East Lothian Council Outdoor Learning Service

Leading Outdoor Learning in East Lothian and beyond

Winter Residentials

Winter Residential Adventure Programme (WRAP)

The WRAP programme is an Intervention for pupils who lack self-belief or score themselves low in areas such as Leadership, resilience, confidence, organisation etc. It's a 3 day/ 2 night residential adventure programme with a difference.

The programmes are ideally suited to S5/6 or S3/4 or S2/S3 or P6/P7 and can accommodate a maximum of 12 pupils.

There will be two programmes this year:

Tuesday 23rd to Thursday 25th February 2027
Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th March 2027

Accommodation is at Badaguish lodges on the Rothiemurchus estate near Aviemore. This provides direct access to the Cairngorm Mountain range and all it has to offer in terms of adventure.

A number of in school lessons, focusing on a appropriate text, will build up to the residential experience. These lessons can include whole classes who will be reported back to by the individuals selected for the residential.

The pupils who attend will experience challenge in a wild environment, the experience will be based around exploring, on foot, the mountains in Winter. Possible activities may include: snow holing, hiking (or snow shoeing), forest exploration, Nordic skiing; visiting a bothy; cooking on open fires; winter creatures; literary inspiration; sliding in control; building with snow; assessing and managing risk; understanding weather; planning adventures; navigating when the world is covered in white and many others

On the residential pupils will also experience communal living in terms of preparing group meals and shared responsibilities etc.

You will need to organise your own transport, an outdoor learning minibus will be available for FREE, if you have a driver (with an ELC permit & MiDAS).

The (subsidised) cost per pupil is £95. This includes accommodation, activities and meals as well as some in school lessons for the group prior to departing. There will be specific links with the schools curriculum using a text as a basis for adventures

There is no cost for school staff attending with pupils.

To book:

If you are looking to develop a programme in your setting please complete a Targeted Intervention Request form at the bottom of this page...
Residential Visit online business aspects training for Residential off-site trips MUST be completed by at least one member of staff attending
EVOLVE – this planning and approval form must be started as soon as your booking is confirmed and submitted well in advance of the activities. The EVOLVE form should be filled in by the Visit Leader who has completed the Residential Visit business aspects training N.B. Select Multi-activity when asked for the adventurous activities. Start the form now – EVOLVE here
Letter to Parents – download the template and amend to suit here
Informed Parental Consent Forms – here
Equipment List – this should be given to all staff & pupils here
Letter to Staff/Volunteers – download the template and amend to suit here
Complete a Camp Essential Information form
School Visits further information and forms can be downloaded from East Lothian EduHub
Pupil record of achievement. Pre/post camp workbook here

Programmes are always flexible and may need to be changed at the very last minute depending on weather conditions, tides, staffing, group ability etc. Alternate activities that form part of the overall programme will be provided and similar outcomes achieved. We will do our best to inform you of these changes ASAP but in reality this may be the morning of, or possibly even during the activity. This is the nature of Outdoor Learning (especially in Scotland). Please make sure your staff, children and parents are aware of this.

Sleeping Lodges

Snowshoeing

Building Structures

School Staff Feedback:

“This unique opportunity for a small focus group gives our pupils experiences…allowing them to develop relationships and skills in a way that would not be possible within a class.”

"On their return, the impact was immediate and evident. Pupils showed increased confidence, improved peer interactions, and greater willingness to participate in school life. Teachers and support staff noted enhanced resilience, better communication skills, and an improved attitude to learning. Pupils who previously avoided participation in group work or whole-class discussions were now contributing more freely, and those who had struggled to form friendships were developing stronger social connections."

Pupil feedback highlighted the personal impact of the experience. One pupil wrote:

"At first I didn’t want to go because I didn’t think I would be able to do anything. But I actually managed more than I thought, and I feel more confident now. I want to try more new things.”

Another shared:

"We had to work together all the time—cooking, walking, building stuff—and I realised that I can actually help others and not just rely on them. I’ve never had that feeling before."

Staff also reflected positively on the impact. One teacher noted:

"We’ve seen pupils return with a whole new sense of belief in themselves. Some of our quieter pupils have started stepping up, while others who were always negative or disengaged are showing signs of leadership and responsibility. WRAP gave them something real to be proud of."

Case Study

One pupil, identified as being at risk of becoming school-refusing due to anxiety and low self-esteem, initially struggled with the unfamiliar setting. With support from staff and peers, they slowly began to participate, eventually joining in group cooking and snowshoeing. On the final day, this pupil led a section of the group walk, an activity that required navigation and communication. Since returning, their school attendance has improved dramatically, and they are now accessing in-school support voluntarily—something they had previously avoided.

Report abuse