Outdoor Education

At Hazlegrove, we seize every opportunity to immerse ourselves in nature's classroom, from crafting paper boats for puddle sailing on rainy days to embarking on thrilling scavenger hunts and wide games in the summer term. Outdoor Education builds on the PrePrep Forest School sessions and is an integral part of our curriculum for pupils in Years 3, 4, and 5. Beyond the classroom, our older pupils embark on exhilarating residential trips that build upon the skills they've acquired.

Year 3 pupils relish exploring and bug-hunting in the school grounds, while Year 4 eagerly anticipate their night under canvas during the annual campout. Year 5 pupils embark on a four-night adventure at Naturesbase in Wales, immersing themselves in the natural world. Year 7 pupils, on the other hand, embark on a week-long expedition to the River Dart Activity Centre, where they tackle new challenges and forge lasting memories. Our Year 8 leavers enjoy a memorable camping trip to Cornwall, giving surfing and coasteering a try and celebrating their journey at Hazlegrove.

Outdoor Education sessions begin in the Lower School, where one afternoon a week is dedicated to a wide range of activities. From nurturing our school farm and caring for the rabbits and guinea pigs to mastering navigation, map reading, and capturing the beauty of nature through photography, our pupils revel in these opportunities to be in the great outdoors. We also have a wonderful Outdoor Classroom that takes the children outdoors for a wide variety of activities and studies, including choir and poetry!

Year 5 pupils take part in an amazing carousel of activities on Saturday mornings, including archery, orienteering, natural navigation, and putting up tents and shelters.

 As the year concludes, our Lower School pupils come together for campfires and outdoor cooking during the campouts and cook-out. Year 4 children learn to set up their own tents, prepare their supper on Trangia stoves, and experience the thrill of sleeping under canvas within the school grounds.

Here at Hazlegrove, we take immense pride in our remarkable surroundings and aim to instil a deep appreciation for the great outdoors in all our students. Our Outdoor Education programmes are not only enriching but also great fun, fostering a lifelong love for nature.

For our Year 7 pupils seeking a challenge, the Exmoor Challenge awaits. This annual event takes place on the Saturday of the first May Bank Holiday weekend. Pupils form teams of four and embark on a 16-mile adventure across Exmoor, following a prescribed route. This route is unmarked, adding an element of navigation and strategy to the challenge. Along the way, they must arrive at checkpoints at specified times and answer quiz questions, putting their skills to the test.

Hazlegrove pupils have achieved remarkable success in the Junior sections of this competition in recent years, showcasing their resilience, teamwork, and outdoor prowess.