looks upset, perhaps they are scared of doing the activity. What would you say to them?‘
Likewise, questions related to negative feelings could also allow them to start a chat and connect.
If these prompts lead nowhere, that’s fine. It’s best to not force the situation further, instead make suggestions and allow the children to connect in their own way if they wish to.
Notice and praise caring behaviour
Whether with your prompts or not, make a point of praising your child when they show empathy and engage in a caring way.
You could say how proud you are when you see them being kind and thoughtful to others. State why it was positive behaviour and talk about how it might have made the other person feel.
Positive reinforcement will give them belief in themselves and motivate them to do it again, hopefully increasing the bond between children.
Other issues that children often struggle with are sharing and taking turns. Or they may have difficulty being in a team. When they get these things right, however, it will increase their social skills.
Adventure activities can often be a combination of group work and solo participation. So an activity break is a perfect opportunity to practise their sharing skills and general communication with others.
Here at Calvert Trust Exmoor, we have groups no bigger than 10 people, meaning it’s easy for children to talk to others and participate in group activities.
Highlight when and how they shared correctly or gave help to others. They may not have realised they’ve done something positive, so nice comments on how they behaved will support their future interactions.
Experts recommend providing immediate positive feedback, that’s kept brief and simple.
Encouraging your child to make friends on an activity trip – Summary
- Prepare them before the trip so they have time to process the fact other children will be there to talk to
- Practise greeting others and prepare some opening lines
- Lead by example and start conversations, aim to include your child
- Identify positive and negative feelings in other children
- Guide your child to relate to other people’s feelings and to use empathy to prompt them to start a conversation
- When you see your children exhibiting friendly or caring behaviours, such as sharing and taking turns, praise them – this encourages children to repeat the positive behaviours
Finally, parents shouldn’t place social expectations on children and force friendships to emerge from nowhere. They could make one or two good friends during their stay with no need to worry about them being the most popular kid on site.
With over 25 years of adventure breaks at Calvert Trust Exmoor, many children have come out of their shell and made new friends during their stay. Sometimes with help from the ideas above, and sometimes all on their own.
However your children make new friends on an activity trip, it is a magical moment that makes the stay even more worthwhile.
We welcome many families time and time again, on weekend and midweek breaks. They come for the activities and facilities, and also for the chance to meet new people. See more about our family breaks in Devon for additional information.
by Joe DaleHow to Keep Your Child Safe on a Residential Trip
Residential trips are an opportunity for children to learn, grow, and have fun. Yet for a parent, watching your child leave for a residential can be a daunting or worrying experience. Many parents wonder how their child will behave and will they be safe?
In this news piece, we hope to ease your worries with guidance on how to keep your child safe on a residential trip, even if you will not be by their side…
Learn about the residential
It’s essential to carefully plan for a residential, which starts with knowing all the details. Teachers or group leaders will be arranging the trip but parents, guardians or carers should be involved in several ways.
You could talk to the people planning the residential. Schools commonly hold pre-trip meetings to inform and take questions. If not, consider contacting them directly.
It can seem scary entrusting your children in someone else’s care. So knowing timings, travelling plans, locations and sleeping arrangements will settle your nerves. You can also inform the residential leaders of important information about your child to keep them safe and well.
Talk with your child about their trip
When you have all the details about the residential, you can pass it on to your child in a way they will understand. This helps them get excited whilst also contributing to their safety on the trip as they will be better prepared.
Talk them through where they are going, what they will be doing, and how days will be structured. Listen to any concerns they may have and add reassurance.
Perhaps your child is nervous or unsure about going? The more your child talks about it, the better they will feel. We have compiled some extra tips on how to get them excited for a residential trip.
Discuss safety and boundaries
Another area of discussion is what they must do to keep safe.
Talk to your child about the importance of staying with the group – close to their teacher, group leader or other authority figures, such as activity instructors.
It can be helpful to explain that a residential is fun and thrilling but that they still need to follow the same rules they follow when at home, at school or walking on the pavement.
It’s often beneficial to add extra boundaries unique to their residential. Examples could be emphasising that they must stay in the centre, or that they can’t use the activity facilities until told to by an instructor.
The more conversations you have, the better children will understand the rules, even though you won’t be there to supervise them.
Check out the location
If you know where the residential is taking place, why not spend time with your child looking at it online? Search for the location and see what comes up. There may be galleries on their website or good images on the search engine to go through.
If brochures or itineraries are available, you could go through them together to help get your child excited. Plus it gives you extra opportunities to establish the rules of the trip. If there are maps or plans of the grounds and accommodation, use them to set boundaries, showing where they can and cannot go.
Pack their bags as a team
Get your child involved in the packing of their bags. Since you both know what the residential involves, you can ensure they have everything needed for a good time whilst looking after themselves.
