Woodland adventure week

Our HAF Adventure will comprise of 4 days of outdoor activities at Bushy Wood Activity centre near Hailsham.
Enjoy a full four days immersed in the woodland, exploring Bushy Wood through hands-on activities, high ropes challenges and target sports. Build confidence, teamwork and key soft skills while connecting with the outdoors. A fun, engaging week designed to spark curiosity, growth and adventure. To refuel we will be cooking lunch on an open fire each day, with the participants a key part of preparing their own lunch.

***The East Sussex October half-term provision is funded by the Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF) and not HAF. The criteria for this funding are different to the HAF funding and we would like to include both targeted and expanded FSM recipients on the October programme.. Please note, eligibility will be confirmed as part of the booking process.***

We will be outdoors all day and the weather may mean students need to have good footwear and waterproof clothing.
Though lunch is provided, we recommend bringing a refillable water bottle and any snacks you might want. There is a shop onsite too where snack can be bought.
We may be doing some craft activities but please don't bring anything with you, we will provide all tools necessary.
We will be doing some high ropes / climbing activities, though don't worry if you are scared of heights as there's plenty of support needed from the ground.

Our Philosophy & Core Values

At Buzz Active, we use outdoor experiences and adventurous activities as powerful tools for learning and personal development. To ensure all participants can safely engage, learn, and grow, our sessions are built around six core pillars:

• Teamwork: Working collaboratively, listening to peers, and supporting one another on and off session.
• Resilience: Embracing challenges, navigating setbacks, and bouncing back positively when things get tough.
• Problem Solving: Thinking innovatively to tackle obstacles and adapting to changing conditions.
• Confidence: Developing self-belief and understanding that making mistakes is a vital part of learning.
• Independence: Taking responsibility for personal choices, kit, and actions.
• Creativity: Bringing imagination and fresh thinking to group challenges and outdoor exploration.

Behaviour Policy:
1. Behaviour Expectations

We expect all participants to actively demonstrate our core values through their conduct during sessions:

• Champion Teamwork: Treat instructors, centre staff, and fellow participants with kindness and respect. Bullying, discriminatory language, or exclusionary behaviour completely undermines the team dynamic and will not be tolerated.
• Cultivate Confidence & Creativity: Engage fully with activities. We encourage participants to speak up, share creative ideas, and support others to build collective self-belief.
• Show Resilience & Problem Solving: Follow all safety briefings and instructor prompts immediately. When an activity seems difficult, participants are expected to try their best, problem-solve with their group, and safely test their boundaries.
• Foster Independence: Take responsibility for looking after personal belongings, issued kit, and centre equipment.

2. Prohibited Behaviours

To maintain a safe and productive environment, the following actions are strictly forbidden:

• Compromising Safety: Refusing to wear or misusing safety equipment (e.g., buoyancy aids, helmets, harnesses), or ignoring critical safety instructions from staff.
• Disruptive Conduct: Continually interrupting the instructor, talking over safety briefings, or preventing others from participating.
• Vandalism: Misusing, deliberately damaging, or defacing the venue, natural environment, facilities, or another person's property.
• Dangerous Actions: Rough play, physical aggression, or any behaviour that compromises the health and safety of participants or staff.

3. Staged Consequences for Misbehaviour

When behaviour falls short of our values or compromises safety, we implement a fair, consistent, and staged response to reset the focus:

• Stage 1: Value Reminder – A staff member will issue a direct verbal reminder, linking the behaviour back to our expectations (e.g., explaining how a disruption impacts safety or teamwork).
• Stage 2: Reflection Reset – If the disruptive behaviour continues, the participant will be asked to take a short reflection break away from the active group to reset their focus and attitude.
• Stage 3: Temporary Removal – Persistent disruption or refusal to follow safety rules will result in the participant being removed from the immediate activity for a specified period to ensure the safety and enjoyment of the wider group. A formal log of the incident will be made.
• Stage 4: Session Exclusion – Serious breaches (such as physical aggression, deliberately compromising safety equipment, or severe bullying) will result in immediate exclusion from the remainder of the programme. A formal review with the participant's parent/guardian will be required before any return to Buzz Active is permitted.

Phone Policy:
1. Purpose & Rationale

We are committed to creating a focused, safe, and engaging environment for all participants. Mobile phones can be highly distracting, interrupt the flow of learning or activities, and inadvertently impact the wellbeing or privacy of others.

To ensure everyone gets the most out of each session, we enforce a strict "Not Seen, Not Heard" policy during scheduled session times.

2. The Core Rule: In the Bag

• Out of Sight: All mobile phones, and other personal electronic devices must be completely switched off (or set to silent/do not disturb) and stored away inside a bag before the session begins.
• No Pocket Storage: Devices may not be kept in clothing pockets, on desks, or visible anywhere in the session space.
• Why Bags Are Allowed: We understand that devices are essential for safety, travel coordinates, and staying in touch with family before and after the session. Keeping devices in bags ensures they remain secure and accessible for when the session finishes, without acting as a distraction during it.

3. Expectations During Sessions

• No Notifications: Devices must not vibrate, ring, or light up inside bags.
• No Tracking/Checking: Checking the time, looking at notifications, or changing music during a session is strictly prohibited.
• Media & Privacy: Taking photos, recording audio, or filming video during a session is strictly forbidden to protect the privacy of all participants.

4. Emergency Communications

We recognise that urgent situations happen.

• If a parent, guardian, or family member needs to reach a participant urgently during session hours, they must contact the Main Office directly at 01323 463300
• Staff will immediately pass the message to the participant. Participants must not use their personal devices to manage emergencies mid-session.

5. Non-Compliance & Consequences

Failing to follow these guidelines disrupts the experience for everyone. If a device is seen or heard during a session:

• First Instance: The participant will be given a verbal reminder to secure the device in their bag.
• Second Instance: The device will be safely confiscated by the session leader and held in a secure location until the end of the day/session.
• Persistent Issues: A formal conversation will take place with the participant (and their parent/guardian, if applicable), and further participation in sessions may be reviewed.