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YMCA National Centre, Lakeside - hidden within 400 acres of private woodland along the south western shores of Lake Windermere.
As a centre of excellence in outdoor learning we’ve been here for more than 60 years and in that time, we’ve helped more than a million young people to build a better future.
Today, we’re one of the largest outdoor activity centres in Europe, delivering top quality outdoor learning from, in our opinion, the best location you could ask for.
Land Based Activities
Archery
What does the activity involve?
Learning basic archery skills in the outdoors and an introduction to using bows and arrows. Once the group has learned the basics there is opportunity for competitions and games.
What are the aims of this activity?
Personal skill development, potential for peer coaching and an opportunity to learn a new skill.
Bush Craft
What does the activity involve?
Use a wide range of outdoor skills including choosing a suitable site, building shelters, starting fires for cooking and warmth, preparing and cooking food, games and developing independence. Can include sleeping out; see Bivi.
What are the aims of this activity?
Bush Craft includes a mixture of activities including bush-craft, shelter building, bivi skills, fire lighting and outdoor food preparation and cooking. This requires both team and personal organisation. It provides a sense of achievement and an experience in an outdoor environment.
Orienteering
What does the activity involve?
Orienteering is 'cunning running'. It marries both running (or walking if you are feeling less energetic!) and navigation skills. Participants use maps to visit specific control points. Learn the skills then compete or work together to get as many controls in a set time.
What are the aims of this activity?
Introduce and develop the use of maps and navigation skills. A fun way to develop self-reliance, fitness and running skills across a variety of terrain and get to know the site.
Pioneering
What does the activity involve?
Learning and applying the basic skills necessary to build structures such as trebuchets and bridges. This develops the skills needed for raft building and is ideal programmed coupled together into a 3 hour activity.
What are the aims of this activity?
To teach knot tying skills to produce an end product whilst working as a team.
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By RoadThe southern Lake District is conveniently linked to the M6 motorway. To find Lakeside, leave the M6 at Junction 36 and follow the A590 which is sign-posted Barrow-in- Furness. Approximately 18 miles after leaving the motorway you will reach the Newby Bridge roundabout. Continue through the roundabout on the A590 and turn first right over a bridge and past the Swan Hotel. Lakeside is sign-posted three and a half miles along this road on the right. The Main entrance is based at North Camp which is the second turning after South Camp. By RailSouth Lakeland is linked to all mainline services. The nearest station is at Grange-Over-Sands which is connected with the stations of Lancaster and Carnforth on the West Coast Line making it an easy destination from London, Scotland, or continental Europe. It is also possible to reach Lakeside from the east of Britain by taking the picturesque Leeds to Lancaster line that also connects at Carnforth. From Grange-Over-Sands station, road transport to Lakeside is required.The nearest railway station is Grange-over-Sands, which is 8 miles away.
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Cumbria Tourism, Windermere Road, Staveley, Kendal, Cumbria, LA8 9PL