Opening Times

Year round. Start and finish according to the tides. Journeying aboard guided Voyager/Voyageur 12-seat canoes.

What makes this a great venue for School group Fun or Educational Visits?

Voyager 12-seat, guided canoes on the tidal River Dart, a ria, offer a taste of wilderness travel. The venue lacks straight lines and right angles. Its work surface is liquid and constantly in motion. Its surroundings are irregular. True teamwork is required to develop in order to make a safe journey and return.

What are the Curriculum Topics or Benefit to the students from a visit?

The chief benefit is pride in having taken on and won the out-of-the-box challenge offered by a Voyager 9 metre canoe 5 hour journey on an inland sea. Participants take home the shared hard work, the easy bits, the silly bits, the surroundings, the seal that nuzzled the boat, the voices of the wind, the power of the tide, the character and colours of the canoes. Maybe the poetry often found in canoeing.

What are the activities?

Appropriate conduct on site. Correctly fitting personal buoyancy, getting and giving names. Canoe paddle handling. Canoe history. Canoe good conduct, responsibility and safety afloat. Embarkation. Use of the paddle as a team, introduction. Local history according to interest, wildlife spotting. Tales of the river, conduct, characters, smugglers, ghosts. Sweets handout at mile 1. Optional ice cream halt at mile 2.5, disembark, re-embark. Picnic/bbq destination at mile 4-5. Flint and steel firemaking. Rigging a basha. Being in the outdoors away from roads and buildings. Seeing the turn of the tide, use of it as an engine. Paddling home. Sometimes a race. Sometimes a silent mile. Disembark and prepare to leave.

What is the age range of the activities?

The youngest guest-crew so far was little Sarah, aged 12 days; the eldest was Mr George, 87.

Sample programme of the activities:

As above.

What materials to you provide or suggest groups bring to support the visit?

Each Voyager canoe comes with steersman/guide plus necessary canoe equipment, including a campfire brazier, a bbq kitchen when required comprising wok tools and olive oil, plus tea coffee and hot chocolate.
Guest-crew must dress appropriately for the time of year and for the day's forecast weather, including raingear and/or sunscreen. Footwear - sandals, trainers or wellingtons depending on season. Guest-crew also need to bring for themselves adequate picnic or bbq food (sausages are best), plus stuff to go.

What are the minimum and maximum group sizes and the free Teacher Ratio?

The exact ratio is to be agreed and confirmed in advance. For under 8's, 2 children to 1 adult is a guide. For 9's to 13's, 2 adults to 9 or 10 children, depending on discussion. For 14's to 18's, 1 adult to 10 or 11 youngsters. Maximum guest-crew including adults 12. Minimum with children, 8. Each guest-crew must include 1 adult both familiar to and with the youngsters. CanoeAdventures does not offer pastoral care.

Do you have or how do you arrange risk assessment?

CanoeAdventures makes available to enquirers a Standing Risk Assessment as provided to the Adventure Activities Licensing Service.

Do you offer Teacher familiarisation days?

Yes.

What facilities are there for school groups for food and drink, shop etc?

As above. Guest-crew need to provision themselves before arrival.

Is specific clothing required?

As above. Guest-crew need to bring their own clothing and footwear appropriate to the day.

Do you have first aid on site?

Each steersman/guide is current First Aid qualified and carries a First Aid kit. Each Voyager is VHF equipped.

Are there any restrictions on photos, copyright etc?

No.

Additional information.

Booking is essential. Special needs groups are welcome. In case of foul weather, bookings may be postponed; it is good to have a Plan B just in case.