Home Educated Discovery Week
Monday 20th May 2019 – Friday 24th May 2019
Pitch & Canvas are pleased to announce our first Discovery Week for families who home educate their children.
We aim to provide quality family time in a safe and secure environment with like-minded people.
Once you arrive and leisurely set up camp, guests are invited to our meet and greet at the Ice Cream Farm to meet the Pitch & Canvas team and session leaders. Every child attending will receive a free play pass and can then go and explore and play for the rest of the afternoon whilst making friends with other guests staying at Pitch & Canvas.
Tuesday and Wednesday have an array of fun sessions for you to choose from and then Thursday is a ‘free’ day to go and explore one of the many attractions close by (some of which we have arranged discounts with – see below for further information).
On an evening you can enjoy the stunning scenery whilst chilling round the camp fire with one of our s’more kits, or you can frequent one of the local eateries to be found in the village. Wednesday night is treat night and gorgeous hand made artisan pizzas can be ordered from a local restaurant for delivery to site. Once you are fed and watered why not join in with our Bat Watching and Owl Watching session, guaranteed to be a thrill for all.
The week has a wide variety of sessions, some paid for and some free, from which guests can choose. Whilst we encourage guests to take advantage of the many things on offer, you may decide to sit back, relax and have a chill-out break instead. We can provide you with ideas of places to visit and explore.
Bookings for camping and accommodation are set at 4 nights Monday to Friday, however guests have the option of extending their stay through the weekend if they wish.
All bookings and payments for camping and accommodation should be made direct through Pitch & Canvas and each session has a link or information on how to book direct with the session leader.
BOOKINGS MUST BE MADE THROUGH THE OFFICE AS ONLINE SYSTEMS WILL SHOW AS NO AVAILABILITY.
For our first Discovery week we are running a special introductory offer of a 10% discount for all accommodation – full prices are on the accommodation pages and when you call the office to book your discount will be applied.
Below is a timetable of planned activities. Guests will be required to book each session they wish to attend and booking details along with a description can be found below. Please note that some sessions do have a minimum and maximum attendee requirement.
Sessions can only be booked for guests staying at Pitch & Canvas.
Morning – Arrive & Set Up
Afternoon – Meet & Greet at Ice Cream Farm
Evening – Campfires & Marshmallows
Morning – Tattenhall Wildlife Group Guided nature trail
Afternoon – Craft Session with Ditzy Rose
Evening – Bat Watching
Morning – Mindfulness Sessions with Rest Easy
Afternoon – Write Turn Ahead – story writing literacy session with Brenda St John Brown
Evening – Pizza Delivery
Free Day To Explore – Chester Zoo / Pony Trekking / Blue Planet Aquarium / Bike Hire / Beeston Castle
Morning – Tattenhall Local History Guided / Self Guided Walk.
Afternoon – Pack Up & Home Time
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION OR TO BOOK PLEASE CALL THE OFFICE ON 01829 770325
OR EMAIL INFO@PITCHANDCANVAS.CO.UK
Sessions
TATTENHALL WILDLIFE GROUP GUIDED NATURE TRAIL
Follow our wonderful nature trail and discover an array of flora and fauna along the way!
A member of Tattenhall Wildlife Group will be leading the walk and providing fascinating facts and information on the unique Cheshire countryside.
The trail is suitable for all ages from 3 upwards and can also be walked independently if you choose.
The guided nature trail walk is recommended for those participating in the Tuesday afternoon craft session, as it also provides an excellent opportunity to collect fairy garden essentials!
Free of Charge
WRITE TURN AHEAD?
Do you have a budding author in your midst? If the answer is yes, you’re in the right place. If the answer is no, you’re definitely in the right place!At WRITE TURN AHEAD we love nothing more than…you guessed it – writing.
Nurturing a child who spends his/her free time filling notebooks with stories or screenplays is magical. But so is turning a self-professed “book hater” into an avid writer.
(We also firmly believe that there’s no such thing as a child who hates to read; they just haven’t found the right book yet.)
Using an engaged and interdisciplinary approach in an informal workshop setting, we work to foster a love of writing in all students. By focusing first on their love of storytelling – ask any child to recount his/her favorite film and you’ll see this firsthand – we help students to turn the stories they love to tell into stories they’re able – and eager – to write.
We use a wide range of programme materials that are suited to beginners as well as more advanced young writers. Our focus is absolutely on making writing fun – with a stealthy side of language skills, critical reading and constructive peer review. (
We like to go 007 in matters of things like editing/revision and the Punctuation Police have been known to make a guest appearance.)
Minimum 5 maximum 20.Cost £20 per child – all materials, pens, and pads provided and certificate presented to each child at end of session.
FAIRY GARDEN CRAFTERNOON
Ditzy Rose Makery will be running a wonderful Mindful Magical Fairy Garden Crafternoon.
