Venture UK // River Wye Descent
Schools River Wye Descent and Project
Canoe through the beautiful Wye Valley
The River Wye wends its way through the stunning Wye Valley, a designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Teams will journey from Hereford to Monmouth, at times travelling along the border between England and Wales. They’ll experience the dramatic limestone cliffs and scenic landscape, filled with hills, forest and broad meadows. They will paddle for five days, stopping off en route to complete their conservation project.
Our overall aim is to support students to develop essential life skills such as resilience, teamwork, empathy, problem solving and communication. We challenge teams to travel in their own Canadian canoe, paddling for several days to reach the conservation project site. On completion of the project task teams will strike camp, fully satisfied with their efforts in helping to preserve this beautiful river and its wildlife. They will then paddle on along the river to complete their journey. Under the guidance of two of our experienced expedition leaders, students will take charge of their expedition and will be expected to manage their travel, pitch and strike camps, food supplies and cooking. They will need to work together to overcome issues they encounter … just like real life.
We work with selected charities and NGO partners to develop team projects that are sustainable solutions to an issue faced by a local community or natural ecosystem. Our projects emphasise the benefits of giving something back to society and looking after the environment.
Teams taking on the Wye River challenge will work with one of our partner organisation, on a practical conservation project. There are two options;
- Forestry England Project – teams will assist with the important work this organisation does to care for our forest ecosystems, which are vital for the future of our planet.
- Wye Valley Walk – this beautiful long-distance footpath runs for 136 miles following the course of the river. The maintenance of long distance footpaths is vitally important to enable people to have access to green spaces and fresh air. Teams will work on a project to assist with keeping the footpath open and accessible to all.
Canadian canoes are typically paddled by two crew working together to steer, provide power and for navigation. It is a wonderful medium through which to experience the character of a river, its currents, eddies, flow. It also will allow students to experience the stunning wildlife that they will be working to sustain during their project. This rafting expedition is level 2 on our whitewater rating.
Teams will be fully briefed on safety and receive instruction on how to paddle their Canadian canoes in advance of their challenge. They will be responsible for ferrying their personal equipment and managing all aspects of camping life: selecting sites & pitches, liaising with local people and organisations, pitching/striking camp, and maintaining team spirit!
Our expedition leaders will be there throughout for advice and guidance and will utilise any opportunities that arise to maximise learning and development.
Expedition Project
We work with selected charities and NGO partners to develop team projects that are sustainable solutions to an issue faced by a local community or natural ecosystem. Our projects emphasise the benefits of giving something back to society and looking after the environment.
Teams taking on the Wye River challenge will work with one of our partner organisation, on a practical conservation project. There are two options;
- Forestry England Project – teams will assist with the important work this organisation does to care for our forest ecosystems, which are vital for the future of our planet.
- Wye Valley Walk – this beautiful long-distance footpath runs for 136 miles following the course of the river. The maintenance of long distance footpaths is vitally important to enable people to have access to green spaces and fresh air. Teams will work on a project to assist with keeping the footpath open and accessible to all.
Canadian Canoe Journey
Canadian canoes are typically paddled by two crew working together to steer, provide power and for navigation. It is a wonderful medium through which to experience the character of a river, its currents, eddies, flow. It also will allow students to experience the stunning wildlife that they will be working to sustain during their project. This canoeing during this expedition will be up to level 2 on our whitewater rating.
Teams will be fully briefed on safety and receive instruction on how to paddle their Canadian canoes in advance of their challenge. They will be responsible for ferrying their personal equipment and managing all aspects of camping life: selecting sites & pitches, liaising with local people and organisations, pitching/striking camp, and maintaining team spirit!
Our expedition leaders will be there throughout for advice and guidance and will utilise any opportunities that arise to maximise learning and development.
Embrace the challenge and remember the unique experience!
Our aim is to take our student teams out of their comfort zone. This expedition is an active expedition and intended to be a challenge. Accommodation will be camping and students will need to be prepared for the unpredictability of British weather.
The team will be expected to paddle for 5-6 hours per day and manage daily expedition life.
During the project, students will carry out manual labour for 5-6 hours each day, along with tending to the responsabilities of day to day camp-life.
Our UK expeditions are good practice for those that wish to undertake on one of our overseas expeditions and gain essential life skills for the future!
KEY INFORMATION
All our expeditions are bespoke and tailored to your team's needs
Conservation Project
Canoeing
Camping
Team Challenge
10 days
- Two Venture Force expedition leaders
- Two funded teacher places
- 24/7 operations room support
- Expedition safety communications package
- All expedition travel from agreed start point
- Venture Force expedition support manager and back-up vehicle
- All expedition activities
- All expedition food and accommodation
- Team t-shirts
- Heavy duty travel bag
- Group kit and equipment where necessary
- Online expedition portal page
- Travel to the agreed start and from the end point of the expedition
- Personal equipment (a kit list will be provided)
- Spending money for gifts and additional drinks/food
