Barton Turf Adventure Centre

Adventures on the Norfolk Broads

For Schools, Youth and other Groups, etc

Available Dates for schools & organised groups – See Free/Busy Information page

Barton Turf Adventure Centre was originally set up by Herts Education Authority to provide outside of the classroom activities for school parties. We specialise in Environmental days and sailing courses, but can arrange canoeing, raft building, team building sessions etc.

There are opportunities for day trip and residential stays, allowing us to tailor activities to suit age groups and curriculum.   We can provide fully catered residential accommodation under canvas (four beds in each), and the kitchen has a five-star rating from the local authority.

We have 17 acres of reed marsh available for pond dipping days, birdwatching and other field studies. The land is part of a Ramsar-designated wetland and Site of Special Scientific Interest
The Centre is part of the Broads Environmental Education Network. For more details and a view as to how we can fit into your “Education Outside the Classroom” programme, please contact Di at the Centre. Email: bookings@btac-services.co.uk

NEW –  our Primary Introduction Day where we split a class or year group into small groups of 12 students and pupils and rotate around 3 or 4 chosen activities (depending upon time) designed to give pupils an opportunity to discover the iconic wildlife and habitats that makes the Broads so special, participate in activities within that environment and view the landscape in all its glory from the water.

Activity options include

  • Pond dipping – Within the marshland we have facilities for pond dipping with two sampling platforms, and classroom equipped with reference sheets, sample dishes and nets.
  • Environmental Art – using our environment as our inspiration and considering art installations in 3 simple categories (art that impacts the environment, art that is neutral and art which enhances the environment) students will create their own environmental neutral pieces.
  • Invertebrate survey – Invertebrates are essential for healthy functioning ecosystems, as they help recycle nutrients, pollinate our flowers and feed our mammals and birds, using a number of different methods we can identify and record our findings
  • Discover the broads through a site specific geo cache route – Using electronic handheld devises in pairs or threes pupils can explore the area and find out different facts at each marker.
  • Boat trip – (max of 12 students at a time) An opportunity to look for wildlife in their own environment, these can include various Water birds, Otters and Marsh Harriers.  In addition we look at why the broad exists, how deep they are what they were used for in the past and what it is used for now.
  • Shelter building – A problem solving activity looking at human need for shelter in a wild environment. Working in smaller teams pupils make their own shelters using the materials and resources around them.  Discussion leading from this look at animals and birds need for shelter and how they may achieve this in the wild.
  • Practical conservation tasks (autumn and spring term only)– this is an opportunity for hands on practical task such as hedge building, scrub or marsh management, species identification and habitat improvements.

Approvals

We are an Royal Yachting Association Registered Training Centre, and our teaching methods etc are inspected annually.

We also hold an AALA Licence for Sailing, Open Canoeing, Kayaking and Improvised Rafting, Reference R1496, and are currently inspected tri-ennially.

We have an excellent relationship with Norfolk County’s Adviser for Outdoor Education.

All our instructors hold the appropriate level of National Governing Body qualification for the activities they run. (RYA, BCU, Archery GB, etc)

We have adequate third party insurance through the Activities Industry Mutual.

We are members of the Broads Environmental Education Network also.

Further Information

More information for schools and group visits is available via the links below

Schools & Groups Brochure

Or by email to bookings@btac-services.co.uk

Risk Assessments:

These are kept under constant review in response to incidents and near-misses and also have a more stringent review each winter.

The following Risk Assessment documents are currently available on this website. due to be updated April 2023

Other documents will be published as they are revised and signed off.

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