I received a message the other day and it made me smile from ear to ear!

Yes we do still get out on the water, not much in the winter though: too cold for the kids. We have clocked up plenty of hours since you taught us the basics. We have paddled north and south of Ireland, we paddled with Fungi the dolphin in Dingle bay the other year. We have taken our boats to France to paddle the Dordogne, the Ardeche and the Lot. To the lake district in England a couple of times. To Sweden to paddle Dalsland lakes. To Norway to paddle the fjords (with whales). Last year we were in Scotland paddling Lomond, Glen Affric and many others. Hopefully taking a ferry to Denmark this summer and spend some time paddling in Sweden again. We love to wild camp but you have to get away from here to get a bit of ‘wild’.

I guess you should feel a sense of pride that sharing your talents has brought many years of fun and satisfaction to our wee family. (wee in stature not wee in number: we have 4 kids now)

I will have to send you some photos of some of our trips. I will also send you some photos of our tree climbing.

Regards,

Ben

I had taken Ben and his wife Heather for some canoe lessons about 6 years ago – they wanted to learn some skills so they could take their kids canoeing.

I smiled about all the adventures they have enjoyed since and can think fondly of the places they have mentioned.  I have canoed on some of the rivers and lakes mentioned and others are still on my to do. 

I smiled even more when Ben mentioned the sense of pride I must feel knowing that I have brought many years of fun and satisfaction to Ben and his “wee family”.

Ben is right, I do feel proud and I am still smiling some 24 hours after reading this. 

I often talk about the positive impact I make on people through the activities I deliver.  I know this when I meet people on the street and they still remember my name and eagerly start recounting their adventures with me.  I know it when I receive emails like the one from Ben.  And I know it from how long it takes to say goodbye at the end of an adventure. especially when it is goodbye until the next time.

Yes, I love Adventure but I love seeing people challenging themselves, pushing the limits of their comfort zones, experiencing new activities, learning and having fun!  There is so much more to Adventure than meets the eye!

Hears to 2012 and many more positive experiences!

Stephen

Yes, it’s that time of year again.  We are all busy trying to figure out what stocking fillers we need to buy for nephews and nieces, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, mum and dad, friends and colleagues.

And we have loads of ideas for you!

For Kids:

• An adventure day for only £30 per person

• 1/2 days are only £20 per person

• NEW! 1 day at Adventure School in the Mournes, Belfast or Gortin only £25 per day

For Adults:

• Try coasteering only £45 per person

• Full day of adventure skills only £75 per person

• Intro activities only £35 per person

And if you can’t decide what to book you can also buy a voucher for any monetary amount

Each personalised voucher will be emailed to you with a description of the activity, what it involves, what they should expect and details on how to book.

To purchase your Gift Vouchers give us a call on 0845 521 3145or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk

Are you fed up with the same old Christmas Capers?

Are you looking for something different to do with your work colleagues before Christmas?

If so we have a brilliant, affordable Christmas Adventure that doesn’t involve jumping off cliffs or racing down mountains!

Our City Centre Christmas Treasure Hunt’s are ideal for organisations that want to spend 2 –3 hours having some fun with each other before the annual Christmas Party!  They make a brilliant Team Building Event and work equally as well as Team Bonding Experience.

Our Treasure Hunt’s are available in all major town’s and cities throughout Ireland with the following being our top 10 destinations:

• Belfast
• Derry/Londonderry
• Donegal Town
• Letterkenny
• Dublin
• Galway
• Cork
• Newry
• Dundalk
• Bangor

What you get:

• A Team Pack for each team that includes clues, camera and Top Secret tools!
• A CD of images from your event!
• A Christmas Celebration for your Team that will have them talking for weeks!
• Spot prizes!

Optional extra’s include:

• Whisky or wine tasting
• Visits to local tourism hot spots
• Team T-shirts

And with prices starting from as low as £20 per person this really is a cost effective team building event!

If you would like to book please feel free to email info@theadventureteam.co.uk or call 0845 5213145

Some photos of a recent Treasure Hunt around Derry/Londonderry!

A little insight to working as part of The Adventure Team from David Thompson.  David’s role is primarily as the Business Development Assistant, he gets involved will all aspects of the business though!  Read on to find out how David got on with his first residential.

I do specifically remember reading a Facebook status on the Adventure Team Facebook over the summer, which said, “Making an impact on the lives of 255 young people today. How cool is that?” I will admit that I found it quite cheesy at first. Being the business development assistant and office manager, I tended to be sending the emails, making the phone calls, and sorting the other ins and outs of an office, which meant that I could not fully appreciate the value of the status.

However if I have to tell a customer about the activities which we offer, then the best thing is to experience them first hand and then describe my experience to them. The one area I did struggle about was with young adult residentials.

The young adult residential I had taken was with Tyrone Donegal Partnership. I found it a bit daunting at first since I had only previously helped out with kids before and not people around my own age group. I watched Stephen at work and how he took control of the various personalities in the group. To be fair I probably wasn’t that much help on the day. But I did notice the amount of respect he earned from a group of young adults which is definitely a lot harder to gain than that of a group of young children.

