Residentials at Oxenwood
School and group residential trips are a great way for young people to engage positively with learning outside the classroom. Being away from home also helps young people to develop essential life skills like decision-making, problem-solving, confidence and personal responsibility.
We can organise self-catered, part-catered and fully-catered residentials for schools, clubs and groups with a range of activities to choose from. In addition to schools, the Centre is also an ideal residential setting for youth groups such as Scouts, Brownies and Duke of Edinburgh.
For many young people, a structured and well-organised residential can be a life-changing experience.
Accommodation and Facilities
Oxenwood Centre has a residential capacity of up to 38 group members (e.g. pupils/young people) in 4 dormitory rooms. The Centre has 2 separate staff bedrooms which can accommodate 6 group leaders, with space for up to 2 additional group leader beds if required. Your school or group will have exclusive access to the Centre during your residential visit.
The Centre has a catering kitchen, toilet and shower facilities (including disabled access), washing and drying facilities, a main hall, a staff room and playing field. We also have a fully equipped classroom, with video and audio equipment.
Catering
Oxenwood Outdoor Education Centre has a fully equipped catering kitchen and we can offer healthy, home-cooked meals for residential groups. This includes breakfast, lunch and evening meal. All of our food is freshly prepared on the premises by our fantastic catering team.
Everyone is welcome at Oxenwood and we can cater for groups with specific dietary needs including allergies or food intolerances, vegetarian/vegan and faith-based dietary practices e.g. halal, kosher etc. Please let us know at the time of your booking if any members of your group have any specific dietary requirements.
Adventure Activities
During your residential visit, your group has the opportunity to take part in a variety of adventure activities:
Archery
Bushcraft/Survival Skills
Canoeing
Paddle Sports
Raft Building
Kayaking
Climbing Wall
Cycle Skills
Mountain Biking
Fencing
Olympic Style Air Rifle
Other Activities
In addition to adventure activities, we also offer a variety of opportunities for team building and outdoor learning (including environmental studies and woodland activities), organised group walking, navigation and orienteering:
Organised local walks (day and night walking)
Orienteering
Photo search
Navigation and map reading
Night navigation exercises
Journeying and basic expedition
Problem-solving (outdoor and indoor)
Shelter building
Mini beast hunting
Stream survey and stream dipping
Tree identification
Bird identification
Woodland art and sculpture
Example 2 Night Residential
9.30-11am – Arrival at Centre, safety talk, settle in and fire drill
Owl barn and woodland activities
4.30 – Return to Centre, evening meal and children’s duties
Evening nature walk
Breakfast and tidy up, pack bags and clear rooms
Botley Drove daytime nature walk
Lunch
Photo search (if time)
Departure
Example 4 Night Residential
9.30-11am – Arrival at Centre, safety talk settle in and fire drill
Themed day or day hike
4.30pm – Return to Centre, evening meal, children’s duties
Night walk – spooky alley
8am – breakfast and children’s duties
9.30am – briefing in the main hall (split into two groups)
- Group A – Paddlesports
- Group B – Mountain Biking
12noon Lunch
- Group A – Mountain Biking
- Group B –Paddlesports
Climbing wall – all together
5pm – evening meal and children’s duties
Disco – evening
8am – Breakfast and children’s duties
9.30am – Briefing in the main hall
Survival day – Shelter building, fire and campfire cooking
5pm – Evening meal and children’s duties
Stream dipping – Whole group activity
8am – Breakfast and children’s duties
9.30am – Briefing in the main hall – split into two groups
- Group A – Archery
- Group B – Rifle Shooting
11am – Break
- Group A – Rifle Shooting
- Group B –Archery
12.30pm – Lunch
- Group A – Fencing
- Group B – Orienteering
15.15pm – Break
- Group A – Orienteering
- Group B – Fencing
5pm – Evening meal and children’s duties
Talent Show
8am – Breakfast and children’s duties
Pack bags and clear dorms
9.30am – Problem solving
Lunch
Depart back to school – time agreed with coach provider
Bookings and Enquiries