Children will be encouraged to collect Stones, sticks, moss and any other exciting materials for their fairy garden’s whilst doing one of the nature walks earlier in the week. (Families booking will be given a bag).
We will be creating the fairy gardens in a tray, using soil & stones. The children can then let their imaginations flow creating ponds, paths, gardens, washing lines, bunting, tents, toadstools, painted pebble creatures, fences, benches to name just a few ideas.
There will be paints, fabrics, silk flowers, glue and of course glitter to incorporate into their gardens as well as experience tuition.
Wednesday 1-3pm £25 per Child or make a fairy Garden together as a family £25 per family. Children 7 years and under must have adult supervision.
Session run on site weather dependant.
TATTENHALL LOCAL HISTORY GUIDED OR SELF GUIDED WALK
Enjoy a Trail Walk around the Village of Tattenhall and see just how valuable local history is in our understanding of the past.
Using the Heritage Trail Pamphlet and its detailed map, you will be intrigued and inspired by the stories that this settlement of just over 2000 people has to offer.
Tattenhall Local History provides you with a raft of information, packed full of curiosity and enquiry. Whichever way you turn, the Heritage Trail Walk provides an insight into the stories of the men, women, boys and girls who shaped this settlement.
There is plenty to interest all ages and our route is suitable for buggies and prams too. At the end of your session, why not finish with a tasty treat in Alison’s Country Kitchen on the High Street or visit our Village Market in the Barbour Institute which is open from 9.30am-11.00am on Fridays.
The walk takes approximately 1.5 hours and is free of charge.
MINDFULNESS FOR THE FAMILY
Life Coach, Emily Gearing will be holding a wonderful mindfulness session for the whole family. During this 90 minute session you’ll learn how to develop mindful awareness, resilience, empathy & emotional intelligence using the REST EASY Method of mindful self-help.
Emily teaches the method to children privately & in schools with great results. She’ll be showing you practical skills for managing difficult emotions in easy, fun ways through games, activities & breathing exercises.
After the session you & your family will have a personal tool kit to navigate difficult situations in the future. Even if you’ve tried mindfulness before, you’re sure to discover new ways of applying it through the REST EASY Method.
This session is for parents & children. £25 per family. If you’d like any additional information please email lifecoaching@emilygearing.com
PLACES TO EXPLORE
Buttercup Stables – located less than a mile away from Pitch & Canvas and offer a variety of pony trekking sessions for all ages and abilities. For further information please visit their website www.buttercup-stables-and-trekking.co.uk
Chester Zoo – a 30 minute drive away. If visiting on Thursday we have arranged for you to recieve your home school discount rates of £11 per child 3 and over, and £13 per adult (under 3’s go free).
Please let the office know if you would like to visit as part of the Discovery Week and we will give you further information and meeting point. If however you are visiting seperatley with your family you should still be able to get discount. Visit their wesite for further information www.chesterzoo.org
Beeston Castle – less than 5 minute drive away. Crowning a rocky crag and boasting spectacular views, Beeston is one of the most dramatically sited medieval castles in England.
On a clear day you can see all the way from the Pennines to the Welsh mountains. With a 4,000 year history and a 40-acre woodland park, Beeston Castle has something for everyone to enjoy. An English Heritage site that will encapture the imaginatons of all age groups. www.english-heritage.org.uk/visit/places/beeston-castle-and-woodland-park
Blue Planet Aquarium – Discover an underwater world at the Blue Planet Aquarium. A treat for all the family. Educational rates apply for children – £7.95, adults normal price.
If you are planning a visit let the Pitch & Canvas offfice know which day and we will update Blue Planet to know to expect you. Visit website for further information www.blueplanetaquarium.com
Cheshire Candle Factory – less than 5 minutes away. Cheshire Workshops offer a range of fun family days out. From candle making to crafts, you’re guaranteed to find something the whole family will enjoy.
If a group of 15 or more children would like to visit on Thursday a discounted price of £6 per child to make a candle and decorate a holder will apply. Please contact the Pitch & Canvas office if you would like to be added to the group. www.cheshireworkshops.co.uk
On Site Bike Hire – Bikes can be pre ordered and delivered to site for you to use during your stay. Bikes are available in all sizes for ages plus tag alongs and infant trailers. The cost is £12 per day per bike / unit and must be pre booked.
We are able to provide you with a great family route following Birds Lane to the Ice Cream farm for your first stop, followed by the village adventure play ground. After the excitement of the park why not head to one of the many pubs or resturants for a well deserved drink and a bite to eat. Call the pItch & Canvas to make your reservation.
We are constantly working on creating further sessions for you to enjoy. Please keep checking this page for any updates.
We look forward to welcoming you to what is set to be a fantastic, fun, and exciting week to build memories to last a lifetime.