With a few more Tyrone Donegal residentials forthcoming, it was my call of duty. I was nervous at the prospect but it was Stephen’s confidence that I could do the job and take control which inspired me as well as the fact he was just as nervous about leaving me unattended like a parent dropping their child off on the first day of school. However the second he left, I felt that I was in control. Adventure Team motto in my head, it was quite literally a case of “Hold your breath and jump!”

I tried a few energisers and then a few team games which got the groups really competitive. By the time Donal had arrived to help me, he ended up taking a back seat until I had finished my last game. Which was every bit as much as a compliment as him actually saying anything. They say you can decide within 7 seconds if you like somebody. So that was the only thing on my mind. If I had to win over the group, I had to do it instantly! However I wasn’t entirely sure if I had.

In the mid afternoon, I was taking archery and I noticed the group were dependent on me to help them load the bow, what way to stand, where to aim and when to let go. With that dependency on me, I was gaining their respect which in turn was giving me more confidence and enthusiasm to work with them.

By night time, Donal and I had taken a walk up the village and to the Bar to watch the football and chat about how the day went. A few of our students came over and personally thanked us for the great day they had. Then another few and another few and when we arrived back at the hostel after the match, I slowly started to appreciate what The Adventure Team status meant to the person who wrote it (Stephen or Tracy).

The next day it became much clearer, especially when taking the group to the lake for some raft building. It was great to see them working as a team and putting all differences aside to get their raft assembled, floated and raced and disassembled. That gave me a sense of achievement to see how far their attitudes changed towards one another after 2 days.

The time came for the group to go home and I had to say my goodbyes to them all. I genuinely felt a bit sad to see them go and then it was my turn to feel like the parent leaving the child for school! I felt I had fully earned their respect and impacted on how they treated one another, or needed one another and the importance of teamwork to achieve an overall objective. Hearing their appreciative thank you’s and handshakes and watching them hug each other as they left, took me back to that status that The Adventure Team had posted over the summer. “Making an impact on the lives of 255 young people today. How cool is that?”

Adventure Team Challenge

Your Team is randomly split in to sub-groups that compete against each other for points in a series of energisers, team games, team tasks and archery. The points are used to purchase raft building equipment in the afternoon and the challenge will finish with a raft race.

Usual times: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Cost: £25 per person (rate applies to delivery in Gortin only)

X Challenge

Your Team is randomly split in to sub-groups that compete against each other in an adventure style race that will cover a mixture of terrains; therefore involving activities such as running, orienteering, raft building and archery. The sub-groups will face a number of Team Building activities along the way that will challenge them physically, mentally and practically.

Usual times: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Cost: £30 per person (rate applies to delivery in Gortin only)

Challenge Xtreme

Your Team is randomly split in to sub-groups that compete against each other in an adventure style race that will cover a mixture of terrains; therefore involving activities such as running, orienteering, coasteering and abseiling. The sub-groups will face a number of Team Building activities along the way that will challenge them physically, mentally and practically.

Usual times: 10.00am – 4.00pm

Venue: North Coast or the Mournes

Cost: £40 per person

If your Team is ready for a Challenge call us on 0845 521 3145 or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk

“Bring a Da” Coasteering on Father’s Day with the Adventure Team – and any da will do! Your neighbours da, your friends da, some random da you don’t even know – just bring a da!

The da goes free for every child’s place booked and for Father’s Day we have no age limit for children!  You could be 45 and bring your mate (as long as he is a da) and you only have to pay £30 for yourself and “yer da” goes free!!!  Make sense?

NO???  Then give us a call on 08455213145 and we will explain it – just know you and “yer da” are getting a cracker deal!

Oh! Here’s a wee bit about coasteering…

Coasteering is an exhilarating combined rock and water activity that can be delivered to every individual level which makes this activity suitable for those with no fear of heights or water as well as those who may not be quite so confident.

During your Coasteering trip you will learn rock climbing and scrambling techniques as well as how to jump from great heights safely.

Wearing sturdy footwear, wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets, participants travel along a section of coastline; sometimes swimming in the sea, sometimes scrambling on rocks and jumping from rocks into the sea.

Morning and afternoon sessions are available!

Are you up for some Coasteering (with yer da)? Give us a call on 028 8164 8390 or emailinfo@theadventureteam.co.uk

The Coasteering Club is a great way to explore our coastline under your own steam and with the help of The Adventure Team.

The Coasteering Club meets on the 1^st Sunday of every month at various locations throughout Ireland – north and south!  We also run at least one trip a year to another location in the UK with Pembrokeshire high on the agenda for 2011.

