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Schools & Youth Groups at Bray Lake
Watersports
Bray Lake Watersports
have been successfully, and safely, introducing young people to
the thrill and excitement of watersport for 25 years, either through
organised school trips or via a range of courses offered during
the Easter, summer and half term breaks.
Whether a school trip
is an end of term treat or a series of classes leading to recognised
National Governing Body qualifications and skill levels, watersports
has something for everyone. In our experience the schools who have
visited us before, return again the following year, simply because
the children love the experience; undoubtedly a trip to Bray Lake
will be the talk of the playground.
It is appreciated that
residential courses are an attractive proposition, however, by visiting
a local facility, such as Bray Lake, there is the opportunity for
your pupils to return to us individually to pursue the watersport
that has inspired them most.
Bray Lake Watersports
openly encourages the participation of young people in watersports
at all levels through our junior and school programme, our after-school
Junior Club and through the sponsorship of local aspiring racers.
Many of our instructors
and staff have found their future vocation after being introduced
to the thrill of watersports at Bray Lake. Who knows, that first
school visit to Bray Lake may be the start of something new and
exciting for one of your pupils.
Our system of teaching
young people has been designed and developed to pass on skills and
techniques in a fun and informal format. All our instructors are
highly trained under-going in-house instruction to highlight specific
issues and operational requirements relevant to Bray Lake and our
School and Junior programme.
For a full Schools Brochure
please contact the Centre and
we will gladly send you all the information required.
Health & Safety
Bray Lake has been teaching
watersports for over 25 years and is one of most highly respected
centres in the country. We openly encourage the participation of
young people in watersports at all levels through our junior and
schools programme, Junior Club activities and the sponsorship of
local aspiring racers.
Our primary aim is to
ensure that all our activities are fun, rewarding, but above all
safe. Today all commercial centres offering adventurous activities
have to comply with strict Government legislation and guide lines
as set down by the sports Governing Bodies. This basically means
that waters sport participation at recognised centres has become
one of the safest forms of adventurous activities.
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Centre Recognition
The Centre is recognised by the Royal Yachting Association
(RYA) and British Canoe Union (BCU), and holds an ‘Adventure
Activities Licence’ (AALA approval). It is required
to have yearly inspections by these National Governing Bodies
(NGB’s) to ensure that it meets with industry standards.
All areas of the operation are inspected with close attention
given to health and safety, insurance, coaching standards,
equipment quality and condition. A copy of our Inspection
Certificate is available on request, please contact
the Centre.
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Centre Health and Safety
Policy and Operating Procedures
The Centre is required by law to have a written document that
states its Health and Safety Policy and its day to day Operating
Procedures. This is checked yearly as part of the centre recognition
process and is updated on a regular basis to reflect new industry
standards and to ensure continued safe practice. All staff
are required to work within the operational guidelines set
down by the Operating Procedures Manual. A copy of our Operating
Procedures Manual is available on request, please contact
the Centre.
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Centre Staff
All instruction at Bray Lake is provided by qualified RYA
or BCU instructors. All of our staff undergo in-house training
to ensure that health and safety issues specific to Bray Lake
are covered. Our instructor / student ratios comply with NGB
recommendations. All of our staff are first aid qualified,
qualified powerboat drivers, and are in radio contact with
base at all times. Copies of our staff qualifications are
available on request, please contact the Centre.
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Buoyancy Aids, Wetsuits
and Helmets
Buoyancy aids are compulsory and are provided for all participants.
They are fitted by our instructors to ensure correct size
and usage. Wetsuits will be provided by the Centre for activities
that involve regular immersion, such as windsurfing, but will
otherwise be at the discretion of the Senior Instructor on
the day. The use of helmets for dinghy sailing and kayaking
will also be at the discretion of the Senior Instructor on
the day.
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Safety Boats
All groups, with the exception of kayaking & canoeing,
will have coach boats assigned to them whilst a dedicated
safety boat will be on stand by when groups are afloat.
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Equipment
All of our equipment is replaced on a regular basis and undergoes
daily maintenance checks to ensure good safe working condition.
All of our junior equipment is designed and chosen specifically
to assist young people in learning new skills.
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Water confidence
All participants, including adults, involved in 'on water'
activities must have a degree of water confidence. OUr
buoyancy aids provide more than adequate floatation therefore
whilst participants do not necessarily need to be able to
swim, although we do need to be notified of any non-swimmers,
they should be confident enough not to panic whilst on the
water.
