ACTIVITIES

We have a wide range of activities available at Cowley Adventure. All of our activities are run by fully trained instructors complying to nationally recognised qualifications where required. Other activities are group leader-led, although a Deer Park instructor can run any of these activities for an additional cost. All instructor-led activities include a full safety briefing within your allocated time.

We can work with you to make our activities accessible for different abilities and needs. Please contact the Deer Park team to talk about any accessibility requirements.

You can find out about how we keep everyone safe on our safety page, including accessing risk assessments.

If you are a Girlguiding group, visit the Girlguiding information section for links to the Girlguiding activity information (where relevant).

You can check whether an activity is already booked by viewing the calendar in our Hallmaster booking system. Please then email us on [email protected] so that we can pencil your booking into the diary and check on instructor availability and volunteer support (where required).

Check availability

email booking request

Click on a link for more infromation, or scroll to browse.
The picture shows two children looking at a computer screen ad looking sceited about what they see.

Adventure playground - A photo of the adventure playground.

Archery - A child with their back to their camera, aiming their arrow towards teh targets in the background.

A boy shooting an arrow, which is in the air heading towards the target in the background.

Boule - A picture of the boules surrounding the jack, on the boules court.

Bushcraft - A group of children in the bushcraft area listening to the instructor

Grass sledging - A Rainbow grass sledging.

Fencing - Children taking part in fencing, in a field.

Geocaching - A Brownie and a Guide geocaching. The Brownie is pointing at the cache found and the Guide is holding the GPS device.

Golf frisbee - A Brownie playing with the frisbee, and a leader cheering at her success.

9 bowling balls, 3 red and 3 blue, sat in front of the scoring mat that has holes in with different scores for each.

Indoor curling - A guide taking part in curling in a village hall.

Low Ropes - A photo of the low ropes course.

Pond dipping - The pond, a telescopic net and an identification card.

Soft tomahawks - An adult with her back to the camera is throwing a plastic tomahawk towards the brightly coloured target.

Tunnels - A brownie looking out of the tunnel.

An image of some small whittled items that look like people.

archery

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 7 years and upwards
Led by: Qualified Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1.5 hours

Inspired by Robin Hood? Have a go at hitting the target under the guidance of a qualified archery instructor.

We offer introductory and 'have a go' sessions for visitors to practice their archery skills.

zip wire

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 7 years and upward
Other restrictions: weight limit 60kg/9.4 stone
Led by: Qualified Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1.5 hours

Our zip wire, situated at the top of Bubbs Hill, is 190m long and gives riders the chance to challenge their nerves and feel the wind on their face as they speed down the line to the bottom.

WHITTLING

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 10 years and upward
Led by: 2 Deer Park instructors
Session length: 1 hour

Whittling, or wood carving, is fun and creative. It's a great way to introduce children to safe knife skills. And with the right know-how and grown-up supervision that come from our 2 instructors at each session, there's no need for it to be risky.

bushcraft

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 5 years and upward
Led by: Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1 hour

Our bushcraft sessions involve a combination of activities which could include firelighting, knife work, nettle cording (seasonal) and shelter building.

For Girlguiding Gloucestershire units only: This activity is also available as a self-led activity where the lead adult has relevant experience in bushcraft and a first aid certificate. Visit the self-led bushcraft page for full details.

golF frisbee

Maximum group size: Unlimited
Age range: 4 years and upward
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

This is a combination of playing frisbee and playing golf; the aim is to get your frisbee into the target in as few throws as possible. The target can easily be moved so you can set it up at a short distance to have an initial try and practice and then set it up at a further distance for your actual game. Sessions are either morning, afternoon or evening and can last as long as groups require (max 4 hours).

tunnels

Maximum group size: Unlimited
Age range: all ages
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

Set of three tunnel systems; easy – one straight line, medium – one corner and two exits, and advanced – lots of corners and exits. Set over ground in plastic tunnels, this activity is leader-led with instructions and head torches provided. Sessions are either morning, afternoon or evening and can last as long as groups require (max 4 hours).

