Ta Ellan Vannin cur failt errui
(Welcome to the Isle of Man)
The Venture Centre is based in rolling countryside in the North of the Isle of Man situated right in the middle of the Irish sea, easily accessible by ferry and plane from most areas of the U.K. We are situated in a quiet part of the Isle of Man, 5 minutes walk away from seculded beaches and have scenic clifftop walks 10 minutes away from our site.
Our site is based in the converted farm buildings of Lewaigue Farm Camp and is split into 2 facilities, north and south camp. Each facility has its own games room, childrens and teachers rooms and can accommodate 70 people allowing larger group to have sole use of their own accommodation block. All of the bedrooms are en-suite and childrens room sizes range from six to twelve beds per room.
The Venture Centre buildings are set in an area of woodland bordering rolling farm land. On the site there are many activities including; woodland bushcraft areas, archery, an assault course including monkey bars and rope swings over a (shallow) river, abseil platforms high up in the tress and a high ropes course and large zip line, all making use of the fantastic location.
Most of our watersports take place on our shallow sheltered lake, offering the perfect place to try kayaking, canoeing, dinghy sailing and raft building. For older groups we use various local coastal locations for sit on top sea kayaking and coasteering. All of our activity locations are within a 10 minute minibus journey of the centre meaning more time spent on activities and less time spent travelling to them.
We have been delivering courses to schools groups for over 30 years and in that time have run courses for over 40 000 young people. We provide the ideal location for all school visits making a balance between adventure experiences and educational value.
Our aim is to provide children with the experiences of a wide variety of activities. This not only gives them an insight into activities that they may wish to develop in the future but also gives them a variety of life experiences that help to build self confidence, communication and organisational skills.
We also realise the value of the shared residential experience in the development of young people helping them to develop independence and social skills which they can carry forward into future life and the transition into secondary school.
Whilst we encourage all children to do their best the small achievements of the quieter and less confident children are just as important to us as the achievements of the more able and more confident.
Our large range of activities gives your children a wide variety of developmental experiences, for example kayaking allows young people to work independently developing self confidence and a sense of personal achievement coupled with the physical skills of actually paddling their own kayak. Canoeing allows young people to work in small team of 2 -3 learning how to rely on each other and be part of a small team, how to deal with success and in some cases failure. Whilst through raft building and racing the children work as part of larger team and realise the results of their combined efforts. This ethos of personal development through outdoor adventure is carried through all our activities.
In addition to our courses for school groups we provide national governing body courses in Canoeing, kayaking, sailing, power boating and are approved by the , Royal Yachting Association RYA, BAPA.
The centre managers Michael and Simon Read are actively involved in all aspects of the centres’ operations this means that we maintain a high level of flexibility and personal involvement so we can ensure your stay with us runs as smoothly as possible.
For each of our activities we have full risk assessment, operational procedures and learning objectives in place please click here for our up to date learning outcomes . All our staff are fully trained in the activities they deliver and undergo enhanced checks prior to starting employment with us. We are keen to ensure our courses fulfil the exact requirements for your group.
For groups that have not visited us previously we offer familiarisation visits for group leaders including assistance with ferry and accommodation costs.
We will draw up a suggested activity programme based on the age of your students, length of visit and any prior experiences your group may have had. All programmes are subject to alteration due to extenuating circumstances
Prices 2023
October 2022 - 7th April 2023 £70 plus VAT per 24 hours
11th April - 12th May 2023 £75 plus VAT per 24 hours
12th May - 14th July 2023 £88 plus VAT per 24 hours
Prices do not inlcude ferry fare
We anticipate ferry to be approx £27 per child , £54 adult but please contact the steam packet company for exact prices
We pride ourselves on offering flexible programmes to suit your group. Activities can be chosen from our wide range and cultural visits can be arranged to areas of interest around the Island. Contact us to discuss your requirements and we will work with you to create a programme to suit your group.
