Bridgwater & Taunton College’s first year Sport students have just returned from their much anticipated annual residential trip to the Sealyham Activity Centre, Haverfordwest. This trip is a vital part of the sport provision at the College as it gives students an excellent opportunity early on to bond and form effective working relationships.
This year, over 60 students from the Level 3 Sport & Exercise Science, Level 3 Sport, Level 3 Sport & Rugby Coaching and YMCA Fitness Instructing courses thrived in a range of outdoor activities led by the centre’s talented and experienced staff team. The activities included surfing, kayaking, climbing, coasteering and canoeing.
Level 3 Sport & Exercise Science Lecturer Meg Tuck explained;
“As always, this trip was an excellent chance for the new cohort of sport students to get to know their peers whilst taking part in new activities and pushing their personal boundaries. It is also a superb opportunity for students to begin to build resilience and a more positive mind-set; two key life skills that help set them apart, stretching, challenging and inspiring them to reach their goals.”
The teaching team also enjoyed accepting the challenges of the range of exciting outdoor activities and see it as a great opportunity to add value to the outstanding student experience at the College.
Sealyham Senior Instructor Joe Rollings said;
“This week is a great opportunity for the students to enhance their coaching skills in an unfamiliar environment and in sports and activities that they are not accustomed to.”
The experiences shared by students during the week will bond them for a lifetime, whether it was conquering fear of the dark and the ghost stories of the bivvi, overcoming a fear of heights during climbing, or swimming with seals whilst coasteering at spectacular Abereiddy. The range of experiences provide the perfect opportunity for students to develop effective life skills such as independence, resilience, time management, organisation and communication.
Reflecting on a successful week, Level 3 Sport & Exercise Science student Georgia Yarde said;
“Going to Sealyham was the best way to help me get to know the rest of the people on my course as well as become closer with the people in my tutor group. Coasteering was the best activity, even though it pushed me hugely out of my comfort zone. Going to Sealyham has set me up for the next two years at college with both enjoying the course and being surrounded by the best people.”
Level 3 Sport and Exercise Science Course Leader Alex Leach added;
“It was great to see the students thrive within an unfamiliar environment and work together as an effective unit to overcome their collective phobias. The students displayed excellent skills and qualities that will enable them to surpass their targeted grades on their respective courses, giving them an impressive range of post-college destination options. I would like to thank the talented staff team at the Sealyham Activity Centre for putting on such a fantastic and engaging week for the students.”
All students thoroughly enjoyed this residential trip and gained a lot from the experience. If you would like to know more about studying at Bridgwater & Taunton College, call Information and Guidance on 01278441234.
