Info for children
Lucky you! You are coming to stay at Aylmerton Field Study Centre in North Norfolk for what might possibly be your BEST SCHOOL TRIP EVER! This is what Matt from Kent wrote to us after his school’s visit: “…this must have been the best week of my life…”
And Alice from Essex told us: “I am still frequently annoying my brother and sister by telling them how brilliant my week was and how much better than school it was!”
So, maybe you have known since you were in Year 1 that, one day, you would get to stay with us. Maybe you have a big brother or sister who has stayed with us already. Or maybe you don’t know anything about us at all because this is your school’s first visit. Whatever you do or don’t know already, we can (hopefully) answer some of your questions.
Where is North Norfolk?
You will be staying at one of our centres in North Norfolk. If you don’t know where that is, then the map below will show you.
North Norfolk is wonderful, fabulous, brilliant etc. etc. We are right in the middle of the countryside with lots of fields, woods, lakes, rivers and (best of all) the beach very nearby. Sometimes it is lovely and sunny and sometimes its not but it is ALWAYS one of the nicest places in the world. Everyone who works here loves North Norfolk and we hope you will too
Where will I stay?
This is where it starts to become great fun. You get to stay in one of our great centres, and you don’t have to share your building with any other schools.
You get to share a dormitory with your friends and eat yummy food in your own school’s dining room (no queuing and no sharing again).
You get loads of space to play outside or you might be able to use the agility course or the indoor climbing wall. If you would like to find out more about any of this
What will I do?
This depends on your teachers but whatever activities they choose, you will have great fun. You might even learn something as well!
You might be splodging through the mud on your way to Blakeney Point to see the seals, you might be crossing the low ropes to see whether you would make a good pirate or you might be searching for crabs in rock pools at the beach.
In the evenings, you might go swimming, or have a disco or quiz or you might go for an exciting night walk.
If you would like to find out more about any of these, click on ACTIVITIES.
What are the people like?
You will meet our famous and fabulous team of instructors who will be in charge of all your activities. (Your teachers will still be in charge of you for the rest of the time but, luckily for them, they won’t have to teach you like they normally do.)
Our instructors are simply great -we believe that they are the best instructors ANYWHERE – and they will make sure you have a really good time. Some of them are a bit mad, some are very noisy and some are very quiet but they are ALL very kind.
Our instructors know really cool things like how to spot oyster catcher nests in the shingle, and when it is safe to cross the mud flats and how to walk through the forest in the pitch dark without falling over but most of them don’t know how to dance.
Our instructors have silly nicknames like Miah Man, Eagle Eye, Sweaty Betty, Shrek and Skippy.
What do I need to bring?
We will give your teacher a list of all the things you need to bring. Most of it you will have at home already.
The most important things are a comfy pair of walking boots or trainers, welly boots, a waterproof and a day pack. If it’s summer, bring some sunscreen and a hat.
If it’s winter make sure you’ve got lots of things you can put on in layers, maybe some thermals or tights (sorry, boys) for under your trousers and a warm hat and gloves.
You’ll have much more fun if you’re warm and dry and your feet don’t hurt. Don’t forget your camera – you’ll definitely want to keep the memories of THIS school trip. And put your name on everything so it doesn’t get lost.
Don’t bring your best clothes – we really like getting you wet and muddy (or both). Don’t bring those trainer socks – you’ll look good but you’ll get blisters (and they really hurt).
Try to bring a day pack with two thick straps if you can – they’re much easier to carry.
Don’t bring CD players, iPods, Gameboys or mobile phones – you’ll be having far too much fun to even bother unpacking them.
And don’t bring the biggest case you can find because YOU have to carry it off the coach, across the playground and up an awful lot of stairs!
What do I need to bring?
We will give your teacher a list of all the things you need to bring. Most of it you will have at home already.
The most important things are a comfy pair of walking boots or trainers, welly boots, a waterproof and a day pack. If it’s summer, bring some sunscreen and a hat.
If it’s winter make sure you’ve got lots of things you can put on in layers, maybe some thermals or tights (sorry, boys) for under your trousers and a warm hat and gloves.
You’ll have much more fun if you’re warm and dry and your feet don’t hurt. Don’t forget your camera – you’ll definitely want to keep the memories of THIS school trip. And put your name on everything so it doesn’t get lost.
Don’t bring your best clothes – we really like getting you wet and muddy (or both). Don’t bring those trainer socks – you’ll look good but you’ll get blisters (and they really hurt).
Try to bring a day pack with two thick straps if you can – they’re much easier to carry.
Don’t bring CD players, iPods, Gameboys or mobile phones – you’ll be having far too much fun to even bother unpacking them.
And don’t bring the biggest case you can find because YOU have to carry it off the coach, across the playground and up an awful lot of stairs!
Will I be homesick?
Maybe, for about five minutes! The rest of the time you will be having too much fun to even think about home and by the end of the week, you might not even want to go home.
We have had more than 50,000 children stay with us over the past 18 years and we have NEVER, EVER, EVER had to send anyone home because they were homesick. They have all been just fine, and you will be too.
