Anyone who teaches, parents or spends time with children knows that development is not linear. From growth spurts to breakthroughs in self-regulation, there are leaps that can seem to happen overnight while other changes evolve over time. Whatever stage a child is at, it’s a huge advantage if they can be provided with experiences that encourage them to blossom into calm, empathetic and well-rounded young people.
Enter PGL, the UK’s leading outdoor education provider (affectionately known by children as “parents get lost”). PGL has created the Reach framework, in collaboration with teachers, to encourage personal breakthroughs among young people.
Standing for Relationships, Experiences, Abilities, Character and Health and wellbeing, the Reach framework includes a range of outdoor activities to support all of these areas of development – from climbing and abseiling to archery, yoga and paddleboarding.
“You can choose from one of the Reach programmes – I really like the Unite trip, which is all about building teamwork and giving children the confidence to be leaders,” says William Aitken, student wellbeing lead at Accrington academy in Lancashire.
“We had one lad who was quite shy but, when it came to the raft building, he really took charge. And once he saw that he was able to do that, it changed how he was in school, too. He’s in year 11 now and he’s been amazing since that trip; it did wonders for his confidence.”
The benefits extend far beyond the children who might surprise themselves by taking on leadership roles. “Through activities like raft building, making fires and orienteering, they learn communication skills,” says Aitken. “It’s about listening to instructions, but also talking each other through the process. Even just sharing a bedroom with classmates that they may not have spoken to before encourages them to build trust and empathy.”
Being outdoors and having hours of screen-free time allows their young brains to see fresh perspectives. And, while Aitken says his older students were initially “aghast” to hear there would be no wifi, once they were there, they were too busy having fun to even think about it.
PGL trips are aimed at children and teenagers aged 7-16, with programmes tailored to their particular needs. Alongside the wide range of outdoor activities, this could mean anything from building relationships and learning problem solving, to something more specific such as a revision weekend ahead of exams, or easing the transition of moving from primary to secondary school.
“We tend to take our year 11s on a trip before their exams, and have a weekend where we do an English session, a maths session, a science session, and then three physical exercise sessions,” says Aitken. “The activities might include laser tag or abseiling. Our students get such a buzz out of it, and some of them do so much better in their exams because of that extra confidence.”
Aitken says he has a trip booked in for later this year on PGL’s new Thrive programme, which is about supporting students’ health and wellbeing with mindfulness-focused activities. The students are excited to learn yoga and paddleboarding, and will come away with self-care tools that will stand them in good stead for life. “Coping strategies are particularly important during exams, which can be a stressful time,” he adds.
While PGL is best-known for organising trips within the UK and France, it’s possible to go farther afield with PGL Beyond. “We did a trip to New York and it was incredible to see the students’ independence develop there,” says Aitken. “Kids who are normally so anxious found that they were able to navigate the New York subway. It brings out a strength of character that they can take into other aspects of their life and education.”
But focusing on the benefits in terms of emotional wellbeing can make the whole experience sound a bit dry – when the main thing about it is that it’s so much fun.
“They do something called archery tag, which is exactly what it sounds like,” laughs Aitken. “You stand at opposite ends of a field with bows and arrows that have marshmallow-type things at the end, shooting them at each other. The kids love it when the teachers get involved too, because they can fire them at us. It’s hilarious!
“And it’s not only about building relationships between the kids, but also between the staff and students, outside of the classroom. Knowing that they have trusted adults at school is so important, particularly for the kids who may not have that at home. They don’t realise this, of course, they just think that they’re having a good time.”
The trips have become a rite of passage for many children across the UK, and for good reason. “Their experiences at PGL build both independence and teamwork,” says Aitken. “It not only fits in with our values as a school, but also empowers every child to fulfil their potential.”
Explore the range of programmes delivering real breakthroughs in PGL’s Reach framework
