Holiday clubs - all you need to know!
The Outdoors Project have locations across the UK. Find out holiday club information about our individual sites (e.g. locations & images of our upcoming club schedules) by choosing your local Outdoors Project location from our homepage, and clicking the 'Holiday Club Info' button.
WHERE AND WHEN DO WE RUN OUR CLUBS?
HOLIDAY CLUBS - ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW
At our holiday clubs, we can really get stuck into our most immersive and exciting activities. We know it can be daunting for children to spend a whole day with new people, that’s why we always ensure they get a warm welcome and that we get fun and simple team games running straight away. Watching children’s confidence grow and new friendships form during our holiday clubs is one of the most rewarding parts of what we do.
We have a great range of entertaining activities planned each holiday.
AGE Clubs are suitable for children Age 5 (as long as they have already started in Year 1) up to the age of 12 (for OFSTED purposes children need to be 5 years old and already started in Year 1 at school. For Nerf activity days, we strongly advise age 6+ due to Nerf being of a more competitive nature. Please ensure your child enjoys this activity as it will be the main one of the day.
TO BOOK Choose a location to see what clubs are running in your area, prices and the activity schedules. Book and pay online and a confirmation email with full details of your booking will be sent to you. Flexible booking - book for a day or for a full week. Ofsted Registered. Childcare Vouchers accepted.
WHAT WE DO We're all about playing outdoors whatever the weather, being silly, having fun, making new friends and learning some new skills! Every day is different, we run specific activities in small groups throughout the day - games, learning skills, communicating, making, playing & creating memories. A non-competitive environment, with activities throughout the holidays to suit everyone from the quiet and methodical to the louder and livelier. We encourage a supportive and happy environment where the children can build friendships, succeed at new tasks and feel relaxed in an open green space. We encourage physical "green" exercise throughout our gameplay to promote health and wellbeing.
A TYPICAL DAY:
- Clubs run from 9am - 3pm (we do not offer an early drop off or a late pickup service)
- On arrival, sign in with the leader. We can check your child's emergency contact details and any allergies or additional needs to make sure your day with us is safe and fun (we will see this in advance from our register too)
- Once signed in, we'll put your child's bag in the designated area and the children will join the rest of the group to play games whilst the rest of the children sign in
- We'll introduce ourselves to the children and tell them all about the plans for the day
- They'll be split into smaller groups for the day and asked if they’d like to switch to be with friends/siblings
- The instructors will stay with their group for the day, moving from activity to activity
- There will be water, hand-washing and toilet breaks throughout the day
- We run three small activities per day, based around a theme, divided by a snack break (around 11:30am) and a lunch break (around 1pm)
WHAT DO YOU NEED TO BRING?
- A morning snack, a packed lunch & a water bottle
- Sturdy shoes - no flip flops please! Wellies are encouraged in autumn & winter
- Appropriate clothing for the season/weather: In summer, light & airy clothing, a sun hat and sun cream (we have sun cream on site too). In cooler seasons, warmer clothes, gloves, a hat & a waterproof coat. Please check the forecast before coming so you're prepared for the weather that day.
- A sense of adventure!
FIRST TIME WITH US? It's normal to be a little nervous on your first day but trust us when we say everyone who comes has SO MUCH FUN! All our instructors are really kind and friendly and they are there to make sure everyone has a good time. They love to show you how to join in and will make sure to introduce you to new friends. Read our article discussing why our clubs are great for shy children.
THINGS TO THINK ABOUT: We love to accommodate everyone but please do make sure to check the activity for the day prior to booking and that it's a good fit for your child, to get the most out of the day. Once with us, they will be expected and encouraged to participate in the planned activity all day, so to avoid any disappointment, please consider the activity you are booking them on is a good fit.
FOOD POLICY: Children eat lunch in their groups. We ask children not to share food due to possible allergies within the group. Our gazebos are set up for the children to sit with the instructors and their friends for lunch. Children will be encouraged to eat their lunch at a sensible rate and what is comfortable for them. When our activity involves cooking on a campfire, we can provide alternatives for allergies and dietary requirements. Please let us know as much as possible about any allergies or other dietary requirements when making your booking.
HOME TIME: The children are asked to stay with their groups until the instructor calls them over at sign out time. If there are any last-minute changes to pick up (different to drop off or the details we have for you), please call the office or the site coordinator (their number will be displayed at the gate). Please also ensure that the children take all their belonging's home with them.
