Porthpean Outdoor Education Centre

Last updated: 02/02/2010 Add to My Bookmarks

Porthpean Outdoor Education Centre and Camp site is situated just outside of St Austell and enjoys spectacular views over the sea and local countryside.  Porthpean OE Centre provides more than just a summer camp as it is itself a centre of excellence for outdoor pursuits, open all year round, providing an excellent mobile outdoor activity service across Cornwall. Location Map.

The Centre is equipped with its own indoor climbing wall and equipped to provide water and land based educational activities throughout the year. The centre has highly qualified and experienced staff who are able to deliver a range of outdoor activities to a wide range of age groups and ability levels.  Most activities take place within easy walking distance of the Centre.

In the summer months the Porthpean Centre transforms yet again into a buzzing camp for activity seeking groups where staff provide hands on outward bound educational activities.  Sleeping accommodation consists of large canvas tents all of which have floor boards and mattresses. The camping element is supported by a range of permanent buildings including a centrally heated dining hall, staff lounge, toilet and shower blocks, drying room and First Aid room. Tents are arranged in 'villages', accommodating a maximum of 32 children and up to 4 leaders.

Bookings and Options

The Porthpean Camp can be booked for a range of three options for residential stay.  The Porthpean Outdoor Education Centre also invites bookings for activities year-round through its non-residential activity programme and mobile services. To book any of the options below please use our Online Booking Service

Option A

• Days: Monday to Friday (5 day/4 night)
• Includes: Accommodation, Full catering, a daytime programme on each day of your stay, ranging from adventurous activities to educational/cultural events, plus all four evenings social activities.

Option B

• Days: Monday to Wednesday - or - Wednesday to Friday (3day/2night)
• Includes: Accomodation, full catering. One allocated activity day, where possible this will be a water sports day. Extra activity days may be purchased subject to availabilty.

Option C

• Days: Low cost weekend option (Friday evening to Sunday afternoon) There is no 'activity day' entitlement.
• Includes: Accommodation , Full catering (Subject to availability 'activity days' may be booked as extra)

Porthpean Camp Optional Day Bookings

Porthpean Camp may also be booked for your group to attend on a day basis only. This non-residential option allows for activities to be purchased and undertaken with Cornwall Learning Outdoors without the need to organise over-night staff cover, this option exists subject to availability. It may also be possible to provide another location through our mobile service convenient to the group.

Planning your Programme

After your booking has been confirmed you will be sent advice indicating on which days your Centre led activities have been set. It will be necessary for some schools to have an activity on Monday or Friday (travelling day). Centre staff will make every effort to cooperate with your schools arrival and departure times.
Centre staff can assist in most aspects of your programme planning so if you require information beyond that which you have received please telephone in advance of your stay.

• The minimum centre charge is based on a group size of 22.
• One leader place will be free per 10 child paying places.
• Evening activities may be purchased as additional activities for Option B. Please contact the Centre for the latest update on programme availability.
• Please note that with Option B, the allocated activity day may not be on the 2nd day.

Smoking is not allowed at the Centre.

Accommodation

The Porthpean OE Centre is open all year-round for activities and during the summer months offer residential facilities comprising "tented" villages.  Please follow this link for more about the Porthpean accommodation.

Activities Days

The staff at Porthpean OE Centre can organise various daytime and evening activities for your group.  For more on the year round activities on offer please see our Mobile Activities page or contact the Centre directly.

Activities

• Open canoeing
• Sea kayaking
• Sit on top kayaking
• White water kayaking and canoeing
• Sailing
• Kayak and canoe expeditions
• Cycling
• Shelter building
• Orienteering
• Rock pooling
• Indoor climbing wall
• Archery
• High and low ropes course
• Environmental coastal walks
• Team building and personal development through problem solving and adventure challenges

Option A: (includes all 4 evening activities)

A full five day programme consisting of

• The Beach - Exploring the coastline in canoes or kayaks or coastal traversing along the cliffs by foot 
• Archery and Climbing - A day climbing on our indoor wall and testing your skill in the archery range
• Fowey - Cruising the Fowey estuary in our Drascombe gig and canoe rafts on the river
• High Ropes - Test your nerve on the leap of faith, fly down the zip wire and tackle the Jacob's ladder. Build a crate tower and descend the abseil wall
• Cycling and Problem Solving - Learning good communication skills while working in a small team then a cycle ride through the woods on a circular course

Option B: Includes one water day activity. (Other activity days can be arranged) 

Activity Evenings

The staff at Porthpean OE Centre can organise various daytime and evening activities for your group.  For more on the year round activities on offer please see our Mobile Activities page or contact the Centre directly.

At the Porthpean Centre your evenings are your own. We can however provide a range of activities to keep your group involved in the spirit of activity fostered throughout our Outdoor Centres. If you wish the Porthpean Centre to provide an evenings activity please inform the Centre staff when making your booking.

Travel and Catering

Residents must make their own travel arrangements, unless otherwise stated.  The Porthpean Centre booking options (A, B & C) all offer full-catering to its residents.

Terms and Conditions for Booking with Cornwall Learning Outdoors