Welcome to Faringdon Community

College

Thank you all for coming this evening; the purpose

of which is to give you some information about the Year 8 & 9 Residential visit

to La Beaume.

It will include information on the following: Acorn Adventure

Dates

Address & telephone

Staffing

Accommodation

Finance

Travel

Safety

Activities

Valuables

Discipline

Smoking & Alcohol

Food

Health

Clothing

Welcome to Acorn Adventure

What else do we do? Family Holidays

Fantastic activity & skiing holidays for all the family

Ski Skiing and snowboarding trips to Italy,

France, Austria, Canada & the USA

Encounters Europe Educational tours for schools & youth groups

India Activity trips whilst experiencing the

magic of India!

theschooltravelcompany.com School trips the easy way!

Acorn Venture Ltd. Started in 1982 by a teacher, to give children a

unique, life-changing and educational experience

The UK’s largest independent school travel company

The UK’s biggest provider of adventure camps for schools and groups

Eight centres in five countries

Dedicated to making a positive difference to the lives of young people

I have used Acorn many times before and always had reliable and professional service

Dates of the visit

Friday 5th August

to

Saturday 13th August 2011

Labeaume, Ardèche

Ardres, Opal Coast

Where are we going?

AddressFirst Night

Acorn Adventure

Base de Voile

Rue de Palentin

62610 Ardres

Remaining nights

Acorn Adventure

Camping La Savane

07120 Labeaume

Telephone

0121 504 2050

(Acorn Adventure Office – for emergency contact only)

ArdresArdres is one of Acorn’s premier

watersports centres and is located in a delightful area of France, within easy reach of the UK – only 43 miles, 25 miles from Calais.

This exclusive centre has a superb lakeside setting just outside the town. This large tranquil lake enables Acorn to provide a flexible watersports programme. The exciting activities on offer range from kayaking and sailing to dragon boating!

Labeaume Our large, spacious and exclusive centre offers

excellent facilities including a swimming pool, playing fields, football pitch, boules court and café/bar. It is set in the heart of the Ardèche region, famed for the magnificent limestone gorge and beautiful river, but there is also plenty to explore in the surrounding areas which have retained a strong Roman influence.

The unforgettable and exhilarating 2 day descent of the Ardèche River by open canoe is the highlight of adventure at Labeaume. The night of the 2 day descent is spent sleeping under the stars at a bivouac site on the banks of the river in the heart of the gorge.

The descent of the Ardèche is complemented by other fantastic water-based activities such as kayaking, river trek and canoeing; and also a great range of land-based activities.

Travel We will meet in the Science Block Reception on Friday 5th August at

13.00 (1pm) the coach will leave at 13.30. Dover to Calais crossing 18.40.

Arrive Ardres 21.30 Evening meal on arrival

Depart Ardres 21.30 Travel through the night, Lunch on arrival at Labeaume at approx 12.00

(A drink in a plastic drinks container will be needed for use during the week).

Travel sickness tablets will be needed for the outward and return journeys and the Day Excursion

Depart Labeaume 18.00 Travel through the night. Ferry from Calais 07.05 0n Saturday 13th August

We should arrive back at FCC on Saturday 13th August at about 11.30. Students may be collected from the Science Block

Telephone tree

We will use a ‘telephone tree’ to send messages about our arrival and our expected return time.

Please could you indicate this evening if you are willing to be a ‘key contact’ who will be responsible for passing on a message to a small number of parents

Please could you let me know if you do not wish to be included in the ‘telephone tree’.

Staffing F.C.C. Staff - Nona Lewis, Chris Lewis, Neil

Jukes, Claire Pullinger

Other adults –Paul Keen

Centre Manager

Senior Instructor

Instructors

Support and Administration staff

All staff are recruited in the UK and are CRB-checked,

They all go through a rigorous training programme

Instructors are In-House trained andqualified for any specialist activities they lead.

Acorn Staff

Risk and hazard

Some degree of risk is unavoidable if a sense of adventure and excitement is to be achieved, but it should be – and invariably is – much less than the participant perceives.

As was suggested by the MP, David Jamieson, it is important to remember that we seek to provide: “EXCITEMENT but not DANGER – ADVENTURE but not HAZARD.”

Safety is paramount.

Acorn is a founding member of the School Travel Forum,

Our UK centres are licensed by the Adventurous Activity Licensing Authority,

We are a member of ABTA and licensed by ATOL.

Safety Management

SafetyAll courses are staffed by qualified,

competent and experienced instructors who hold an impressive array of nationally recognised specialist qualifications. Centre staff will have responsibility for the ‘Adventure’ activities.

All students will be provided with the appropriate safety equipment for the activity.

NL & some other FCC staff are qualified in First Aid.

