Henley Fort activity descriptions

Outdoor experiences and activities

All activities are delivered by our qualified and experienced outdoor education instructors.

Our staff will provide a structured outdoor experience, whether you book for one day, a week, or a weekly programme. They will also engage with your group to maximise their learning opportunities.

Please find below all the land and water activities descriptions.

Activities can be adapted for disabled groups. Please find out here more information about our inclusive activities for groups with additional needs

Adventure Walk

Our adventure walk incorporates team activities and challenges that need to be completed either before moving onto the next section of the walk or are scenarios that take place from start to finish.

Archery

A good session for self-esteem and confidence building that is accessible for all.

A maximum of four persons shooting at once, working on technique and aim. At the later stages building in games either in teams or individually.

Canal Boat

Angel Blue is moored down at Dapdune Wharf in Guildford.

Sessions start from 3 hours minimum all the way through to a residential experience.

Participants are all involved in the workings of the boat. Tasks include; Steering, securing it to moorings, locking through, catering and swabbing the decks.

The boat is well set up for all groups and has full disabled access with electric lift access inside and out.

Canoeing

A session will include the unloading of the canoe trailer, changing in to safety equipment and we suggest the participants arrive in old cloths (no wet suites provided), launching of boats, safety brief, tuition, an appropriate journey, pack away and loading of the trailer. Depending on the time frames and nature of the booking (i.e. one off, journey or DofE) the group can launch from various locations along the river Wey. The usual base is in Dapdune Wharf in the centre of Guildford.

Challenge course

A particularly versatile activity suitable for most. A low ropes and poles course, designed to mentally, not physically challenge the group. Crossing wires, balancing on planks it is ideal for team building and working on group roles, with some balance required.

Climbing Tower

A great introduction to climbing and belaying. Participants will get the opportunity to scale the SOLD mobile tower. A maximum of 2 of the floor at any one time allows them to take it in turns to support one another by helping with the belaying (rope safety) to allow others to climb. No skirts/dresses and and appropriate footwear must be worn.

Bouldering

A great introduction to bouldering at a low level, it supplements a mobile wall session well. We teach correct spotting practice and play some games to up skill and improve technique. No skirts/dresses and and appropriate footwear must be worn.

Indoor Climbing - Blue Spider Guildford

A great venue to introduce and develop skills in climbing, belaying and bouldering. Participants will get the opportunity to scale the walls. A maximum of 2/3 of the floor at any one time allows them to take it in turns to support one another by helping with the belaying (rope safety) to allow others to climb. No skirts/dresses and appropriate footwear must be worn.

Home Front Experience

Relive the 1940's Home Guard & Air Raid Wardens roles in World War 2. Learn about the local impact & relive some of the experiences that affected the day to day lives of living through the war. Home Guard; Led by your captain the group undertake various training exercise's such as camouflage, drill, I.D checks, road blocks and much more.

ARP (Air Raid Wardens); Discuss all forms of shelters, entering both the Anderson and Morrison shelters and look at what you would take with you. Have a go at our interactive black out boards for an air raid and practise putting out a small fire with authentic World War 2 fire fighting equipment along with other topics.

Orienteering

A session based around up skilling participants using educational and fun games.

For example, naughty numbers to learn about map orientation and a relay run to help identify map symbols. We use our newly learnt skills and put them into practice in small groups, using either our fixed post stamp or marker course.

For a 3 hour session we would include the use of the local area (Mount fields) in either another set course or "star orienteering", where participants decide where and place markers, then all swap maps and orienteer to each others markers and bring them back.

Stand-Up Paddle boarding (SUP)

Only available in the good weather from May onwards.

Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is a water sport born from surfing with modern roots in Hawaii Stand up paddle boarders stand on boards that are floating on the water, and use a paddle to propel themselves through the water.

Team Tasks

A wide range of team tasks is based upon problem solving, working on the major aspects of teamwork. (Leadership, communication, trust, planning & co-operation). We vary and choose our team tasks and facilitation styles according to the abilities and needs of the
group. Team tasks examples are; mine field, T-Pee shuffle, marble maze, giant connect 4, group skipping etc.

Woodland Skills - Fire Lighting

Using our fire steels and cotton wool (No Matches or lighters), participants are taught correct and environmentally sustainable methods for basic fire lighting. Working in small groups they will have the opportunity to collect materials, build a fire and light it. The group will also need to get a main fire going for the cooking of marshmallows and possible a hot drink using the "Kelly kettle" depending on the weather.

Woodland Skills - Cooking on an open fire

Once the participants have mastered the basics of "Fire lighting", they will enjoy the opportunity to cook further on an open fire. Correct preparation and cooking methods are taught and cleaning up after is all part of the session. Examples; dough twists, chocolate in bananas, fried breakfast, soup etc. Groups need to provide the raw material themselves, please see guidance from instructors on suitable foods.

Woodland Skills - Tool Use

A wide range of items (mallets, bird box's picture frames etc.) can be made from natural resources. A carefully lead session under strict guidance of SOLD staff to enable participants to safely use tools to create some thing they can take home. Groups must have completed some previous woodland sessions before progressing onto tools.