It has never been such an exciting time for outdoor education, with the value of 'learning outside the classroom' being recognised with its increasing emphasis within the National Curriculum.

Pendine Outdoor Education Centre has been providing residential adventure trips to local schoolchildren for over 60 years and has recently undergone refurbishment and a total rethink of the activities on offer. This has resulted in the return of schools such as Saundersfoot, Lamphey, and Stackpole.

"We still have the traditional activities such as climbing and surf skiing, but are very proactive in our approach to new activities," said centre co-ordinator, Gethin Williams. "Having teamed up with a local 70-acre woodland, we have use of roundhouses for camping, cooking and forest skills, and it is the venue for the exciting new junior gorge walk, known as the 'Xtreme stream'. We have also built an indoor bouldering wall.

"As well as getting out into the schools to help develop their on-site facilities, such as the 5:60 funded climbing wall in Pembroke, we have become a venue for training teachers in the new 'Outdoor learning cards', and during the visits of Saundersfoot and Cosheston in June, we will host the launch of the Welsh Assembly Government's 'All Wales Guidance on Educational Visits'," added Gethin.

For further details of packages available, please contact Gethin Williams on 01994 453659, or e-mail him at [email protected]">[email protected]