Depending on their age and abilities, kids can contribute in different ways. Let younger ones see what you are packing and explain why each item and piece of clothing is essential. They could then add fun and comforting extras, such as a toy, book or accessories.
Older children could pack their bags themselves, with supervision and guidance if needed. This teaches them to plan ahead, increases independence, and makes them think of their own wellbeing and safety.
Packing together reassures them, and you, that they have everything needed to feel prepared, safe and secure.
See our guide on things to pack for a residential trip.
Make them stand out
One more point about packing is to dress your children in brightly coloured clothes that stand out and avoid dark colours that will blend into surroundings. This will make them easy to see and remember in a crowd or against a natural backdrop.
The colour of their clothing is unlikely to be an issue during a Calvert Trust Exmoor visit, as activity groups are small and supervised by the same instructor throughout. But elsewhere on other residentials, it may be beneficial for their safety.
Make sure contact details are up to date
Confirm that the group leaders have your correct contact details before the residential. Provide one or two additional emergency numbers if you may not be reachable – just in case.
Have faith in risk assessments
Schools and residential leaders will have your child’s safety as their highest priority. They will conduct rigorous risk assessments for every activity and location, whether it be a day out or week away.
A risk assessment must be carried out for each residential, which will help teachers identify and remove any of the potential risks. Schools must adhere to set staffing to child ratios and will keep individual physical, medical, social and behavioural needs in mind before and during a residential.
Schools must also have an emergency response plan to follow if an accident or incident occurs during a trip.
Plus, residential centres have their unique risk assessments and safety procedures with trained staff and instructors who also have everyone’s safety as their highest priority.
Many sites are also audited or inspected by independent boards. For instance, here at Calvert Trust Exmoor we have…
- The Learning Outside the Classroom Quality Badge
- Five-star activity accommodation status awarded by Visit England
- Been certified by activity bodies such as British Canoeing, the British Horse Society, and more
Residential breaks at Calvert Trust Exmoor
At our activity centre we welcome children of all ages and specialise in accessible breaks for people with physical, learning, sensory or behavioural disabilities. Our residential breaks are based at our remote centre in North Devon, meaning the group stays safely inside the grounds away from busy roads.
The stay will include activities throughout the day, then access to group swimming sessions, the sensory room, and social areas in the evening. Activities, accommodation, meals and facilities are all on-site and included in the costs.
Wherever they are visiting, keeping your child safe on a residential break starts with good communication and ensuring children understand what they should and should not do to keep themselves safe. The residential leaders and centre staff will take it from there to make sure everyone has a wonderful break.
by Joe DaleNational Lottery Funding of £96,000
Calvert Trust Exmoor has secured £96,000 of National Lottery Funding!
The National Lottery Fund has awarded the money after a lengthy application process and it will be used to help the Trust stay open into 2021 after a devastating 2020.
The centre first closed when the pandemic hit in March and has remained shut apart from a few weeks in the autumn months before the latest Covid lockdown and tier restrictions.
Since the coronavirus crisis started the charity has restructured, sadly made redundancies, placed staff on furlough and received funding from Government grants, banks and from supporters’ donations – just to get by.
The latest boost from the National Lottery was for just over £96,000 and came courtesy of the National Lottery Community Support Fund.
We expect the grant to see us through the winter months before doors can hopefully start opening in 2021 to celebrate our 25th anniversary.
Even then, however, capacity is expected to remain reduced due to coronavirus restrictions and, with a waiting list of pre-paid visitors from 2020, next year is expected to be similarly challenging.
Andrew Laming, Centre Director, says…
“Our guests and clients who would normally be making genuinely lifelong memories during the spring and summer were left isolated. For many of our guests, the lockdown proved really difficult and they could not wait to return for another visit.
“Some enjoyed a short window of opportunity but now as we enter the grip of winter, schools are still banned from residentials and there is potential for yet further restrictions.
“With the charity shut for most of the spring and summer, we were unable to build up the reserves we need to help survive the continued uncertainty that faces our whole community.
“So the support from the National Lottery Community Support Fund is timely and invaluable. The staff and all the visitors of Calvert Trust Exmoor want to thank the public and the National Lottery for all the support that they give.
“Even in normal times, it is because of support like this that Calvert Trust Exmoor can exist at all. It enables memories to be made and we look forward to welcoming our friends and families back.
“The major concern is about what might happen in 2021. Calvert’s Community Endurance Project together with support from others has raised enough money to enable us to endure the hard winter months and we must look forward to next year with fresh optimism.”
It is predicted that an additional £500,000 needs to be raised to survive 2021 and beyond, due to the amounts lost in bookings because of lockdown closures.
If you are able to support the charity please go to our donate page…
Our thanks to all those who have supported and donated in 2020, and to the National Lottery Support Fund for their grant.