SELF-LED ACTIVITIES
Ferny Crofts offers a range of Activities which you can lead yourself. So if you want to take part in a bigger range of activities but keep costs down, these are a great option!
All of the below Activities are sessions that can be self-led by group leaders. Each session lasts for 1 hour and 30 mins within our session time slots. These run from:
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9:00 - 10:30
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11:00 - 12:30
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13:30 - 15:00
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15:30 - 17:00
Between the 1st May - 1st September we are able to offer an evening session time slot from 18:00 - 19:30. Dates outside of this time shall have to be discussed and agreed upon with our Activities Team. The activity key will be left in the key safe by Reception, to which you will be given a code to prior to arrival.
Each session has the maximum capacity of 24 participants with the exception of Crazy Golf and Frisbee Golf which can accommodate up to 12 participants. If you have groups larger than these totals you will need to book more than one session to accommodate all participants.
Please note that a group leader must be present at all times throughout the sessions.
To view or download our Self-Led Activities Risk Assessments, please click here.
To download our Permission to Shoot form please click here.
To view the Terms & Conditions for mountain bike hire, please click here.
Mountain Bikes
Experience mountain biking and explore The New Forest with our rental mountain bikes. Our bikes are regularly serviced and range in sizes from 15 inch frames to 21 inch frames.
We can give you a number of suggested mountain bike route booklets so you can discover The New Forest. We provide you with helmets, high visibility jackets and a bike maintenance kit for your ride. The bikes are hired per day from 9:00 - 17:00.
Please note that we work with a partner organisation to provide bike hire. We will ask you to complete a spreadsheet outlining your requirements, including height of each participant, which needs to be checked by our partner before your booking is confirmed.
All groups must come to reception before taking bikes off site. We require all participants to watch a brief video and complete a hire agreement form before departing.
Suitable For:
Age 8+
Maximum Group Size:
Maximum of 30 bikes can be hired in total.
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
- Waterproof Coat
ADVENTURE COURSE
Our purpose built Adventure Course is an activity which allows the group to play and learn through a series of obstacles, such as hanging tyres, the wall, balance beams and over and under.
This course can be completed a number of times, using different methods. For example: individual races; team races, both of which can include challenges such as carrying a pioneering pole around or a cup of water without spilling any.
The Adventure Course is a great activity for encouraging team work while having fun.
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
24 participants per session (Self-Led)
Learning Outcomes:
Team Work, Fun, Confidence Building
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
Aeroball is a trampolining activity. There are four separate trampolines in close connection surrounded by netting. Each pod has its own goal above head height.
The aim of the game is to throw the ball into the opposition’s goal and protect your own. Four people can play at one time and can be progressed by playing competitions and games such as Hot Potato.
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
24 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Socks only on trampolines - no shoes
AEROBALL
We have compiled a box of Circus Skills for your group to play, learn and perform with.
This box includes diablos, stilts, spinning plates, skipping ropes, juggling balls, rings, hoops and devil sticks.
Circus Skills
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
24 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
For our 40th Birthday we asked all Hampshire Scout groups to design a hole for our new Crazy Golf Course.
Each of the winners had their design transformed into one of our nine holes.
This activity is the newest to site for 2017. Why not give it a go and see who can get round the course in as few pars as possible?
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun, Hand Eye Coordination
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
Crazy Golf
Perfect for testing your group's mental abilities.
The aim of the trail is to work you way around our site, following the numbered location on a map and try to solve all of our Cryptic Challenges.
Cryptic Challenge
Suitable For:
Age 8+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun,
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Closed-toe footwear
We have compiled a box of Field Games for your group to play and compete with.
This box includes a full cricket set, tennis rackets and balls, rounder’s bat and ball, a football, a rugby ball, a volleyball, some Frisbees, a rocket and a few cones.
Field Games
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
24 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
Our Frisbee Golf Course runs through our forest with a total of nine posts to finish. Each person will have a Frisbee and a score card in pairs. The aim is to throw your Frisbee at the posts however many throws it takes to hit the post is the total par for that hole.
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
FRISBEE Golf
We can supply you with suggested hike routes to take in the forest.
Our 9km hike uses marked paths in the forest walking through a variety of wildlife and pond life.
The 5km hike is based around the interesting World War 2 local areas with information about the war. We also can sell you OS maps of The New Forest if you would like to plan your own route.
Local Hikes
Suitable For:
Age - Leader's decision
Maximum Group Size:
Leader's decision
Learning Outcomes:
Educational
Kit Requirements:
- Long trousers
- Waterproof clothing
- Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
Our orienteering posts are labelled with different animals, the aim is to walk around site and fill in the answers on the map to which animals are at each locations.
Suitable For:
Age 6+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Closed-toe footwear
Nature Trail
We have orienteering markers spread around our 31 acre site in small groups using a compass, a map and knowledge of pacing’s you will follow the route and tick of different markers on the map.
We have a total of 4 different mapped routes that your groups can complete, to add variety to a number of groups taking part.
Orienteering
Suitable For:
Age 8+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
educational, Team Work
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
We have a purpose built Go Kart track with a start and finish line, a narrow bridge to cross and a winners podium. We have four pedal Go Karts to play with.
This session can be progressed with competitions, backwards racing, relay and blindfold races.
Suitable For:
Age 6+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
Pedal Go Karts
We have made a booklet of different pictures from around our site.
The aim of this trail is to walk around site with a map and fill in the answers when you find the correct locations for the pictures we have photographed.
Picture Trail
Suitable For:
Age 6+
Maximum Group Size:
12 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Sturdy, closed-toe footwear
Pioneering is a traditional Scout activity; the aim is to build something; such as a chair, a gateway, or a swing using rope, poles and wooden planks.
It is important to understand basic knots and lashing to create these structures. We can provide a booklet with all the information needed for tying knots and lashing and also some suggested structures to build.
Suitable For:
Age - Leader's decision
Maximum Group Size:
Leader's decision
Learning Outcomes:
Educational, Scout Skills
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
Pioneering
Groups can hire the oven out either during a midday or evening time slot. Ferny Crofts will supply all of the cooking equipment and some firewood, however all required ingredients are to be supplied by groups themselves.
A great alternative to cooking at your campsite whilst onsite or as an evening activity for your group.
Suitable For:
Age - Leader's decision
Maximum Group Size:
Leader's decision
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- Cooking Ingredients
Pizza oven
Using our equipment you can explore our pond for bugs and wildlife and our mini beast bug hotel.
We can supply you with nets, pooters, magnifying pots and glasses, sampling trays and identification cards to help you determine the creatures you have found.
Pond Dipping & Mini-Beast Hunting
Suitable For:
Age 4+
Maximum Group Size:
24 participants per session
Learning Outcomes:
Educational
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
Located at the top of the field near the toilet blocks are three Table Tennis tables.
These are free for anyone to use unless they have been booked out by groups.
You can bring your own table tennis equipment to use the tables for free or you can hire bats and balls from Reception.
Suitable For:
Age 6+
Maximum Group Size:
12 Participants
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
Table tennis
Located at the top of the field near the toilet blocks is a fully functional Volleyball Court with sand and a net.
The Volleyball Court is free for anyone to use unless it has be booked out.
You can bring your own Volleyball or purchase one for a small fee.
Suitable For:
Age 6+
Maximum Group Size:
24 Participants
Learning Outcomes:
Fun
Kit Requirements:
- No jewellery
- Long hair tied back
- Closed-toe footwear
Volleyball