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a.m. |
p.m. |
Eve |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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Monday |
Travel to Isle of Man via ferry or flight |
Intro to centre Fire drills |
Coastal walk |
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Tuesday |
Kayaking and Canoeing |
Gorge Walking |
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Wednesday |
Climbing |
High Ropes Course |
Wide game |
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Thursday |
Bushcraft Skills |
Campfires Cook own lunch |
Coasteering
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Archery |
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Friday |
Operation Phoenix Team Challenge Competition |
Depart for ferry or flight |
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|
a.m. |
p.m. |
Eve |
|
|---|---|---|---|
|
Monday |
Travel to Isle of Man by ferry or flight |
Introduction to centre Fire drills |
Coastal walk |
|
Tuesday |
Raft Building and Racing |
Kayaking and Canoeing |
|
|
Wednesday |
Abseiling and Climbing |
Gorge Walking |
Wide game |
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Thursday |
Cook own lunch |
Assault Course |
Archery |
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Friday |
Operation Phoenix Team |
Depart for ferry or flight |
By ferry from either Heysham or Liverpool.
For departures from other locations please contact us for a quote.
Prices include
* All prices are plus VAT
Monday 20th - Friday 24th March £230 plus VAT per child
Monday 27th - Friday 30th March £230 plus VAT per child
Monday 3rd April - Thursday 6th April £225 plus VAt per child
Tuesday 4th - Thursday 6th April £170 plus VAT per child
Monday 24th April - Monday 15th May 2023
Tuesday 2nd May –Friday 5th May £245 plus VAT per child
Wednesday - Friday visits
Wednesday 15th – Friday 17th March £125 plus VAT per child
Wednesday 22nd – Friday 24th March £125 plus VAT per child
Wednesday 5th (Tynwald day ) – Friday 7th July £185 plus VAT per child
Wednesday 12th – Friday 14th July £185 plus VAT per child
Wednesday 19th July – Friday 21st July £155 plus VAT per child
Tuesday 30th May – Thursday 1st June £170 plus VAT per child
Monday - Friday £315 plus VAT per child
Peak season Monday 15th May - Friday 21st July 2023
Monday 22nd May - wednesday 24th May £175 plus VAT per child
and
Wednesday 24th - Friday 26th May £175 plus VAT per child
Monday – Friday £360 plus VAT per child
Tuesday 30th May - Wednesday 31st May 2023 £120 plus VAt per child
Tuesday 30th May - Thursday 1st June 2023 £170 plus Vat per child
Wednesday 12th July - Friday 14th July 2023 £185 plus VAT per child
September 2023 - November 2023
Monday - Friday £270 plus VAT per child
Monday - Friday peak season 11.15 ex Liverpool on Monday - 15.00 ferry to Liverpool on Friday £352 ,plus VAt per child plus ferry cost fo approx £30 per child £60 per adult
Wednesday 20th depart from Liverpool at 19.15 arrive Isle of Man 22.00 and going home Friday 22nd September 15.00 arriving Liverpool 17.45 £110 plus VAT per child for the stay at the centre plus ferry cost of approx £28 per child £50 per adult (we are awaiting confirmation of prices and ferry schedule).
