Lakeside YMCA - Walking

About

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.

Bivi: Walking

What does the activity involve?
Pack and prepare on site before going on a short local fell walk to the bivi location. The group is taught some basic outdoor skills and must choose a suitable site to build their shelters and prepare their food. There is often an opportunity for games or reflection time in the evening before sleeping out. In the morning the group eat breakfast, break camp and walk back to the centre for clean up.

What are the aims of this activity?
Have an overnight experience in the outdoor environment promoting independence, self-resilience and personal challenge. This requires both team and personal organisation and provides a sense of achievement.

Earth Walk

What does the activity involve?
Explore the environment using the sense of smell, touch, sight and hearing in a fun way. Experience the natural world from a different perspective.

What are the aims of this activity?
To raise participants’ awareness of the environment around them in a novel and innovative way. Develop teamwork, communication and share more spiritual experiences.

Fell Walk

What does the activity involve?
The activity involves low level walking (in and around the centre). This can incorporate navigation, journey skills, decision making, teamwork and commitment. This often allows groups the opportunity to learn more about the environment and local area.

What are the aims of this activity?
Fell walking is an enjoyable activity in its own right. Participants can appreciate the natural beauty of the locality, the local views along with environmental and local history. This can be combined with environmental objectives.

Mountain Day (Summer)

What does the activity involve?
Transport will be needed to explore on foot the mountain fells & paths of the Lake District National Park. Experience some of the most magnificent scenery in the country and learn about the natural environment. Challenge can be tailored to the group, a full mountain or two for an able group or smaller fells and lowland walks for younger participants or just those who would like a more relaxed day.

What are the aims of this activity?
To provide an ideal environment for adventure and discovery. Opportunities exist for personal and group challenges as well as acquiring and developing skills such as navigation. The mountain environment offers many possibilities for environmental learning or simply enjoying the peace away from today's hectic pace of life.

Mountain Day (Winter)

What does the activity involve?
Transportation will be needed to explore on foot the mountain fells & paths of the Lake District National Park. The presence of snow and ice, often stronger winds, colder temperatures and shorter days than in the summer add an extra piquant of beauty, ruggedness and challenge to the mountain experience.

What are the aims of this activity?
A personally rewarding and challenging activity that develops a high degree of communication, teamwork skills and risk assessment. Builds self-esteem and sense of achievement.

Mountain Expedition

What does the activity involve?
An adventure in the mountain environment. Walk with a full expedition rucksack with everything you need. Travel through or over the mountains and have at least one night sleeping out in a tent with no one else for miles around. Expeditions are typically only one or two nights but can be longer if specified.

What are the aims of this activity?
There is a great sense of adventure, challenge and achievement as well as learning about the mountain environment and providing opportunity for emotional and spiritual highs and lows.

Cookout

What does this activity involve?
A cookout can be incorporated as part of a whole day outing being completed by land (walking), water (group canoe) or both (i.e. group canoe one way and walk the other). As well as the opportunity to experience a day in the great outdoors, the group will cook a hot meal using tranjias either for their lunch or as their evening meal depending on when the activity takes place.

What are the aims of this activity?
Cookouts include outdoor food preparation and cooking whilst raising participant’s awareness of the environment and local area. This requires both team and personal organisation whilst providing a sense of achievement and an experience in an outdoor environment.