Adventure & Exploration
Developing skills beyond the classroom
Adventure and exploration at Kimbolton
Our unique Adventure and Exploration Programme unites pupil experiences in outdoor pursuits, experiential learning and exploration from Pre-School up to Sixth Form.
The programme:
- Delivers high quality and sometimes unique experiences
- Is integral to our Learning DNA
- Builds in a coherent way throughout each pupil’s time at Kimbolton
- Supports the holistic development of every pupil.
Programme structure
Pupils progress through stages that reflect increasing skill, challenge and responsibility.
Each stage has a strong identity, building motivation and a sense of belonging.
In Senior School, pupil begin as Course Setters and become Expeditioners in Year 9.
Programme experiences including:
- Archery club
- Ingrams sailing and canoeing
- Curiosity club
- Ingrams Astronomy club
- Team-building residential (Year 7)
- Normandy immersive experience (Year 8)
- Junior and Senior ski trips
- Barcelona immersion trip
- Kimbolton Environment Initiative (KEI)
- Combined Cadet Force
- Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Pupils build skills such as problem-solving, courage, independence, resilience and adaptability.
Outdoor adventures at Kimbolton
Our Outdoor Pursuits Department offers fantastic opportunities to:
- Sail
- Canoe
- Climb
- Windsurf
- Powerboat
Highly qualified, dedicated staff provide an extensive programme either as part of Games or during after school activities.
Kimbolton School is an RYA (Royal Yachting Association) Recognised Training Centre and is also affiliated to British Canoeing.
Canoeing
Canoeing is available as a Games option from the Third Form upwards.
After-school canoeing is available for the First and Second Forms.
Our Senior canoe team (5th/Y10 – U6th Forms) competes regularly in marathon races, notably the Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race (DW) – ‘the canoeist’s Everest’. Starting in Devizes, Wiltshire, and finishing downstream of Westminster Bridge in London, the race is 125 miles long and passes 77 locks around which competitors must carry their boats.
Training takes place on local rivers and canals from September to February; this is followed by the Waterside Series of races and finally DW, which takes place over Easter weekend. We have a strong record of success in the race.
Sailing
We have a large, modern fleet of sailing dinghies based at nearby Grafham Water Sailing Club. These include Picos, Lasers, Fireflies and 2000s, as well as exhilarating Dart 16 catamarans and the ultimate test of ability – the 29er!
From the Third Form, pupils can opt to sail during their Games lesson; no experience is necessary as the staff and more experienced sailors will show beginners (quite literally!) the ropes.
Team sailors train at weekends and take part in wide variety of races, from club racing at Grafham Water and matches against other schools, to regional and national competitions organised by the British Schools Dinghy Racing Association and National School Sailing Association.
To join the sailing team, pupils should be able to competently sail around a triangle course (e.g. RYA Stage 3 / Level 2 ability). Our holiday sailing trips are popular, most recently to Portland, Dorset.