Summer 2023 availability
Tuesday 9th May 19.15 ex Liverpool – Friday 12th May 15.00 to Liverpool £187.50 plus Vat per child
Monday 15th May 11.15 ex Liverpool – Friday 19th May 15.00 to Liverpool £352 per child plus Vat
Tuesday 13th June 14.00 ex Liverpool – Friday 16th June 15.00 to Liverpool Max 30 children £264 plus VAT per child
Monday 10th July 11.30 ex Liverpool – Friday 14th July 15.30 to Liverpool Max 25 children £352 per child plus VAT
Tuesday 5 th September 11.30 ex Liverpool – Friday 8th Sept 15.00 to Liverpool £280 per child plus VAT
Monday 11th September 11.15 ex Liverpool – Wednesday 13th September 15.00 to Liverpool £140 plus VAT per child
Monday 18th September 19.15 ex Liverpool – Friday 22nd Sept 15.00 to Liverpool £280 per child plus VAT
Wednesday 20th September 19.15 ex Liverpool - Friday 22nd Sept 15.00 to Liverpool £110 plus Vat per child
Wednesday 27th September 19.15 ex Liverpool - Friday 29th September 15.00 to Liverpool £105 per child plus VAT
Monday 25th September 19.15 ex Liverpool – Friday 29th September 15.00 to Liverpool Maximum 30 children £245 plus VAT per child
Subject to confirmation of ferry
Monday June 14.15 ex Heysham – Friday 08.45 to Heysham £308 plus VAT
Monday June 14.15 ex Heysham – Friday June 19.45 to Heysham £352 plus VAT
Monday June 11.15 ex Liverpool – Friday June 07.30 to Liverpool £308 plus VAT
Monday June 11.15 ex Liverpool- Friday June 15.30 to Liverpool £352 plus VAT
Prices are plus ferry cost of approx £30 per child £60 per adult
Peak season 15th May - 14th July 2023
Monday 14.15 ex Heysham – Friday 08.45 to Heysham £308 plus VAT
Monday14.15 ex Heysham – Friday to Heysham 19.45 to Heysham £352 plus vat
Plus Ferry cost of approx £30 per child £60 per adult
TT week special
Sunday 4th June 14.15 ex Heysham - Thursday 8th June 08.45 to Heysham
Tuesday 6th June 14.15 ex heysham - Friday 9th June 08.45 or 20.30 to Heysham
£120 per adult
All prices plus VAT and subject to confimration of ferry schedule.
All ferry prices are approximate and based on a 10 % increase on 2022 prices
September / October 2023
Monday 14.15 ex heysham - Friday 08.45 to Heysham £240 pus VAT per child plus ferry
Peak season 15th May - 14th July 2023
Monday 14.15 ex Heysham – Friday 08.45 to Heysham £308 plus VAT
Monday14.15 ex Heysham – Friday to Heysham 19.45 to hesyham £352 plus vat
Monday 11.15 ex Liverpool – Friday 07.30 to Liverpool £308 plus vat
Monday 11.15 ex Liverpool- Friday 15.00 to Liverpool £352 plus vat
Plus Ferry cost of approx £30 per child £60 per adult
TT week special
Sunday 4th June 14.15 ex Heysham - Thursday 8th June 08.45 to Heysham
Tuesday 6th June 14.15 ex heysham - Friday 9th June 08.45 or 20.30 to Heysham
£120 per adult
All prices plus VAT and subject to confimration of ferry schedule.
All ferry prices are approximate and based on a 10 % increase on 2022 prices
September / October 2023
Monday 14.15 ex heysham - Friday 19.45 to Heysham £240 pus VAT per child plus ferry
Below are some Helpful documents to make planning your trip a more simple process
TheVenture centre
Parents Information Pack
Introduction to the Venture Centre
Thank you for considering our centre as a venue for your child’s activity holiday. Our, family run, centre has been in operation since 1982 and in that time has run courses for thousands of young people from both on and off the Island. Our activity programmes are tried and tested and ideally suited to young people who want to do something different and more challenging.
About the Venture Centre
The Venture Centre was in it’s earlier years part of a very large farm and in converting it into sleeping and eating accommodation we have tried to preserve its real character. The centre's office and shop used to be the dairy. The dormitories, former milking parlours, provide sleeping accommodation in bunk beds. There are toilets and wash basins adjacent. Group leaders’ accommodation is in separate rooms. An additional block contains showers. The heavily timbered dining area and open plan kitchen was the ground floor of the grinding mill while the upper floor became the recreational room.
Several outbuildings and a massive Dutch barn complete the list of buildings.