STAFF: Our staff are DBS checked, safeguarding trained and there are first aid trained instructors at every club. All holiday clubs will have a folder at sign in for information like Ofsted registrations, insurance and first aid certificates.
'ROAM' CLUB T-SHIRTS: Our club member T-shirts available to buy. Please contact your local franchise to buy one. These are great for sewing our patches onto!
SEN CHILDREN: We are an inclusive club and fully promote the many benefits of time spent outdoors for all children. We do participate in organised activities and can operate a ratio of 1 instructor to 10 children during holiday clubs. If your child has additional needs, please do get in touch and we'd be happy to discuss further to advise whether the holiday club environment is the right fit. If your child receives one to one support at school, please contact us before booking so we can look at whether we can offer the support required.
Don’t just take our word for it: see our reviews!
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WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SAY -
It's childcare during the holidays that they really want to go to!
My daughter has been twice so far this half term and she absolutely loves it!!! Wants to go every school holiday! Lovely people running it and varied activities. She's completely knackered at the end of the day and that alone is worth the money! Will be booking again, 100%
It’s outside, always, and involves no tech. They always come back with big grins, rosy cheeks, and a sense of fulfillment having crafted something with their own hands.
Best holiday club around.
The staff are very engaged and the most enthusiastic of all the holiday clubs we've tried!
Cannot recommend The Outdoors Project enough! My son loved it and asked if he can go on weekend as well !?
The variety of activities on offer is great. The staff are fantastic- enthusiastic, knowledgeable and in control. Doing outdoors physical activity has so many health & wellbeing benefits for my son.
I value The Outdoors Project because it is one of the only clubs my son asks to go to. It is superb because he is excited to go and would go most days if he could. It takes away some of the guilt about having to put your kids in holidays clubs because you are work, as he would choose to go if possible most days of the year!
It’s Amazing! Social skills, leadership , always different themes, learn to be an individual!! "Best day of my life" according to my 6 year old son! Thumbs up from us!
It is fun and allows children to develop skills for life through teamwork, challenging themselves and taking risks. The staff are very encouraging and treat the children as individuals and get the best out of them.
Really nice staff, who clearly do the job because they enjoy it, and getting my child to socialise with different people, doing different activities than he normally would. Usually it's quite hard to get him to put down a book and go outside, but he really enjoys outdoors project.
My son loves the Outdoors Project! He is usually shy and reluctant to try new things but always has fun at the outdoors project. Infact, I think it is giving him a lot of confidence socially.
My kids love that it’s different to any other club. Whilst being active it is not a sports club and they love being outdoors and able to get dirty and muddy in a safe environment.
My daughter is always happy to attend and although she doesn’t always tell me what she’s been doing, it always comes out in her play!
The children have loads of fun being outside in all weathers and come back with a big smile on their faces My son loves to play and be outside, he is always calmer and more centered after outdoors project
It is fun and allows children to develop skills for life through teamwork, challenging themselves and taking risks. The staff are very encouraging and treat the children as individuals and get the best out of them.
I love how the kids are encouraged to use their imagination and creativity in order to have fun. Isla always comes away having learnt something and even if it’s been raining solid for 5 hours she’s blissfully happy!
The admin team is well organised, strong communication, passion and belief in the job. All the staff are really professional and naturally friendly with the children, and obviously passionate about their work.
Confidence-building fun, loads of exercise and fresh air, teamwork emphasis and the much documented benefits of time spent in nature for mental health. What's not to love?
My daughter always comes out of the session happy excited and having done something new, she also enjoys the games The staff are all enthusiastic and energetic - don't know how they do it!
I love the holiday club themes are different daily and the venues are all easy to get to! My son loves that he gets to run around and play outside the whole day!
Just keep doing what you are doing, because we have a very happy son and therefore very happy parents. 100% of parents who answered our survey would recommend The Outdoors Project to other parents
Cannot recommend them enough! My son loved it and asked if he can go on weekend as well !?
Just returned from a day with the project and I am so pleased with the activities, staff, group size, well - every thing! I was fortunate enough to win the places but I will most definitely be taking the children again. Thanks guys, what you do and how you do it is awesome.
"Best day of my life" according to my 6 year old son! Thumbs up from us!
Someone else takes your kids out to get muddy and exhausted. What's not to like?
See our clubs in action here
Please find your nearest location from our homepage for local activty schedules, prices and to make a booking.
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