Behaviour

Good behaviour is expected at all times, co-operation is required at all times

In the unlikely event of any serious misconduct, the Centre Manager may contact parents and ask that their child be removed from the Centre

The usual School Rules will apply and any breaches, or issues, will be dealt with by Centre and/or School staff, as appropriate

Smoking & Alcohol

Smoking is forbidden at all times.

Apart from the health risk, the fire risk in a Residential centre could have the most severe consequences.

Contravention of this rule may result in students being sent home early at parent/student cost.

The same applies to the consumption of alcohol.

The Acorn Village

Sixteen or more tents in a horse-shoe shape;

All tents visible to Party Leaders;

A central marquee;

Play area;

Exclusive occupancyfor 40+.

The Tents Fire & water resistant, rigid framed PVC tents;

Solid flooring;

Sprung beds with foammattresses;

Usually sleeping four.

Students must bring a sleeping bag and pillow

A Typical Day

8 am Wake up

8:30 am Breakfast

9:30 am First activity session

1 pm Lunch

2:30 pm Second activity session

6 pm Dinner

7:30 pm Evening activities

Activities Students will work in small groups of about 10

for most of their activities

There will be a two-day Canoe descent of the Ardèche, a Day Excursion and a selection taken from

Kayaking Raft Building Caving

Bushcraft Climbing Abseiling

Bivouac River Trek Swimming

Mission Impossible

Day Excursion

Clothing Everything taken must be clearly named.

Good sensible footwear is vital.

One old pair of trainers or wet suit boots/shoes and lightweight windproof/waterproof jacket for using during the water sports activities.

No-one should go to undue expense to buy new items, students may wear old clothes for activities but will need to dress tidily for meals.

Please ensure that students have warm clothes with them for wearing in the evenings and at night.

Sufficient changes of underwear and socks (at least 4)

Pyjamas, nightdress (warm)

Warm trousers for outdoor wear, such as track suit bottoms and shorts (no jeans, x3)

Outdoor coat, gloves and hat

Strong walking shoes and/or trainers, flip-flops

One old pair of trainers or wet suit boots/shoes and lightweight windproof/waterproof jacket for using during the water sports activities

T-shirts and/or jumpers

Warm sweatshirts, hoodies and/or fleeces (x3)

Sleeping bag, single fitted sheet and pillow

Clothing for wearing around the Centre and Disco clothes

Towel (x2)

Swimming trunks or costume

Sun hat and sun lotion

Toilet bag (soap, shampoo, facecloth, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush and/or comb)

Drink container (plastic)

Pencil case, travel games, book, etc.

Large plastic bag for dirty clothes. (x2)

Torch (and spare batteries)

Camera (disposable)

Valuables

Mobile phones should NOT be taken. They will be confiscated if seen

All valuables, e.g. cameras, personal music devices, should be named if possible and the students must take responsibility for them at all times. They will be confiscated if used inappropriately

PassportsYour own passport is required. Apply now

if you do not have a current personal passport

These will be collected before the end of term. If you need to use it before we travel please let me know

Please inform me if an EU passport is not held

You will need to have a current EHIC these can easily be applied for on the internet or via the Post Office

HealthAerosols should not be brought

The Health Form must be completed and returned by Friday 1st July 2011

Any medication must be sent in a named container and handed to Ms Lewis before we leave

Inhalers should be kept by the students and kept with them at all times

Travel sickness tablets will be needed for the outward, Day Excursion and return journeys

Your Marquee

Meeting Point

Social Area

Communal Dining Area

FoodChewing gum is banned!

We need to know about any allergies and/or special dietary requirements before we go

There is no need to send any additional food

Money will be required to purchase something for breakfast on our way to Labeaume

BREAKFAST

Choice of cereals

Bread, butter & jam

Yoghurt or croissants

LUNCH

Buffet with meats, cheese and salads

Cake or biscuits

DINNER

Substantial hot meal

Vegetarian option

Pudding

The FoodThe Food

And not forgetting …

Community responsibilitiesEach child is expected to assist with

some domestic duties, e.g. clearing the tables after meals, washing up!

Students are also expected to contribute towards the general neatness and tidiness of the Centre

Students are expected to keep their tents tidy

Finance Many thanks to those who have now paid in

full all payments should now have been paid as the balance has been paid to Acorn

Any outstanding payments should be made by Tuesday 28th June.

Pocket money should be in small denomination notes if possible and given to Group Leaders on our departure day. This will be kept by them whilst we are travelling and in a safe when we are at the Centre. It will be returned to students in small amounts when needed. I suggest a maximum of £80.00.

Any Questions?

QuestionsIf you have any questions please feel free to ask tonight or contact me via email nolewis@fcc.oxon.sch.uk or via the College Office.

Thank you for coming this evening and we very much hope that you, and your child, will greatly enjoy “The Acorn Adventure.”

Please sign in so I know who has been represented this evening and if you can help with the telephone tree