UCLan Outdoors Division

UCLan Outdoors student Jonathan Bradley spent two weeks whitewater kayaking on the River Soca, Slovenia, earlier this year. He was joined by around 20 first and second year Outdoor Leadership and Adventure Sports Coaching undergraduates, who travelled across Europe for a course designed to enhance their learning experience. Jonathan has kindly provided us with a blog about the trip: The Soca Valley offers stunning scenery: 2000m peaks covered in pine forests and capped with snow rise above the valley floor, whilst the River Soca winds its way through the valley like a turquoise ribbon, crystal clear and sparkling under the sun. We set up camp right next to the river in a small town south of Bovec, which would serve as our base camp for the trip. The plan for the duration of our stay was to paddle different sections of the Soca, starting with easy Grade 1/2 sections before progressing onto harder 2/3 and 3/4 sections of the river. The coaches that joined and guided us on the ...

The Frontier Education Programme aims to facilitate personal development and promote learning in the outdoors. Members of the SSTO Outdoor team deliver the programme for UCLan in a number of locations, including Snowdonia National Park, North Wales. The programme is primarily a chance for students to get to know others on their course and develop a course identity. It provides them with the opportunity to experience and really understand the value of team work and supporting their peers to achieve a goal. This helps with future group tasks or assignments, whilst also assisting each other with the challenges faced on their course. Students can explore ‘Team roles’, to understand what their preferred roles are and those of their fellow team members. Students also develop key employability skills including communication, decision making, problem-solving and leadership skills. Activities include canoeing, gorge waking, climbing and abseiling. Sports Coaching and Development unde...

Two of the world's top mountain athletes are coming to UCLan to showcase the virtues of Mountaineering, Climbing and the Greater ranges Sherpa. Kenton Cool and Neil Gresham will deliver lectures and host a discussion about mountaineering and rock climbing. The event, organised by Preston Mountaineering Club , will follow an early evening of climbing masterclasses at West View Leisure Centre featuring Neil and Ed Hamer. The purpose of the evening is to help raise awareness and monies for the Paldorje Education Fund. This provides much-needed head-start scholarships to less fortunate Sherpa children in Nepal. The event takes place on Friday, 31 October, 2014. For more information, including booking details, please click here .