Gaisce Adventure Journey
Gaisce is a self-development programme for secondary school students and young adults between 15 and 25 years of age.
At Lough Allen Adventure Centre we have been facilitating the Adventure Journey module of the Gaisce award since its inception.
As a provider of QQI Level 5 and 6 Outdoor Adventure Courses, our instructors are experienced at teaching, inspiring, motivating and helping students meet the challenges they have set themselves.
A qualified Gaisce Pal runs our program and we are able to facilitate all challenge areas of the programme.
Gaisce Philosophy in Action
A fundamental philosophy of Gaisce is that students lead their own learning and self-discovery and we actively encourage participants to take responsibility for planning and decision making for their own adventure journey. This provides an essential empowering experience for all participants.
The Adventure Journey module is an ideal opportunity for the group to disconnect from their typical routines and especially from social media. In addition to upskilling participants in water-based and land-based adventure sports we provide a unique opportunity for students to experience the power of wilderness therapy, breathwork sessions and rewilding. In these sessions, we focus on teaching students to break down stale negative patterns, energise their bodies, relax and focus their minds so that they can improve their physical and mental well-being and be more resilient to stress in everyday life.
We encourage our participants to build on their personal experience from each of these skills and to actively weave them into their own day-to-day lives to improve their productivity, focus, mood and overall health.
Students learn to reconnect with themselves and nature. By learning new skills as part of a group, and by participating in fun team building and bonding sessions, they also learn to reconnect with each other in new and empowering ways.
Gaisce Adventure Skills
- Orienteering, map reading and mountain skills
- Campcraft and fire lighting
- Shelter building
- Survival skills
- Stand-up paddlboarding
- Kayaking and canoeing
- Breathwork
- Rewilding and wilderness therapy
- Team building, team bonding and leadership
Gaisce Bronze and Silver Award at Lough Allen Adventure Centre
We’re located in the heart of Leitrim, where our centre sits at the base of Sliabh an Iarainn, “The Iron Mountain” and on the shores of Lough Allen.
Our Gaisce Pal accompanies participants on their journey to provide first aid cover, local information and health and safety guidance.
These ideal surroundings provide opportunities for students of all levels to choose between well-established trails such as the Leitrim Way (part of the Beara Breifne Way), the Miner’s Way and the more challenging mountain tracks of Sliabh an Iarainn. Water journeyers can decide between Lough Allen, the Shannon, the Blueway or plan a mix of all three water routes.
For the Bronze award, participants undertake a 2 day (1 night) adventure journey hiking and canoeing or kayaking.
For the Silver award, participants undertake a 3 day (2 night) adventure journey hiking and canoeing or kayaking. These students also build their own shelter for an overnight adventure on O’Connor’s Island.
We can accommodate students in our spacious campsite or in our fully equipped hostel. We provide all activity related equipment such as tents, kayaks / canoes, wetsuits and buoyancy aids.
We also provide pots, pans and cooking utensils and we can provide dinner and breakfast. Participants cook the meals themselves, under our supervision.
A Typical Gaisce Experience
A typical Gaisce experience will run over two days. On the first day, following orientation and group planning, participants will paddle to our local island in Canadian canoes.
On the island, we set up camp and deliver essential bushcraft / survival skills sessions, team bonding exercises and a breathwork session. After a campfire dinner, we overnight on the island.
After breakfast on the second day, we continue with our canoeing/kayaking expedition and incorporate additional team bonding exercises.
We return home and facilitate a debriefing session with the group.
Dinner and breakfast are typically included in the price of our Gaisce experience.
At Lough Allen Adventure Centre, we recognize Gaisce Award groups have different motivations, challenges and needs.
Just give us a call on +353 87 272 1001 or email us at info@loughallenadventure.ie to discuss how we can make your Gaisce Award participation a success.