About Medina Valley Centre

The Medina Valley Centre for Outdoor and Environmental Education is an independent, non-profit making organisation, with charitable status (no.236153).

• The origins of the Centre date back to 1963 when this beautiful site on the banks of the Medina Estuary was identified as a great place to set up a sailing school, by a group of Christians from a variety of church backgrounds.

• Since these early beginnings the Sailing School has developed and now offers RYA accredited sailing courses for beginners and all stages to instructor level, led by a highly acclaimed team of instructors. Water activities now include kayaking and open canoeing. (watersports)

• The Centre maintains a Christian ethos, and the quality of the care for the individual is appreciated by those who profess no faith, or come from other faith backgrounds. A brief ‘thought for the day’ before breakfast stimulates reflection, and contributes to a calm start to the day!

• A resident ‘host and hostess’ offer a unique service to visiting groups, providing a welcome, practical advise and assistance, pastoral support, and a point of contact for each individual throughout their time at the Centre. This service comes free to visiting groups as their positions are funded by Dodnor Fellowship, a group of suppporters of the Centre.

• In 1977 a programme of field studies was introduced, and by the early 1980s a range of courses were available to secondary students of Geography and Science, as well as programmes for primary age groups. Today, the Field Studies department is made up of a team of experienced teachers, who have built a reputation for professionalism and excellence, attracting school groups from across the UK and Europe. (Our Staff)

• The two areas of expertise, water sports and field studies, come together in attractive programmes for primary and lower secondary groups. Orienteering, archery and team building games can be included in these innovative programmes, combining field studies with multi-activities. (primary schools)

• The Centre is set in 1.5 hectares of grounds alongside the Medina Estuary, which are managed for their bio-diversity and includes a trail with interpretative panels that can be tailored for use by any age group.

• Less than 5 minutes walk away there is an area of woodland and neutral grassland that the Centre manages that is used by school groups. The archery is carried out in this area.

 

• The Medina Valley Centre has been awarded Eco-centre status, and is preparing for assessment for the Quality Badge, a status which gives an assurance of excellence in the provision of Learning Outside the Classroom.

 

• The field studies team have a mobile field studies unit, known as Eco-challenger, which is used to support fieldwork with Isle of Wight schools and organisations, and is in demand at Islandwide shows and festivals (Eco-Challenger)