WHAT IS THE YOUTH OUTDOOR CHALLENGE?

A two-day trail finding event for teams of three or four 14-18 year olds who have to navigate around a countryside course of around 12 km each day and also camp and cook for themselves overnight. Teams are given a pre-marked map with a route and questions and have to find set points, answer questions and return within a set time. Teams have to wear and/or carry mandatory items of clothing and equipment, but not their camping and cooking items as the campsite is fixed for the weekend at the Centre.

WHERE IT IS HELD?

The event and camp are based at the Badaguish Centre near Aviemore within the beautiful Cairngorms National Park.

Teams can arrive and camp at Badaguish on the Friday evening with the event taking place over the Saturday and Sunday. The campsite has plenty of facilities and everyone taking part gets to try FREE activities on the Saturday night - zipwire, archery, abseiling, high ropes course etc.

On Sunday when everyone is finished there is a free BBQ.

WHY IS IT HELD?

The Outdoor Challenge is a sponsored event, where the teams are asked to raise a minimum of £50 per team for the Badaguish Centre.

The Centre provides respite care and activity holidays for children and adults with special needs from all over Scotland. Previous Outdoor Challenge events have raised funds for a special shower chair and a wheelchair bike. Teams also get to meet new friends, learn outdoor skills, enjoy the stunning scenery of the Cairngorms, try activities and have fun whilst supporting a very worthy cause.

PRIZES

Everyone who takes part gets a prize as well as free activities and BBQ and there are also awards for:

• The 'Quickest' Team home
• The 'Best Sponsorship Raised' Team
• Special Endeavours

TEAM SUPERVISOR'S INFO

Please ensure that each youth has the mandatory kit and the full team with a minimum of 3 members – check, check and double check the kit!! - TEAMS WITHOUT THE MANDATORY ITEMS COULD BE REFUSED AT THE START LINE

EVENT OBJECTIVES

• Giving teenagers (14-18 olds) an opportunity to take part in a weekend challenge involving (and enjoying!) the great outdoors, related outdoor skills (navigation, map reading, camping, clothing), communication, teamwork and environmental aspects. Also to try out activities such as archery, high ropes course, abseiling and zipwire
• Being based at Badaguish, the event provides those taking part with an insight into the work done here particularly that people with special needs enjoy outdoor activities very much too and that 'all abilities' integration is important and fun
• Raising sponsorship money for the Centre (£60 min per team); recent events have raised an average of £1500 which has bought much needed items of special equipment for the Centre
• Great fun and achievement for all with good public relations possible for everyone (kids, schools, all abilities integration policy and Badaguish)

FORMAT

• Teams of three/four are given a pre-marked map (different each day) with a number of control points, route info, safety info and some questions marked on. They are set off at three-minute intervals and basically have to navigate themselves around the course staying in their teams. There is a time deadline to be back for which is very achievable for all levels of competitor. Points are awarded for finding/collecting the control points (using an orienteering type clipper and card) and prizes given for the quickest team over the two days, most sponsorship pledged team and a number of special endeavour awards. (everyone gets a prize of some sort). Although there will always be a competitive side the event is very much about taking part and enjoying regardless of 'final position'
• Teams must have one adult Team Supervisor per team who as well as supervising the teams at the Centre help with marshalling/stewarding on the route (they get a prize too!)
• Teams have to camp and cook for themselves at the Centre on the Saturday evening. Teams are also most welcome to arrive and camp on Friday evening too (most do). There are plenty of toilets and showers, washing facilities and a residential warden on site 24 hours. Teams enjoy various games and facilities on site (covered sports hall, indoor games room) and make new friends. On Saturday evening there are free supervised activities to try out
• Teams must have/bring all their own equipment including camping gear, food and drinks etc. Detailed lists are on the Entry Form
• Each day there is a brief around 9am and teams are normally back well before 4pm. There is a prize presentation and free BBQ on Sunday afternoon around 3pm.

SAFETY

• Full Risk Assessments, qualified and experienced staff and instructors, medical/first aid and contingency plans, supervision and other event safety procedures are fully prepared and documented with copies available

TEAM SUPERVISORS

• One adult per team needed who are responsible for their teams over the weekend.
• They help with marshalling and stewarding on the event and will need suitable outdoor clothing and packed lunches too
• They either camp with their teams or are most welcome to use our large Lodge cabin (22 bunk beds - bring a sleeping bag). The Lodge is solely for the use of the Team Supervisors and Event Staff and has all the usual domestic facilities. In the past people staying in the Lodge get together and cater for themselves (either bring your own food or organise a local Tesco run)
• They get a separate brief each day and are provided with all relevant information
• They are the point of contact for teams to give their Entry Forms, entry fees and sponsorship to and to liase with the Events Team at Badaguish who will post all the relevant info to Team Supervisors and liase directly with you and not with parents or competitors; this way there are no communication breakdowns or mix ups

RULES

1. Camp out and cook their own food

While out on the Course all team members will:

1. Visit all control points and return control card with all punches
2. Complete the course before the cut off time
3. Carry their individual and team mandatory safety kit at all times
4. Be in visual and audible contact at all times
5. Wear team numbers clearly visible at all times

Substitution (injury or illness) must be agreed in advance with the organiser.

NEED MORE INFO?

• A Newsletter will be sent out in March with final event details as well as being published here on the website
• Call Angela Badaguish on 01479 861285 or email
• Come along and visit us

HISTORY

Read the history of our Outdoor Challenge back to 2001- click here