Drying facilities (spinners and tumble dryers) are conveniently located so that wet kit can be dried immediately after wet activities. The glen to the north side contains the centre's purpose built assault course. Archery and orienteering take place on fields next to the centre.
If you wish to have a look around our centre prior to your child’s visit just phone us on 814240 to arrange a suitable time and date.
Our staff organise a morning, afternoon and evening activity session for your group. The centre staff are responsible for the supervision of the children during activity sessions. Outside activity sessions responsibility for supervision is with the visiting teachers.
Bed times will be at the discretion of the visiting groups however we expect lights out and quiet by 10.30 p.m. Your group’s programme will be taken from the following list of activities:-
Orienteering, archery, air rifle shooting, assault course, coastal walk, abseiling, climbing, canoeing, crate stacking, kayaking, coastal walk, high ropes course, sailing, stand up paddle boards, raft building, team building exercises, wide game, aerial runway and orienteering, ropes course, bushcraft skills, gorge walking, coasteering. Final programme will be agreed with your group leaders prior to the visit.
Our aim is maximum participation in each activity by all young persons with encouragement and help in a sympathetic manner from our instructors.
All programmes are subject to suitable weather and other safety considerations.
We reserve the right to alter activity programmes where we consider this to be necessary.
Check out our website www.venturecentre.im
Safety
Safety is our main priority. Throughout all our activity programmes we adhere to strict safety guidelines. The centre is annually inspected by the British Activity Providers Association and The Royal Yachting Association Learning Outside the Classroom, Adventuremark In addition we have our own operating procedures and risk assessments which are available for inspection.
We are approved by the Isle of Man Department of Education.
All introductory paddlesports activities take place on The Mooragh Park Lake a fully enclosed 12-acre seawater lake. The maximum depth of the lake is 1.5 metres and it is not possible to be more than 70 metres from the bank.
We allow non-swimmers to participate in water based activities if they are water confident.
Group leaders are responsible for the supervision of any non participants and for their group outside activity sessions.
As safety is our main priority where we consider that a young person may be causing a danger to themselves or others their parents or guardians will be contacted to collect them at their own expense.
All our instructional staff undergo a police check DBS check and a full induction/familiarisation course.
Fire drills take place before the first night at the centre where this is considered practical.
A qualified 1st Aider is on call on site whenever persons are resident at the centre. Instructors carry first aid kits when off site.
Risk Assessments
Risk assessments are produced for all our activity sessions. These are available by request.
Telephone
Under no circumstances should young persons bring mobile phones to the centre.
If it is urgent and you wish to speak to member of staff about your child you can ring at meal times (5.30 p.m.- 6.30 p.m.) and a member of staff may be available to speak to you.
We politely request that parents do not just turn up at the centre to speak to their children.
Meals
Breakfast A cooked breakfast e.g. cereals, sausage and baked beans, toast and jam/marmalade
Tea, coffee or squash.
Lunch Sandwiches with a choice of filling, a piece of fruit, biscuits and a drink of squash. Children may also cook their own lunch on a camp fire.
Evening meal A substantial evening meal ( e.g fish chips peas, pasta bolognaise, barb que , baked potatoes and assorted toppings, chicken curry and rice)
Please let us know on the medical form of any food your child is unable to eat or any other dietary requirements.
Vegetarian options are available with prior notice.
National Curriculum
All courses cover the requirements of the National Curriculum with regard to outdoor and adventurous activities.
Medical Information
Personal and medical information of all visitors must be made accessible to Venture Centre staff. Our attention should be drawn to any potential problems in advance of the visit. If your child has any unusual requirements please let your group leaders know and phone us at The Venture Centre.
Valuables
These should not be brought to the centre. We recommend a maximum of £2 per day for pocket money and suggest that group leaders take charge of pocket money. There is a tuck shop on site selling sweets, drinks and small souvenirs.
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01624 814240
contact@adventure-centre.co.uk