What to Pack for a Winter Residential School Trip
October 6th, 2023
We’re often asked what to pack for a winter residential school trip. In this guide we share everything young people will need to help them make the most of their stay at the Cumulus Outdoor Residential Centre in Swanage.
Cumulus Outdoors are leading residential school trip providers. We deliver a range of outdoor adventure activities from our base in Swanage, providing young people with unforgettable experiences on the Jurassic Coast. In recent years we have expanded our offering to include dormitory accommodation. This has enabled us to extend our season and run residential trips throughout the year.
Autumn and Winter School Residentials in Swanage
Autumn and winter residentials are great fun and a fantastic way for students to build relationships with new class mates at the start of a new school year. Despite the cooler temperatures, we’re still able to offer an action packed programme of outdoor adventure activities, which can include high ropes, mountain biking and tag archery.
October, November, February and March are well suited to groups looking for a field studies trip on the Jurassic Coast. The beaches are quieter, which makes it easier to undertake studies at natural beauty spots, such as Durdle Door, Kimmeridge and Lulworth Cove.
The Cumulus Outdoors Residential Centre is well equipped to host groups in the autumn and winter months. We have a range of dormitory accommodation and cosy communal areas. Our catering team cook up a selection of home cooked, warming and hearty meals – perfect for refuelling at the end of a busy day!
Winter School Trip Kit List
To help you make the most of your trip, we have put together a kit list of what to pack for Winter Residentials. After all, there’s no such thing as bad weather – just bad clothing!
Tracksuit or hard wearing trousers
The first item to pack is a pair of tracksuit bottoms or hard wearing trousers. We strongly advise against wearing jeans, they can be restrictive and do not provide as much mobility as tracksuit bottoms or walking trousers. They’re also difficult to dry if they get wet.
Wearing comfortable trousers is key to making the most of our outdoor adventure activities. Depending on the activities in your programme, you could be required to kneel down, crawl and jump!
Stay warm with cosy jumpers!
In addition to wearing comfortable trousers, bringing at least two comfortable jumpers or fleeces is imperative – you don’t want to get cold! Ideally bring clothing that can be layered. You can always take layers off, but you can’t put them on if you don’t have them to hand.
Essential T-shirts too
Comfortable T-shirts are another essential item in our kit list. T-shirts are great to wear in case you want to take your jumper off (if you get lucky with the weather!) and still be comfortable. We recommend bringing at least one T-shirt per day, as you will probably sweat and get dirty during our fun outdoors activities.
Waterproof Jackets and Trousers
The list wouldn’t be complete without waterproof clothes. Waterproof jackets and trousers should not be forgotten, as they are key to a comfortable outdoors experience and will protect you from water, snow, hail and wind. You don’t need to splash the cash on big brand names. You can buy these relatively inexpensively from most highstreet outdoor stores.
Warm socks and underwear
The secret to stay warm during outdoor activities in the colder months is always wearing warm layers – this includes your socks and underwear. Bring thick socks to keep your feet toasty and warm! Thermal vests and leggings are great as well!
Don’t forget about footwear!
Footwear is just as important as clothes. Wearing the wrong pair could prevent you from partaking into some activities. No one wants to spend the day with wet feet because of heavy rain! We strongly advise pupils to bring three pair of shoes, (activity pair/ walking boots, water shoes (if doing water sports) and a cosy/ clean pair for around centre. While some activities are water based, DO NOT bring crocs or neoprene beach shoes, old trainers will do the job.
Walking boots are an asset if you have them! During the autumn and winter we like to get out and about and explore some of the fantastic walking trails on the doorstep of our residential centre in Swanage.
Other essential items
It’s important to bring a rucksack in addition to your suitcase or holdall, so that you can bring shoes, a change of clothes, a towel, lunch and a water bottle to your outdoor adventure activity sessions. You may also want to bring a plastic bag in case your clothes get dirty or wet and you need to change into your spares. We strongly advise pupils to also bring alcohol hand gel.
There are certain items that are also crucial to your stay, and should be left at the residential centre where you’ll be eating, sleeping, showering and getting changed. This list includes a wash bag, toothbrush and toothpaste, face wipes, any medicine or medication you may need (which should also be brought along to the day trips if needed) and a bin liner for wet or dirty clothes for the end of the trip. While we advise against wearing crocs for outdoor activities, we recommend bringing a pair of sliders to wear indoors when spending time in our Residential Centre.
One final advice for all children coming to Cumulus Outdoors for outdoor activities or field studies is to label all your kit, as this is key to save time and effort when packing up at the end of your stay with us!
Weather dependant items
If heavy rains or snow is expected during the time of your trip, we strongly advise pupils to wear wellington boots for water and mud protection, as well as warm hat and gloves to protect yourself from strong winds and cold weather.
You can read the full kit list here.
We strongly encourage schools to consider autumn and winter field studies trips. They’re great fun and a fantastic alternative to spring and summer trips at the end of the school year. Visiting in the colder months means natural beauty spots will be quieter allowing your school trip to explore with ease. You’ll also have more freedom when choosing your desired dates! Don’t let the cold weather stop you from booking fun outdoor activities on the Jurassic Coast!
If you are considering booking a residential school trip and have any further questions regarding outdoor activities or what to pack, please get in touch with our friendly team.
Get in touch
Enquire now about autumn and winter residential school trips at Cumulus Outdoors.