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Centre Insurance
Bray Lake Watersports is required by law to have adequate Public
Liability Insurance. Please be aware that our Insurance policy
does not cover against personal injury or loss or damage of
personal possessions. For school groups attending the Lake it
is recommended to qualify their own insurance policies for out
of school excursions. A copy of our Public Liability Insurance
is available on request, please contact
the Centre. |
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What to Bring
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An OLD pair of trainers or plimsolls, that
you don’t mind them getting wet and muddy. (Children will
not be allowed on the water without soft soled shoes). Open
toed sandals are not recommended. |
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An OLD pair of shorts that can be worn over
a wetsuit to help reduce wear. |
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Swim wear and a towel. |
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Sun cream and a hat – even on cloudy days! |
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Waterproof jacket or cagoule. |
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Packed lunch (for full day courses). |
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Snacks (for half day course). |
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A water bottle. |
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Spare change for refreshments from the café. |
How to Book Your
School Group
A website such as this
can only give an impression of what we offer. Seeing is believing!
Arrange a site visit when a member of our staff will show you around
the Centre’s facilities as well as giving you an idea of the
kind of equipment available for use by school groups. Please contact
the Centre for further details.
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If you already know what you would like for your school group,
booking couldn’t be easier. |
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Contact the Centre with the dates required, approximate timings
and numbers (see ratios below), and an
invoice for the deposit of 25% of total will be issued for payment
by return. |
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Two weeks prior to your visit we will require final numbers
and timings, as well as notification of any students suffering
from a medical condition such as epilepsy, asthma, diabetes,
angina or other heart complaints, or allergies. Children deemed
to be suffering with serious conditions will be allowed to participate
only with the consent of their parents/guardians, their school
and the Centre management. |
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Other medical concerns. Due to the communal nature of
our school wetsuits every precaution is taken to ensure that
they remain clean and hygenic by a process of thorough rinsing
in Milton fluid after each use. Understandably we cannot
allow children with suspected or diagnosed skin infections (such
as Impetigo) to use our school wetsuits in case of cross infection.
Please contact the Centre to discuss the options available. |
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A booking form and medical declaration form will needed to
be completed, and are available at the time of booking from
the Centre. |
Ratios and Surcharges
Strict ratios are adhered
to during the provision of our watersports activities, however,
to ensure a continued cost effective delivery of our services the
following ratios and surcharges have been introduced. If you
have any concerns relating to this please contact the Centre and
we can discuss your particular circumstances.
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Activity
Days
A strict instructor
/ student ratio is adhered to at all times and currently stands
at 1:8 (and multiples thereof) for all activity days or half
days. If numbers exceed this ratio by ONLY one, an additional
instructor is required and there is a surcharge of £25.
The surcharge is only payable where numbers exceed this ratio
by only one, otherwise cost per person remains unchanged.
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Series
of 2hr Sessions
Schools which book
these sessions must be aware that the maximum number per group
is 8 individuals, there is no minimum number. |
Booking Conditions
| 1. |
A deposit of 25% of the total is due in full at the time of
booking. An invoice will be sent to the school. |
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A confirmed booking only takes place on receipt of a completed
booking form and deposit. |
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Final confirmation of numbers is due 2 weeks
in advance of activity. Final payment will be worked out from
this confirmed number. |
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Payment in full is due on the day of the activity. |
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Failure to attend the activity without due notification will
result in the course fee being forfeited. |
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Refunds may be made where at least four weeks notice of cancellation
has been given and we are unable to offer suitable alternative
dates for the course. |
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Should circumstances or weather make teaching impossible then
mutually suitable new dates will be arranged. |
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Insurance against personal injury, accident or loss whilst
undertaking a course or hiring any equipment is the responsibility
of the client. The Lake owners and operators will accept no
liability for such injury, accident, damage or loss excepting
liability for death or personal injury resulting from negligence
attributable to and fault of the lake owners and or operators.
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All minors require parental consent to partake in activities
at Bray Lake Watersports. For schools and groups this is deemed
the responsibility of the school or group leader. |
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All participants require the medical declaration form to be
completed. |
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All participants should be in good health and be confident
in the water. |
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Telephone
Bookings
Top Of Page
Multi-activity
watersports days are the perfect way to spend a day
at Bray Lake and have been a popular choice for school
groups of all ages from the start. It allows young people
that chance to experience the thrill and challenges
of more than one activity over the period of the day.
Adventure
Days have been a popular activity with school groups
over the last few years and offer a great alternative
to the multi-activity 
There
are two options available for school groups wishing
to concentrate on an individual sport thereby getting
their students working towards National Governing Body
(NGB) certificates of competence i.e Royal Yachting
Assocation (RYA) and British Canoe Union (BCU) awards,
GCSE or NVQ syllabus and/or Duke of Edinburgh Awards.