Bronze Membership of the club costs £75 and includes:

• 3 coasteering trips over a 12 month period
• Insurance
• Experienced guides

Silver Membership of the club costs £120 and includes:

• 6 coasteering trips over a 12 month period
• Insurance
• Experienced guides
• Reduced equipment hire rates

Gold Membership of the club costs £180 and includes:

• 12 coasteering trips over a 12 month period
• Insurance
• Experienced guides
• Discounted training courses
• Discount rates for friends attending open events
• Reduced equipment hire and purchase rates

Member’s can also access any of the 30+ Coasteering events scheduled with The Adventure Team.

Members must be 17 years of age at time of joining

Well now’s your chance and she’ll probably thank you for it.

Just for Mother’s Day we are offering you the chance to get your Mum a Gift Voucher to go Coasteering!  Best thing about it – you can come along too for free!

What is Coasteering?

If you fancy making a splash, or simply making waves, then coasteering is for you!

Coasteering is an exhilarating activity which combines rock climbing, scrambling and jumping from great heights safely… into the sea of course!  Wearing sturdy footwear, wetsuits, buoyancy aids and helmets, participants travel along a section of coastline; sometimes swimming in the sea, sometimes scrambling on rocks and jumping from rocks into the sea.  It can be delivered to every individual level which makes this activity suitable for those with no fear of heights or water as well as those who may not be quite so confident.

Remember to hold your breath and JUMP!

Best thing about it – you don’t have to drag your mum out of relaxation mode on Sunday!  Your voucher is valid for 6 months giving you plenty of time to get a date in the diary that suits you both.

This Mother Day voucher is one that will be remembered for a long time!

To book your Mother’s Day voucher for only £45 give us a call on 028 8164 8390 and we will have it to you within 12 hours!

It is our aim in 2011 to help local charities raise £1 million through our fundraising adventures!

We are 100% committed to supporting charities and firmly believe that the more successful the event, the more money the charity should make, not the more we should make!

So, we offer flexible rates and can often pledge our financial support to the events we are involved in.

And you don’t even need to be a charity to get involved!  You could join one of our Adventures and use it as an opportunity to raise funds for a charity close to your heart! 

How about Canoeing in Canada, Climbing Ben Nevis or even organising as few as 10 friends for Xtreme Coasteering.

Over the coming weeks will be adding much more information to our website and in the mean time, here’s a few ideas and possible payment plans to whet your appetite:

Xtreme Coasteering

Fancy the challenge of a 100ft abseil into the sea? For a small registration fee from each participant, we carry out risk assessments of your chosen location and provide all equipment and qualified instructors to facilitate the event.

Cost per person: £25 – over 35 participants, £30 – 21 to 35 participants, Less than 20 participants £35 per person

Minimum 10 participants

Abseiling

A straightforward and challenging charity fundraising activity. For a small registration fee from each participant, we carry out risk assessments of your chosen location and provide all equipment and qualified instructors to facilitate the event. All you have to do is choose your venue and get permission to abseil there!

Cost per person: £25 – less than 50 participants, £20 – 50 to 100 participants

Minimum 20 participants

Team Challenge

Raising money for your club or society and fancy something a bit different – how about one of our team challenge events? 

Sample activities include: Archery, Problem Solving ‘Crystal Maze’ style, Mountain biking and Raft Building.

Cost per team: £200 – maximum team size 8 participants.

Minimum of 2 Teams required – no competition otherwise

Raft Building

A minimum of 4 teams can participate in constructing a ‘seaworthy’ vessel and racing against the other teams! Not only can this activity be used for fundraising but is also a great activity for pulling your teams together while having mighty craic at a location of your choice!

Cost per team: £100 – 4 people per team

We hope some of these idea’s have sparked your imagination!

Contact The Adventure Team today for a free no obligation consultation where we will offer you only the best advice to plan your next fundraising Event.

And remember to ask us about the discount scheme for Active Charities!

Give us a call on 028 8164 8390 or email info@theadventureteam.co.uk

Northern Ireland Adventureland Weekend on 9th & 10th April will showcase the amazing range of outdoor activities available with a clever scheme offering everyone the opportunity to get outside and try something new – for less money and zero hassle. Moreover the Northern Ireland Adventureland Weekend marks the launch of a whole summer of fun in Northern Ireland.

The Adventure Team along with another 23 outdoor activity providers from all over Northern Ireland are offering activity sessions for only £10 per person. With over 100 activity sessions to choose from you’ll be really spoilt for choice. Go it alone, with a friend or three or take the family – you don’t need a hefty group. Simply book online, go with the flow and see Northern Ireland from a completely different perspective.

If you fancy coming along to any of our events simply click on the links below and book online!

Saturday 9th April

Family Kayaking, 10.00am – 12.00pm

Family Archery and Orienteering, 1.00pm – 5.30pm

Adult Kayaking, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

Sunday 10th April

Family Kayaking, 10.00am – 12.00pm

Family Archery and Orienteering, 1.00pm – 5.30pm

Adult Kayaking, 2.00pm – 4.00pm

This is a brilliant opportunity and at a really attractive price!  Be sure to check out www.outdoorni.com to find out about all the other activities available across Northern Ireland!