Ski Snowboarding Trip Norway 2011
EDUCATION, LEARNING AND LEISURE
Aberdeenshire CounciL
| ABERDEENSHIRE SCHOOLS’
SKI/BOARDING EXCURSION TO VOSS February 2011 |
INFORMATION TO SCHOOLS AND PARENTS.
Following on from the success of the previous two years we are planning to run another Aberdeenshire-wide schools’ excursion to Voss, Norway in February 2011 for pupils who will be in second year by then, provided there are sufficient numbers of schools willing for their pupils to participate by promoting this venture internally and thereafter sufficient interest from pupils. The venture is aimed only at those pupils who are presently in first year. It is anticipated that the dates will once again coincide, as much as possible, with the mid-term and staff in-service break with the most likely dates being Friday 11 to Friday 18 February 2011.
This time round the intention is to take a smaller and more diverse group to Voss than in previous years and as such there is likely to be a limit placed upon the number of places allocated to each school to ensure that we have a spread of pupils from as many schools as possible. Schools which end up having large numbers of interested pupils might wish instead to organise their own school trips and/or to pair up with other schools in this situation to run joint trips.
The tour company which we use is Dawson & Anderson Ltd who is fully ABTA and ATOL bonded and is an approved provider on the Council’s register of such providers. Those schools considering organising their own or joint ski trips to Norway are also recommended to use this company which meets all of the Council’s Health & Safety requirements for adventure activities and excursions and has 30 years experience of arranging schools ski trips to Norway.
Travel: Parents will be responsible for taking pupils to Aberdeen airport on the day of departure and for collecting them on the return date. The party will fly with Wideroe from Aberdeen to Bergen, a flight of approx 1 hour 30 minutes, and then transfer to Voss by coach, a journey of approximately 1 hour 30 minutes. Wideroe currently operates around 3 flights a day to and from Aberdeen and Bergen making for several options for school trips such as this. Pupils will be accompanied on each flight by adult leaders (usually teachers) who will be responsible for supervision of pupils at all times when they are not in ski school. Supervision on the ski slopes will be by fully qualified instructors from the Voss Ski School.
Accommodation: Voss Youth Hostel, on the shores of the lake next to Voss, about 1 mile from Voss town centre. Rooms are mostly 4 bedded with bunks and all have a private shower, sink and toilet. Meals are on a half board basis and pupils are able to purchase lunch each day in the mountain restaurant from upwards of £7.50 or alternatively make up a sandwich lunch from the breakfast buffet at a cost of around £3.50.
Evenings: Cultural and recreational activities will be on offer in the evenings but these are not included in the package price. They are likely to include videos, a disco, ten-pin bowling, Norwegian Folk dancing and swimming. Other school groups may be in the hostel and so some of the evening activities will be shared. Some of these activities are free of charge while others such as swimming and bowling will cost each pupil around £5.00 each.
Cost: At this stage it is not possible to give you a precise cost but based on the 2010 venture and allowing for increases we estimate that the cost of the full package per pupil including introductory session at Alford Ski Centre, travel to Voss, insurance, half board accommodation, equipment hire, lift pass and ski school is likely to be around £800 per pupil. The wearing of helmets is compulsory and as such the hire of helmets is included in the equipment hire.
View down to Voss village from Ski Centre
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Skiing: Skiing/boarding is on the Voss ski area with all in groups supervised and taught by the Voss Ski School. Pupils will ski/board 4 hours per day with an instructor, 10.00–12.00noon and 1.00–3.00pm. Voss is a snow-sure resort with frequent falls of fresh powder throughout the winter season. The trip is designed for people to learn to ski/board or to improve beyond the beginner stage. Intermediate skiers/boarders will find a wide range of challenges although, more experienced skiers/boarders could find the area limited in overall size. Access to the ski area is usually by a chair lift which is about a 15 to 20 minute walk from the hostel. (Ski boots are stored at the foot of the gondola.) |
One of the ski areas at Voss
Pocket money: The package price includes everything except lunches, ‘tuck shop’ and souvenirs. As lunch is likely to cost around £50 for the week and evening activities around £15 we would recommend pocket of around £100 (1000 NOK) in pocket money. Pocket money will be held in a safe in the hostel and issued to pupils by leaders on a daily banking basis.
What Next?
To apply for a place on this venture parents must;
- Complete the enclosed application form, ensuring the form is signed and dated by a parent/guardian.
- Attach a cheque to the value of £200, as deposit, made payable to Aberdeenshire Council.
(No cash, please.)
- Post the application form and deposit to Amy Scott-Murray, Education, Learning & Leisure, Woodhill House, Westburn Road Aberdeen AB16 5GB.
- The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday 30 April 2011.
You will be notified some time in May 2011 as to whether or not a place has been allocated. If we are unable to offer you a place because we have more applications than places available, or because we don’t have enough pupils to make this viable, then the deposit will be refunded to you at that time. Alternatively, if the trip is going ahead but we are unable to offer your child a place we can, if you wish, hold your name (and deposit) on a waiting list in the event of someone dropping out.. We expect there to be a high demand for places from schools throughout Aberdeenshire, hence the short time scale set for applications and deposits.
Subsequent payments will thereafter be in the form of 3 instalments of £200 each.
Instalments will be due by:
- Friday 25 June 2011
- Friday 27August 2011
- Friday 29 October 2011.
INTRODUCTORY SESSION AT ALFORD SNOWSPORTS CENTRE
The plan at this stage is to bring successful applicants together for an introductory session at Alford Snowsports Centre later this year, where the centre’s expert staff will be asked to provide some instruction in either boarding or skiing. Parents will be asked to ferry the pupils to and from Alford for this purpose. This is likely to be on an evening or a weekend day in September /October 09. The cost of this is also included in the package price.
While the pupils are out on the slope at Alford parents/carers will be invited to attend an information session at which organisers/leaders will be present to answer questions and provide as much detailed information as possible.
Clarification on the contents of this document can be obtained by contacting Walter Taylor, Education, Learning & Leisure, Woodhill House, Aberdeen AB16 5GB. Tel 01224 664247. Email walter.taylor@aberdeenshire.gov.uk