schools + youth groups…
School Activity Programmes & School Outdoor
Education
Choosing a programme of school adventure activities for your group day, weekend or week long residential courses can be fraught with difficulty. Marrying the disparate needs of a broad spectrum of young people can prove challenging.
Equally, finding a location, that is accessible, yet far removed from the ?norm? - one that brings young people into contact with a true natural wilderness area can be a logistical headache.
At the Ice Factor we make your choices significantly easier. The Ice Factor is the National Centre for Ice Climbing, The Regional Centre of Excellence for Climbing and home to the UK?s newest state of the art outdoor adventure course - we have won more awards in our 5 years than any other adventure activity provider in the UK, including the top tourism award in Scotland for 5 consecutive years. The ability to offer Ice Climbing for school groups is of course unique, but it is the range of indoor and outdoor activities which ensures the Ice Factor is a natural choice for your school and youth group adventure activities.
Being a 4 Star Visit Scotland facility, you can rightly expect our standards to be high. Our world class facilities are matched by graduate staff with an exemplary record for safety and service. We operate a “Challenge by Choice” philosophy. Students are able to step out of their comfort zones and accomplish challenges they would previously have labeled as impossible. This is facilitated by a menu of activities, unrivaled in the UK. Your group can chose from Ice Climbing, Rock Climbing, Mountaineering and Expedition Training (for CCF, Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme), Skyride Adventure Course with 10 challenge elements (Scramble Nets, Hanging Vines, Tightrope Walk, Rickety Bridge, Burmese Bridge, Post Man?s Walk, Swaying Climbing Wall, Hither Dither Sway Platforms culminating in the Leap of Faith), Giant Swing, Abseiling, Raft Building Watersports, Pier Jumping, Orienteering, Hill Walking, Outdoor Rock and Crag Sessions and Nature Trails. Sauna & Steam Rooms.
We take the time with groups to ensure their trip is a life enhancing experience. The objective is not just to have a super day, weekend or week, but to provide young people with a toolbox of new skills and attitudes which will play a pivotal role in their future development, both in the classroom and in their wider social life.
The accommodation is also 4 star, with groups accommodated 50m behind the centre in a range of 3,4, 6 or 8 bedroom dorms, all en-suit, with extensive drying facilities. The accommodation nestles on the bank of the River Leven, with stunning views of the Mamore Mountains.
The Ice Factor is located in Lochaber, the Outdoor Capital of the UK. The natural
environment offers unrivaled scenery and a unique cultural backdrop. Further details of
the centre, accommodation and packages available for School and Youth Groups is
available to download -see menu on the right.
Please call us to make an informal enquiry, we look forward to giving you the warmest of West Highland Welcomes - Ceud Mile Failte.
Download the School Activities Brochure
Indoor Ice for Schools + Youth Groups
Here school and youth groups of up to 12 people at a time can hire their own instructor(s) for a private lesson at their required level on our ice walls. Lessons consist of 1 and a half hours on the ice with half an hour spent helping to get the group equipped and returned at the end of the session. Lessons are available most days just telephone to check availability and to book. Experience has shown us that under 14s may struggle with the nature of the climbing. They may be part of a session but we have a limited amount of equipment for smaller users. Contact us to discuss your group and whether it is suitable.
Click here for Prices!
Indoor Rock for Schools + Youth Groups
Here school and youth groups can hire instructors to go climbing for an hour, or an hour and a half session on the rock walls.
Click here for Prices
Why not make a day of it and bring them for Rock & Ice?
Don't see what you want?
If you don't see exactly what you are after then drop us line by snail mail or e-mail, or give us a call on the number below.
We can also put together bespoke teaching/guided days and half days from a gentle walk or small group easy cragging session to a full on traverse of the Cuillins or a technical winter route!
Note that amongst our instructional staff there is not only an in depth knowledge of our own particular area around Glen Coe and Ben Nevis, but also other mountain areas such as Skye (i.e. for guided trips of the Munros or complete Cuillin Ridge traverses), Torridon, the Cairngorms and the wilderness areas of Knoydart and Fisherfield.
For more details see the 'Outdoor Courses' section.