activity details
As an outdoor centre an essential part of what we do are the activities that we run. The details of these activites are below, as well as information on the minimum age of participants and session details. A session usually means one morning, afternoon or evening. Half session activities will normally be combined with another, but can be extended on request.
- Archery
In this introduction to a popular sport, participants will lean the parts of a bow and arrow, instruction on archery techniques and practise firing arrows at targets.
- Aerial Runway
Participants build self confidence as they challenge themselves by clipping into a safety harness and then are suspended from a cable attatched to a tree platform to slide down to the cables end.
- Bouldering
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This activitiy involves travelling up a riverbed while participating in small games and challenged designed for wet fun! There are 3 levels of adventure, depending on age and ability. Local Bouldering involves journeying up shallow streams and pools. Off Site Bouldering takes place on the Spinkwee River at Tollymore Forest Park, which moves faster, has deeper pools of water and rock traverses. Wet Bouldering requires the use of wet suits and buoyancy aids as participants slide down natural water slides and fall back into deep pools of water while making their way up the Bloody Bridge River
- Low Level Ropes Course
Similar to the High Level Ropes Course, this aerial assault course is suspended three feet off the ground, and continues to encourage self-esteem and team building against members.
- High Level Ropes Course
An aerial assault course suspended fifteen feet above the ground, designed to encourage a sense of self-confidence and also to encourage support amongst team members. All participants wear harnesses and are clipped into a safety system at all times.
- Initiative Challenges
Learn co-operative skills in an atmosphere of care and respect for one another by engaging in mental and physical challenges designed to build trust, self-esteem and individual and group skills
- Orienteering
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Learn the lifetime skill of reading a map and finding your way around Greenhill YMCA's orienteering course. Participants play games and race in teams to apply all the their knowledge of map components (scale, symbols, contour lines, orientation etc.) while competing against each other on the course. This activity is also available off-site in Donard Forest Park.
- Search and Evacuation Exercises
Participants will have an opportunity to role play an emergency situation in the nearby "wilderness" , utilising teamwork, communication skills and basic navigation and first aid skills to successfully recover and evacuate a "casualty". The importance of a positive mental attitude and a team effort whien solving problems will be stressed.
- Mountain Walks
Explore the beauty and history of the surrounding Mourne Mountains through a day long walk into areassuch as the Devil's Coach Road, Brandy Pad, Silent Valley, Ben Crom and Slieve Donard (Northern Irelands tallest peak). Walks are adjusted to suit the needs of individual groups. Duke of Edinburgh training and experience can be booked in advance.
- Climbing
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Participants arfe given the opportunity to challenge themselves and build their self confidence by climbing and abseiling outdoors in a local disused quarry. Abseilling can also be offered as a seperate session on-site. Indoor climbing sessions are run at the nearby "Hot Rock" climbing wall at Tollymore Mountain Centre. Outdoor climbing in the Mourne Mountains is also available. Please notify us of this preference at the time of booking so it can be arranged.
- Canoeing and Kayaking
Participants are introduced to basic canoeing or kayaking strokes and terminology through games and activities paddling at Castlewellan Lake. Boats are kayaks (single person boats), single canoes (seating 2 - 3 people) or catamarans (rafted canoes). Canoe and kayak expeditions (extended or all day only) and British Canoe Union (BCU) Star trainings and assessments can also be booked in advance.
- Raft Building
Using teamwork, participants are challenged to construct a raft using ropes, barrels and logs, and then race their assembled craft across Castlewellan Lake.