In October this year, the Miller Byrne team were privileged to visit our community partner, The Outward Bound Trust, on a residential supporters’ visit to Aberdovey, Snowdonia. The centre is located in Snowdonia National Park, with easy access to the hills of North Wales and overlooks the Dyfi estuary, a UNESCO world biosphere reserve.

We received a very warm welcome from Kristina Spindler (Director of Development), Alan Bolchover (Director of Fundraising and Marketing), Al Crisp (Head of Centre, Aberdovey) and the wider outdoor instructional team.

Nothing stands still at Aberdovey(!) and after a light lunch we headed out onto the estuary in canoes with fellow supporters.  In the afternoon we were given a tour of the residential outward bound centre, where young people have been visiting and engaging in outdoor education since 1941.

It was wonderful to observe students from St Saviour's and St Olave's School, South London, participating in outdoor pursuits and to witness an incredible team of instructors working so passionately with young people.

Post pandemic, outdoor learning is an aspect of young people’s education that will be more relevant than ever. It focuses on developing essential skills – those highly transferable skills including problem solving, leadership and teamwork.  

Over dinner at the iconic wharf building, we had the opportunity to speak to several of the very skilled outdoor instructors who lead groups on outdoor programmes and expeditions. Their passion for developing and challenging young people in the outdoors was inspirational.

Prior to our early morning departure the next day, we re-grouped on the beach at dawn with fellow supporters (it was a tad fresh!) before taking part in a long held Outward Bound tradition, ‘Jog & Dip’. As we said, nothing stands still at Aberdovey!