Fruitful times

It has been a troubled year, but seasons still come and go.

We are still in strange times and things haven't really got back to normal - though seasons come and go just as they always did. Our apple trees are dropping their fruit as always and Trev and Keith toil each week clearing them from the carpark and the orchard grass. Some are picked by staff for fruit pies or crumbles, many are pecked and nibbled at by birds and insects. But what it tells us, is that winter is on its way.

Autumn and winter provides a great mix of groups at Skern Lodge, all looking for a variety of different programmes and courses for our staff to deliver. Schools at this time of year, also come with a different focus. Unlike the Year 6 farewells or the after SATS celebration, schools during this term are focussed on developing resilience and wellbeing, also linking some of their curriculum or current topics into their activity programmes.

Instructors have great fun delivering sessions on a range of topics from polar explorers to Vikings or Egyptians. Whatever your topic we enjoy designing a programme with you that encompasses this into your stay or day, providing countless memories for you to draw upon, back in the classroom.

A mix of exciting outdoor activities can bring your topics to life.

One of the great advantages of attending during the winter is we have more opportunities to offer a one or two night residential, that are not viable during the busy summer months.

The benefits to coming away in the winter have been well studied and you can read some of the many paybacks here or on the learning away website.

Of course one of the main benefits is affordability. Once you come out of those high demand busy months, prices fall dramatically throughout the outdoor residential industry. Unlike Skern Lodge, many centres close for the winter months so although demand is lower, spaces across the sector are limited.

"But what about the weather and the earlier nights?", are some of the first responses we get when we talk about winter residential opportunities. Well, it's true nobody likes cold wet days, but cold days wouldn't stop you playing out in the snow and wet days can be repelled with a good waterproof, just like in the summer. Remember your warm centrally heated accommodation is never that far away. And those early dark nights? Well they are a bonus. How about an evening session of astronomy, discovering about the planets and stars in the sky, or a gathering around a campfire singing songs whilst watching the flames flicker and dance against a black backdrop. Night walks, are actually, night walks!

Our dark skies activity comes alive on a winter residential

We are already looking ahead to a great end to a year, that didn't allow us to see our first residential school until the 17th May, with groups wanting to get back to some normality and aiming to address some of those wellbeing and confidence issues that lockdown created. We're currently seeing our bookings calendar rolling out to the 17th December. So knowing that we are open and operational throughout the winter, what's stopping you, get in touch today.

We are not just talking about 2021, a new year, and a new you could be true too. January and February are great times to get outdoors and refocus your students after the Christmas break. Our winter residential offers run till the end of February providing you with plenty of opportunity to take advantage of a one or two night residential.

So as the clocks prepare to be turned back, for what could possibly be the last time, dig out those mittens or gloves, find that bobble hat and scarf, put on that warm jacket and let's get outside and be adventurous!