Ackers Adventure

West Midlands
5-16+
Communication Skills, Confidence Building, Leadership, PE
, Problem Solving, Team Building
+2 more

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What will students see and do?

Ackers Adventure is an outdoor activity centre in Birmingham, set in over 75 acres of diverse landscape and habitats ranging from open grassland, woodland and marsh, cut through by the River Cole, the Grand Union Canal and Mainline Railways.

It is described as a hidden urban oasis, a green gem that overlooks Birmingham city centre.

Visitors can enjoy a wide range of activities suitable for all ages and abilities, including archery, bellboating on twin-hulled canoes, bushcraft survival skills, kayaking on the Grand Union Canal, climbing and abseiling on various grades of climbing walls, disc golf, orienteering over 70+ acres of semi-rural land, skiing and snowboarding on floodlit synthetic bristle matting slopes, tobogganing, tubing, teambuilding activities, zip wires and the Tower Drop. This simulates a free-fall drop from a 20-metre high tower.

How does the trip link to the curriculum?

Ackers Adventure offers several education packages designed to enhance learning outcomes. Activity Days include three activities of choice and focus on enrichment, teamwork, problem-solving, communication, self-confidence and environmental awareness.

Extended Activity Days feature four activities lasting 1.5 hours each.

Single Sessions feature one activity and are ideal for enhancing specific curriculum areas – for instance, calculating the speed of the zip wire for physics or collecting archery scores for data manipulation in mathematics.

Learn a New Skill packages allow students to develop talents over multiple sessions, whilst Thrillseeker Days let large groups try various short activity sessions.

The experienced staff can tailor bespoke packages to specific key objectives and learning outcomes. With 25+ years of experience, they can adapt sessions to meet specific award syllabuses including Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) and The National Indoor Climbing Award Scheme (NICAS).

Subjects covered

Communication Skills

Confidence Building

Leadership

Problem Solving

Team Building

Teaching resources provided

Get in contact to discuss your curriculum objectives and the sorts of learning resources Ackers Adventure may be able to provide.

Minimum and maximum group size

Group sessions are charged per 10 individuals, with each group having its own qualified instructor. Sessions typically last 1.5 hours for most activities.

The Ackers Residential Centre (ARC) offers self-catering accommodation that sleeps up to 26 people for residential stays.

Details of risk assessment

Ackers Adventure will carry out risk assessments for you and provide all the necessary safety equipment – get in contact to request the details.

PLANNING

Don't miss our downloadable A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment

icon for A-Z guide on completing a risk assessment

Facilities on-site

Ackers Adventure has a 100-metre long ski slope with nursery slopes and a 25-metre toboggan slope; three climbing walls including a 20-metre high tower that also features a zip wire and fan descender; a canal basin perfect for canoeing, kayaking and bellboating; two archery ranges; a team-building field; a bushcraft survival zone; and disc golf facilities.

For residential stays, the Ackers Residential Centre (ARC) offers self-catering accommodation that sleeps up to 26 people.

Opening times

Monday: 10am-5.30pm
Monday (groups only): 5.30pm-9pm
Tuesday – Friday: 10am-9pm
Friday (exclusive slope hire): 6pm-9pm
Saturday: 10am-5pm
Sunday: 10am-3.30pm
Bank holidays: 10am-3.30pm

Pricing

Prices vary depending on the package selected. Group sessions are charged per ten individuals. Contact Ackers Adventure directly to discuss pricing for specific requirements and packages.

Travel arrangements

Ackers Adventure offers free on-site parking and is located just two miles from Birmingham city centre, making it easily accessible by car and public transport.

If travelling by bus, Walford Road stop is a 10-minute walk away, Warwick Road stop is a 15-minute walk away, and Stratford Road stop is a 20-minute walk away.

If travelling by train, Small Heath Train Station is a 15-minute walk away.