4.17 Appendix

What is classed as an adventurous activity?

An adventurous activity for the purpose of approval is an activity which requires specialist instruction, supervision, experience, competence, qualifications or licensing. The activity is typically outside, may carry inherent risk from the activity itself of the environment it takes place in. A small number of activities are regulated under the Activity Centres (Young Persons' Safety) Act 1995.

Adventurous activities

The following activities are typically regarded as ‘adventurous’

• All activities in ‘open country’ (see relevant guidance section)

• Air activities (excluding commercial flights)

• Abseiling

• All forms of boating (excluding commercial transport)

• Aqua Park (see relevant guidance section)

• Camping

• Canoeing/kayaking/Stand up paddleboarding

• Coasteering/coastal scrambling/sea level traversing

• ‘Extreme’ sports

• High level ropes courses

• Hill walking and Mountaineering

• Horse riding

• Motor sport – all forms including karting

• Off road cycling

• Rafting or improvised rafting

• River/gorge walking or scrambling

• Rock climbing (including indoor climbing walls)

• Sailing/windsurfing/kite surfing

• Swimming (all forms, excluding publicly lifeguarded pools)

• Shooting/archery/paintballing

• Snorkel and aqualung activities

• Snowsports (skiing, snowboarding, and related activities), including artificial slope

• Trampoline/Inflatable, Action Parks and similar (see relevant guidance section)

• Underground exploration (excluding ‘show caves’)

• Use of powered safety/rescue craft

• Water skiing

• Other activities (e.g. initiative exercises) involving skills inherent in any of the above

‘Open country’ is normally defined as land above 300m, or more than 1km from vehicular

access. However, this is an arbitrary boundary and there may be occasions where this

definition is inappropriate. Please contact the Adviser if you think this might

apply. For level of competence required to lead in open country see relevant section

Not adventurous

The following activities are not regarded as adventurous, however, these activities must be

supervised by a member of staff who has previous relevant experience and who in the

opinion of the EVC and Headteacher is competent to supervise the activity:

• Walking in parks or on non-remote country paths

• Field studies - unless in the environments stated in ‘open country’

• Swimming in publicly lifeguarded pools

• Theme parks

• Tourist attractions

• Pedal go-karts

• Ice skating (rink)

• Farm visits

• Water-margin activities as defined in relevant section

See also:

OEAP National Guidance available at https://oeapng.info

7.1a Adventure Activities

8.1f Activities Requiring Employer Approval