Uniformed Public Service students took part in a three day expedition as part of their course in The Forest of Dean between the 28th and 30th May 2012.
This was our third year of using Rushmere Farm campsite at Coleford and the weather was nice and sunny this year and so plenty of sun cream was needed by students and staff alike.
The first day consisted of travelling to the site, setting up the site, some sports and planning the walk for Day Two.
The 12 mile walk went well with all students completing the walk with only a few blisters. All of the groups experienced getting lost at least once which added a few miles on to the walk, but all found their way in the end. They all practiced their navigation skills and leadership and team working skills and also learnt a lot about themselves especially when confronted by a few steep hills.
Following the walk everyone enjoyed a BBQ at the campsite before an early start to Day Three when the students went to Wyedean Activity Centre to take part in a raft building exercise. Students had to complete a competition on the River Wye with some spending more time in the water than on it.
Course Leader, Neil Metcalfe said: "All in all it was an enjoyable few days for both staff and students and enabled the classroom learning of various subjects to be put into practice."
Newbury College offers Public Service courses at Levels 1 to 3. Enrol now for September or click here to find out more.
Published just ahead of Adult Learners' Week (12-18 May), the National Institute of Adult Continuing Education (NIACE) released headline findings from their 2012 Participation Survey on Friday 11 May 2012 revealing that 3 in 5 adults (62%) have not participated in learning in the last 3 years and over one-third (36%) have not participated at all since they left full-time education.
Speaking to Tony Blackburn on BBC Radio Berkshire, Newbury College Principal Dr Anne Murdoch explained that "one of the difficulties for adults is a lack of time" and also attributed cost as an obstacle to many adults continuing in education.
As the largest provider of adult education in West Berkshire, Newbury College is helping adults to return to education with cost effective Bite Size courses in many popular subjects that offer new skills in short three-hour sessions.
Whist 3 in 5 adults are not participating at the present time, Dr Murdoch said that it is important to note that "2 in 5 adults are engaged in education with 115,000 over 60s currently enjoying being students".
Adult education is "a very good way to make new friends" and in the current economic climate, new skills are a valuable investment for career progression and opening new opportunities in business.
Business students received a visit from guest speaker Anthony Fleming on 17th April 2012.
Mr Fleming, from Thatcham based coaching mentoring company Passion 4Life, believes that it is "a pleasure to share experience with young minds. They have so much potential and in reality they could accomplish so much if they just believe in themselves."
On the 26th April 2012, Uniformed Public Services took part in a combined map reading and navigation exercise at Combe Gibbet.
The gibbet was erected in 1676 for the purpose of hanging the bodies of George Broomham and Dorothy Newman who were hanged for murdering George's wife Martha, and their son Robert after they discovered the truth of the couple's affair.
Placed in such a prominent location as a warning, to deter others from committing crimes, nowadays it is a popular local tourist attraction with good views of the surrounding area.
The weather was very windy and rainy on the day the students visited but the trip allowed the courses an opportunity to get out in the fresh air and put some of the theory learned in class and in the college ground to practice.
The group walked along the Combe Gibbet ridge for a few kilometres and were put to the test by orientating their maps to the ground and pointing out certain features on the ground using grid references.