The Youth Adventure Programme is a series of adventure camps and day activities which take place over 3 years, from Year 7 to Year 9. Each day or camp will have different activities so you’ll get to try lots of different things, from caving, canoeing and climbing to archery, sailing and circus skills. The camps are completely free of charge and you won’t need any special kit or equipment to take part. The activities are designed to be fun and also help you to challenge yourself and learn about working in a team.
There will be up to 40 young people on your Youth Adventure Programme who will all come from different schools and groups across Swindon and Wiltshire. The same young people will be on all of your trips, so once you’ve met them at the first one, you’ll know everyone for the rest of the programme. You’ll be in a different activity group for each of the camps with around 9 other young people. There’ll also be 3 Mitchemp Trust volunteer staff with you, and an activity instructor, who will be qualified and experienced in the activity you are doing.
- NO COST: It’s free – you won’t have to pay anything or need any special kit to take part.
- TRAVEL: We’ll pick you up in a coach from a school near to where you live and take you to the camp. We’ll send you a letter before the trip to tell you where and what time you’ll need to meet the coach.
- KIT LIST: We’ll also send you a list of what you need to bring with you, but don’t worry, you don’t need any special clothes or kit to take part. Just make sure you bring old clothes and plenty of pairs of socks! You can also see a copy of the kit list in our Documents section. View the Kit list here.
- CONTACT DETAILS: Don’t forget to tell us if your address or telephone number change, or if there’s anything else you’d like to let us know - get in touch through the Contact Us page.
Explore Day [Map]
The Explore Day is the first part of your Youth Adventure Programme and it will be on a Saturday or Sunday in May while you’re in Year 7. It’s a chance for you to try a few activities and meet other young people and Mitchemp Trust volunteer staff. We’ll spend the day at an outdoor activity centre called Mill on the Brue and have a go at tunnelling, grass tobogganing and other team challenges. Mill on the Brue isn’t far from Wiltshire; just over the boarder into Somerset, so it won’t take too long to get there.
We’ll pick you up from near where you live and all travel together on a coach. All you’ll need to bring with you is a packed lunch and a change of clothes.
Mountain Camp [Map]
The Mountain Camp is the first camp in your Youth Adventure Programme. It’ll be for 6 days in August in the summer holidays between Year 7 and Year 8 at school. We’ll travel together on a coach to Plas Pencelli which is in the Brecon Beacons in Wales. The camp is a chance to get to know the other young people and experience being away from home, staying in a tent and adventuring in the outdoors. The activities include canoeing, caving, adventure walking and climbing, plus circus skills and team games.
You’ll have the chance to challenge yourself and set your own goals, as well as lots of team work activities. You’ll start work on your Record of Achievement and begin to develop new skills and build self confidence.
You don’t need to bring any special kit or equipment for the camp as we’ll have everything you need; from your tent and sleeping bag to waterproof clothing and wellies. We’ll send you a clothing kit list nearer the time or you can have a look at the Kit List here .
Activity day
In between the Mountain and Coastal Camps we’ll be running some Activity Days in the October half term, February half term and Easter holidays. There’ll be things like art, dance or woodland adventures to choose from.
These activities will all take place in Wiltshire and we’ll provide transport to make sure you can get there.
Coastal Camp [Map ]
The second camp in your Youth Adventure Programme is the Coastal Camp which will be in the half term holiday at the end of May/beginning of June when you’re in Year 8 at school. We’ll spend 3 days camping on Brownsea Island which just off the coast of Poole in Dorset.
You’ll meet up with the same group of young people and have the chance to try out sailing, windsurfing, kayaking and raft building as well as team games and challenges. You’ll be able to keep building your self confidence and team work skills.
We’ll make sure you’ve got all the equipment you need for the camp, including a tent, sleeping bag, waterproof clothing and of course all the safety kit you need. You’ll just need to bring plenty of changes of clothes and some spare trainers. We’ll send you a clothing kit list nearer the time or you can have a look at the Kit List here .
Forest camp [Map ]
The last camp in your Youth Adventure Programme is the Forest Camp which will be in the summer holidays inbetween Year 8 and Year 9. We’ll camp in the New Forest for 6 days and you’ll have the chance to try lots of different activities including archery, mountain biking and ropes challenge courses as well as building your own shelter and cooking over a campfire.
This camp is aimed at developing your independence and learning about taking responsibility, as well as having fun in the outdoors. You’ll need to work together and support your team mates to make sure you get the most from the experience.
All you’ll need to bring is the clothing from your Kit List as we’ll have everything else you need for the camp.
Pathway day [Map ]
The last part of your Youth Adventure Programme are the Pathway Days which will be when you’re in Year 9 at school. These are 3 different activity days which will be in the October half term, Easter holidays and at a weekend day in June.
As well as meeting up with the other young people from your course again and having a go at some activities you’ll have the chance to find out about other organisations and activities going on in your local area in case you’d like to get involved in them after your Mitchemp Trust programme has ended.