Geocaching

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 5 years and upward
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

Geocaching is a great way to obtain navigational skills, use of technical devices, exercise and have fun!
Deer Park has constructed a brand new version of geocaching in which girls use a GPS (global positioning system) unit to navigate and find a hidden marker. Each marker found will have a letter clue and will also tell you where to find the next marker on the course.
Each small geocaching course will provide the girls with a set of letters which, when rearranged, will make a word.
There are four courses in total, some harder than others. This means that groups can choose to either do just one course or the whole set depending on the amount of time they have.

arrows

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 4-11 years
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

Arrows is a mini version of archery aimed at younger visitors. It consists of a system of bows and arrows with suckers on the end with a choice of two target faces. Children learn the skills for archery with manageable goals and outcomes. Fun and games for all ages. This activity primarily takes place outdoors, but can also run in the assemble hall.

pistols

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 10 years and upward
Led by: Qualified Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1.5 hours

Introductory ‘have a go' sessions with a qualified NSRA Range Conducting Officer. Everyone taking part in this activity needs a signed section 21 declaration for us to comply with the law.
Child (Girlguiding member) shooting consent form
Adult Section 21 form
Child (non-Girlguiding member) Section 21 form

adventure playground

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: up to 10 years
Led by: Visiting group leader

Our adventure playground is available for children up to the age of 10 years to use when they are visiting. We do not charge to use this facility. Children need to be supervised by a responsible adult from your visiting group.

POND DIPPING

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: All ages
Led by: Visiting group leader
Minimum session length: 1 hour

The pond is situated at the top of Bubbs Hill and is full of all kinds of wildlife if you take time to stop and look closely. This activity provides the group with all the equipment you need to find and identify creatures and plants in the pond.

boules

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: All ages
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

Boules, also known as Petanque, is a game where players try to get their 'boule' - the French word for ball - as close to the cochonnet (the small ball) without touching it. Anyone can easily and quickly learn to play this ancient game.

indoor Curling

Maximum group size: unlimited
Age range: All ages
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

This adapted version of the game uses rubber curling stones with bearings, making it a great game to play indoors. This can be used in the activity room of the Deer House, the assembly hall, or it can be hired to take off site and used within your own unit meeting place.
The set includes pushers and slopes for accessible game play.

LOW ROPES

Maximum group size: 15 (optimum group size is 10-15)
Age range: 7 years and upwards
Led by: Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1.5 hours

New for 2023 our low ropes course will not only be a lot of fun but help participants learn about team work, problem solving and cooperation, whilst developing their trust, balance and coordination.
With thanks to The Summerfield Charitable Trust who supported us with funding for this project.

DRY grass sledging

Maximum group size: Unlimited
Age range: 5-14 years
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

An activity which is the equivalent to tobogganing on snow, using sledges with tracks running down a grassy hill, groups need to pull sledges to the top of the slope before heading down. The activity is weather dependent (grass must be dry).

"Thanks for organising a fun morning doing something different, she had a great time"
A Rainbow's parent

INDOOR BOwling

Maximum group size: unlimited
Age range: All ages
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

This beginner's version of bowls can be used in the activity room of the Deer House, the assembly hall, or it can be hired to take off site and used within your own unit meeting place.

TOMAHAWKS

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 7 years+
Led by: Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1.5 hours

A tomahawk is a type of single-handed axe. They’re made for throwing, so they’re different from conventional axes. We also use throwing angels.
Tomahawks is a fun sport where you’ll get the opportunity to throw solid steel axes and/or throwing angels at a wooden target. Great for hand-eye coordination.

SOFT TOMAHAWKS

Maximum group size: 12
Age range: 4 years+
Led by: Visiting group leader
Session length: morning, afternoon or evening

Soft Tomahawks is a mini version of tomahawks and can be enjoyed by anyone over the age 4 and is an ideal way to introduce younger children to the activity, although just as much enjoyment can be had by any age group. You throw plastic axes into a target made up of bristles. It is a great activity for hand eye coordination and you can create individual and team challenges with it. Can your group hit a bullseye? This activity primarily takes place outdoors, but can also run in the assemble hall.

FENCING

Maximum group size: 15
Age range: 7 years+
Led by: Cowley Adventure instructor
Session length: 1 hour

Fencing is tactical - how can you protect yourself at the same time as scoring a touch on your opponent with your sword? It develops coordination, flexibility, balance and concentration, as well as being great exercise! This activity primarily takes place outdoors, but can also run in the assemble hall.

Information for Girlguiding groups

All of our activities conform to Girlguiding's rules and regulations with fully trained instructors complying to nationally recognised qualifications where required. Other activities are group leader-led, although a Deer Park instructor can run any of these activities at an additional cost.

Below are links to the Girlguiding information pages relating to our activities (where relevant).