DFSC Spring 2018 Update

 Spring 2018 brought its challenges with snow and cold weather at times. And when it melted our pond flooded!

Despite this we carried on running some very successful outdoor learning courses, predominantly with Year 4 groups, who got on with things despite the weather. They had great fun and dealt with all the challenges with great resilience.

 A lot of our developments over the last few months have been the sort that don't visually stand out but are nevertheless important maintenance and upgrades, particularly for safety. E.g our main fire staircase has had new landing platforms installed and has been completely painted. It has gone form being white to black, to be less intrusive to the architecture of the building.

Also just visible, top right, is a new upgraded lightning conductor and surge protection device that have been installed to comply with new regulations.

 The stair treads all have new high visibility non-slip plates on them so that they can be easily seen.

 Also related to fire safety, we have been replacing all our bedroom fire doors with new more modern fire doors. There are also some new emergency lights in the building and again we have spent £000's upgrading some of our lighting to be more efficient and offer greater security and safety.

Another small electrical addition has been a new water boiler to the kitchen in the Garden Room. This now greatly facilitates making hot chocolate for 60+ students when they're having their disco or talent show evening. 

 In February we ran a Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Inspection Training Course. This was attended by 12 Instructors from various Outdoor Centres around the country. It provided useful additional training in the best ways to inspect and record checks on all climbing related equipment.

 Every item is individually coded and reference to its serial number for inspection twice a year in addition to its pre-use check.

Obviously safety is a key priority when looking after our groups but we do still try to keep our activities exciting and adventurous and sometimes there remains an element of risk that is integral to the challenge. Our crate stacking is a good example of this and we have recently uploaded a new You Tube video of this in action - see below. Our risk/benefit assessment manages the main hazards but there remains the possibility of being hit by a falling crate or getting bumped when the stack collapses. An element of unpredictability keeps the activity exciting for all concerned. The benefits in terms of developed teamwork, communication skills, trust and cooperation etc. outweigh the risks and provide learning outcomes that would not be so easily attained with a mundane non-adventurous challenge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kq3s_CPQQgQ 

Cave Rescue Training comes to DFSC

Ian Healey, the Centre Manager for DFSC, is also the Training Coordinator for the Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group (GCRG). On the 1st June he organised a GCRG Training Day based at DFSC utilising the Dean Garden Room and grounds and making good use of the Climbing Tower and Tunnels System.

 

Interesting to know we can manoeuvre a stretcher in the tunnels!

 

Setting up radio Comms

 

 

 Abseil practice on the Tower

 

Stretcher Hauling on the High Ropes Course

 

http://www.gcrg.org.uk/

General Update March 14

Spring is here! The sun is out and so are the daffodils.

 

Do you remember struggling to open the old back yard gate? No more - we now have a nice new one with a split opening for easy pedestrian access.

 

 

No more washing up hot chocolate mugs in the evening. Use our new dishwasher in the Student Kitchen

 

We've just spent £8K on renewing and upgrading elements on our High Challenge Course. New round beams have been put up for our Jacob's Ladder to replace the square profile ones we had before. The spacings have also been changed to offer more progression to this team challenge as you get higher. We'll be interested to find out how our groups get on and up.

 

Last week we ran a very successful INSET training day for teachers looking at numeracy and literacy in the outdoors, alongside other cross curricular learning outcomes.

Above a group of teachers replay a video of a successful 'Leap of Faith'

 

Despite poor weather the group immersed themselves in a variety of activities with enthusiasm. Above a 'circular mapping' exercise with cross curricular themes and outcomes. The day was supported by 3 Bristol CC School Improvement Officers, including DFSC's line manager below, in our Tunnel System

 



Delegate feedback on the course was all very positive some of which is quoted below:

 

I had a fantastic day in a fantastic setting. There are plenty of meaningful learning opportunities that will benefit all children in a holistic way. I would recommend visiting Dean Field to any primary school looking to provide a memorable experience for their children.

Shaun Hartnell, Yr 3 Teacher, Westbury-on-Trym Academy

An engaging, collaborative day that built/developed strong relationships, confidence and team building skills. A day that opened my eyes to how powerful and effective the outdoor learning environment can be!

Emma Robinson, St George C of E Primary

I was really impressed with the centre’s depth of knowledge about how to use their resources to develop cross-curricular learning, emotional development and children’s learning skills. A huge deal of thought has gone into the provision and how teachers could be supported to use it with their own classes. Overall I am extremely impressed with the centre and can’t wait to bring children here myself!

Joe Cook, Hannah More Primary

Fantastic place! Love the problem solving activities. I will definitely be trying these in my school. Great bunch of people with outstanding staff! Fantastic experience! Can’t wait to come back!

Emily Ball, New Fosseway Special School

A fantastic day which gave a wealth of ideas for literacy, numeracy and ICT. Also showed how many outcomes can be met through one activity.

 

Leanne Wilding, Fonthill

Thanks for a great day! It provided me with opportunities to experience the activities my class could benefit from if we came here and plenty of cross- curricular links with our curriculum which we could focus on here. It has also made me reconsider the values and emphasis we put on our curriculum and children’s learning and how learning outdoors could develop far more skills and emotional literacy than a classroom can! I’ll be back!

Claire Carpenter, Fonthill, Southmead

 

 



Staff Training for Work With Disabled Students

Well we picked a rather chilly day to do some staff training with our Instructors! The aim of the day was to try out different systems for enabling disabled students to go down the Zipwire and to also get high and have a swing on the Ropes Course.



After consultation with experts in the field and a bit of experimentation, we have adapted a paraglider harness to offer additional head support. Yes, if you look closely the head restraint is actually an adapted car booster seat! The result is we can offer a more comfortable experience for the profoundly disabled where a normal full body harness does not offer the necessary support and comfort.

 We then used a 10:1(?) hoisting system to be able to lift a person up high. Using this method one person can haul a person single handed. Once they are off the ground we can then also turn it into a giant swing!

We also experimented with the idea of using the whole group to pull a person up.

Heading back inside to warm up with a cup of tea we then had useful discussions about various other techniques, risk assessments and ways of working with students on all the other High Challenges we offer.