Why We Keep Sessions Flexible (And How You Can Always Be Adventure-Ready)

As you probably know by now, the sessions we run differ day to day.

One day you could climbing in the Peak District, the next, out on the water at Girton.

This means that the footwear, clothing and what you might need to bring with you, can often change.

For example, the shoes that you want to wear to Girton, for a day on the water are going to be different to those that you're going to wear on a snowy day out up Mam Tor.

Ever wondered what a day at Girton actually looks like?

Same with your clothing. If you’re going out caving, you aren’t going to want to wear your best walking trousers or warmest fleece.

Where as a day out on the hill, in the middle of winter, you're probably going to want to chuck on your warmest fleece.

So it can tricky to know what to wear day to day.

So, you would think that the best thing for us to do, would be to tell you the session we have planned, a week in advance, so you make sure that you've washed the right kit and it’s laid out neatly on your bed the night before, ready for you the following morning.

However, the great outdoors isn’t always that straightforward and it doesn’t necessarily care about the plans we’ve made, either.

This means that our plans sometimes have to change last minute. For example, when we’re planning to go to the bushcraft site, there are certain weathers that make it unsafe for us to go.

For instance, when there is high winds or storms we need to stay well clear of the forest, due to falling trees and branches.

This session would've been pretty unsafe, if trees were falling down around us...

This means that the evening before, or sometimes even as late as the morning of, the session that was planned has to change.

Now, we understand this can be frustrating. Not only because of the clothing situation, but also because some of the Adventurers find it difficult dealing with such a sudden change in circumstance.

It can be really disappointing to look forward to going out on the water all week, only to get to the day and find out things have changed.

So, we’ve found that the best solution to this problem, is to not tell you the session that we have planned, until you arrive at centre that morning.

This allows us to have a much better and a clear understanding of whether or not the weather is going to be kind to us.

How Do I Know What To Wear Then?

This is a little tricky, as we can't really tell you that until we tell you what session it is that we have planned.

It's a bit of a catch 22.

We know, this isn’t really the answer that you’re looking for, but it’s the way in which we’ve found it work best. Not just for us, but for the Adventurers too.

Not only does it avoid the promise of going out on a certain session, only to be derailed by the weather.

But it also means that there’s not doubt as to the safety of our activities.

Regardless of what the Adventurers want to do, safety comes first and foremost.

Even if the group has arrived at the location, changed, and is ready to begin the activity, there may be times when the instructor determines that it's not safe to proceed.

Making a decision about the weather before we head out makes this process much easier, helping to avoid the disappointment of reaching a location only to find we can’t go ahead with the planned activity.

Do You Just Make Up Sessions In The Morning Then?

No. A lot of time and planning goes into our sessions.

Not only do we plan sessions about a month or so in advance, there is also careful consideration that goes into each session to make sure that the sessions are designed to help Adventurer achieve their progressive targets (find out more about those here) and are designed to make sure that there is the most amount of time spent, actually doing the activity planned.

What Should I Wear Then?

To make sure that you have a suitable wardrobe for all occasions, you can check out our guide as to what we’d recommend throughout your time with the service.

It’s pretty lengthy but provides guides on where to buy, what to buy and what to look out for.

Briefly, here is what we’d recommend you bring with you every day, to make sure that you have a comfortable day out, regardless of what activity it is that you’re doing:

1. Rucksacks - a good rucksack is one of the most important items you’ll bring with you on your adventures. It go everywhere you go and carries all your important bits (including the most important part - your lunch).

   
   

2. Layers - layers come in different forms that are listed below:

   
   

   1. Waterproof Jacket - a waterproof doesn’t have to cost you the world, but a good waterproof jacket that keeps you dry will come in handy on every adventure you go on.

      
      

   2. Mid Layers - It's always useful to have a couple of mid layers. This can be a full length zip or 1/4 zip fleeces.

      
      

      A heavy one of winter and a lighter one for summer is always a good idea. They don't have to be expensive and having a couple of these makes your life much easier as you can stuff them in your bag and they allow you to quickly add or take off a layer.

      
      

   3. Waterproof Trousers - like a jacket, waterproof trousers are vital to have in your rucksack. They not only help you when the weather turns sour, but they can add an extra layer of warmth on the colder days too. As well as something to sit on to have your lunch. They’re also super useful to have in your bag to get changed into, in case your trousers get too muddy to go home in!

      
      

3. Walking Boots - unless you’re heading out for a day on the water, having a good pair of walking boots will make a big difference to the enjoyment of your day.

   
   

   Regardless of whether you’re climbing, hill walking or down at the bushcraft site, a good pair of walking boots will be your best friend.

   
   

If you bring that kit with you everyday, then you’ll be pretty okay regardless of what session your instructor has in store for you.

There are a few instances when you’ll need to make a slight adjustment to the kit that’s been outlined above. They are:

Water Sports Sessions - When you go out on the water, the chances are that the sunning is shinning and your going to get wet. An old pair of trainers and a pair of shorts are always advisable. A towel is also a really good thing to pop in your rucksack. Along with a change of clothes for the way home.

Caving - Nothing much changes, other than your footwear. We recommend that you bring some wellies with you.

As you can see from this cave, things get pretty muddy!

Also, some clothes that you don’t mind getting muddy and wet. Most of the time you will have a caving suit on, but it can sometimes still get through.

For both a paddle session and a caving session, we will try and let you know the night before what the plan is for the following day.

If plans have to change due to the weather, we will send those in that group a text message before 8am to let you know.

That’s pretty much it. Tick off those items listed above and you’ll be okay not matter what session it is that you head out on.

If you make sure that you cover the basics, have a spare pair of old trainers on hand during the summer (for the water sessions) you should be just fine.

Ready to become an Adventurer?

We are dedicated to helping our Adventurers achieve their potential through adventure and we’re always looking for new Adventurers to join us on our journey.

Fill out this simple form and someone will be in touch to get you started on your adventure with us!

See You Out There!