Q. Is there any exciting news you can share with us about Longridge?
We are converted the old Caretakers Chalet into a Lazer House to provide Lazer Quest and Lazer Tag, which opened Easter 2015
Q. What sets your centre out from others?
The number one thing that absolutely sets us apart from other centres is our location. Longridge is situated directly on the Thames, and whilst in the winter this riverside location does make the whole site a little muddy, during all the other seasons Longridge is a place of real beauty and adventure. As a charity we are also a great deal more affordable than other comparable centres that are run to make a profit, and we offer a wide range of educative, adventurous and fun activities. Longridge is all about providing people of all ages from all walks of life with the activities and environment they need to develop their skills, character, and confidence. Since 2014 Longridge has also been part of the Adventure Learning Foundation, meaning that we also benefit from being linked to a diverse group of other activity and outdoor learning centres in the area. Being part of this group of incredibly different individual sites has enable us to offer our customers a lot more, and keep our prices down by reducing our overall costs through the sharing of resources with the other centres.
Q. What are your favourite activities that are available at your site?
Whilst choosing a favourite activity does feel rather like trying to choose a favourite child, the best activity at Longridge probably has to be kayaking. Longridge did originally start out as an almost solely kayaking based centre, after all, and the island that separates Longridge from the main channel provides us with the perfect back water space for safe kayaking sessions that are still out on the actual river rather than in boring penned off areas. We are also incredibly close to Marlow weir, which means that once we have started people off kayaking in the backwater we can train them up until they are ready for more adventurous things like shooting the weir.
Q. How long has Longridge been open for?
Longridge has been operating for 58 years, although for the first fifty years it was operated as a Scout site. However when the time came for the scouts to sell the site, a charity was formed to buy the site and make it more open to the public. The scouts still visit and will always be welcome, but Longridge now sees a footfall of some 90,000 people every year. Because of this immense growth from a fairly small scout operated venue to a charity run centre that is used by school children and Olympians alike, Longridge’s success was the catalyst for the creation of the Adventure Learning Foundation in 2014. ALF now runs not only Longridge, but also an amazing Outdoor activity and conferencing centre called Green Park in Aston Clinton, an Environmental centre called Shortenills in Chalfont St Giles, and has many more in consideration to become part of the ALF family.
Q. What can School expect from a stay with Longridge?
To be challenged to push their own boundaries and get hands on experiences of the benefits of working in a team. Comfortable warm beds and yummy, healthy food.
Q. For teachers what are the best things about choosing Longridge to stay at?
The peace and quiet in the evenings that will come from being in charge of a group of students that are all exhausted from a day of activities. That, and the coffee in the café.
