We're still working hard in the National Trust to encourage families to become more involved our spectacular properties. We'll be running our second a Family Working Holiday at the Stackpole Centre (the more comfortable one next door to S4OL) and looking after the Stackpole Estate from Thursday 8th to Sunday 11th April 2010.

So far we're planning on kayaking to the wonderful Barafundle beach to do a beach clean, trailing some of our new activities and equipment in the woods and a day volunteering with the North Pembrokeshire wardens. See the National Trust Website for more details at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering or call 01793 817637

29th - 31st May 2010

Now a well established Sea Kayaking Festival with a difference – with a theme of ‘Paddling lightly’ like ‘treading softly’ on the land, therefore looking after this wonderful coastline whilst discovering its natural wonders.

The Sea Kayak Festival will be based at the National Trust’s residential centre at Stackpole and run in conjunction with Sea Kayak Guides who have sponsored the event by providing a team of guides and Sea Kayak equipment for the event.

During the day, there will be a choice of island and coastal journeys with Caldy and Skomer within striking distance (weather permitting).

On hand will be wildlife experts to share their wealth of knowledge of what’s ‘out there’. Grey seals, dolphins, puffins and razorbills should all be within reach.

In the evening, talks by guest speakers, music, a barbecue and bar will all be on offer…or just a stroll down to one of Britain’s finest beaches, Barafundle, just twenty minutes walk away.

For £140 a person, we’ll look after you, fully catered, inside our cosy Centre. Alternatively join in the fun but provide for yourself on our camping field for just £70 per person. Day tickets are also available at £20 per person too.

Please contact Bridget Wilcox on 01646 661425 or email bridget.wilcox@nationaltrust.org.uk for more information.

As you may or may not know by now Gez will be sailing off into the blue yonder at Easter. We'll be having a leaving do on 3rd April and if anyone has any farwell messages we'll be very happy to pass them on. Louise will be acting Head of Centre for the mean time and can be contacted on the usual number or email louise.smithson@nationaltrust.org.uk.

We're working hard in the National Trust to encourage families to become more involved our spectacular properties so we'll be running a Family Working Holiday from the Stackpole Centre(the more comfortable one next door to S4OL) and looking after the Stackpole Estate from Thursday 28th May to Sunday 31st. Activities will include an Canoing Otter survay on the Lilly Ponds and a day out at Scrubby Bottoms. All food is included in the very modest price of £350 for two adults and up to 3 children. See the National Trust Website for more details at www.nationaltrust.org.uk/volunteering.

We now sell S4OL organic and locally printed T shirts in child and adult sizes. They cost a little more than our usual wares that we sell in our modest shop at £8 for children and £10 for adults. If you would like your school name or other distinguishing mark on the arm please contact us to make an order with two weeks notice. Your teachers have more information regarding size and colours available.

Please give Linda or Lou a call if you need any further information.

A holiday with a difference with the National Trust at Stackpole:

Family Safari Date: 24th -28th August

A great chance for all the family to enjoy the landscape and activities at Stackpole! There’ll also be a chance to carry out some active conservation here too. Don’t just enjoy Stackpole – help us make it even better.

Please contact Gez, Louise or Linda for more information.

Kath has now taken a well earned retirment after 21 years at S4OL and was sent on her way with a shiny new bike. Erica has stepped up as Cook and Sharon has joined her in the kitichen too. They've started to make their mark on the kitchen but don't worry too much Kath passed on the flapjack recipe!!!

We don't just work with school groups, so if you fancy coming with your family, there's a chance next August - bring Mum , Dad and your baby brother (but not the dog!) A whole week of action packed activity and home cooked food (and bunk beds too!) for just £800 for a 2+2 family(last year's price pegged till New Year 09!) Come and join us from 24th-28th August - info from linda.cole@nationaltrust.org.uk

We are delighted that we have just been awarded our third Eco-Centre Green Flag in April 08.

Word on the street is that we might be Wales's first permanent Green Flag Centre - but we're awaiting confirmation from 'Keep Wales Tidy'

Many thanks to all the schools who've helped us get this prestigious award - particularly Llangynidr CP school whose children said all the right things on the day - Da Iawn!

After a rest in 2007, our sea kayaking festival is back on the programme - 24th-26th May. A fantastic chance to explore the coast of South Pembrokeshire by kayak and meet up with like-minded souls. Again, we're running it in conjunction with the Welsh Canoeing Association who have whipped in their finest coaches (not the wheeled sort!)who, under the guidance of Nigel Robinson, will ensure you're well looked after. Back at the Centre, all accommodation and great food is provided unless you go for the camping option. Evenings: Interesting kayak and wildlife talks, live guitar music with maestro John Rodge and a BBQ. More info? See the 'flyer' in the document file or Contact: Gez.richards@nationaltrust.org.uk

Sorry - we get a huge amount of spam entries which we have to wade through...we do enjoy your bona fide entries when we get through to them - thanks and please be patient!

- Gez

At S4OL we have two great working holiday opportunities coming up this summer:

YOUTH DISCOVERY - 3rd-9th August - lots of conservation tasks with photography too.

TRAIL BLAZING - 10th-16th August - Conservation work and path work - we're hoping to make a bike trail through the woods. Contact Working Hols Admin on 01793 817637

We have now appointed a new Deputy Manager who will take over the day to day running of the Centre from the beginning of January. Her name is Louise Smithson - she has worked for us before in the dim and distant past. If you do remember her, you'll remember her energy, enthusiasm, Yorkshire accent and silly hat! She's a keen climber and canoeist, a qualified teacher in Outdoor Education and joins us from the Field Studies Council Centre at Castlehead.

Comings and goings at Stackpole - It's been a summer of great change at Stackpole . We are sad to have lost Dan - he's gone to Australia to follow his heart and to run his own Centre. We have also lost Matt to being a house husband .

Good luck to both - Our new 'boys' are Ben and Rhian, both of whom are settling in well and are bringing their own new flavour to the Centre. We hope you enjoy working with them in tandem with Gez who's been dragged kicking and screaming from his last 12 months of being 'office boy'!

We have just become a Children’s University Centre.

Working with Trinity College Carmarthen, we can now run our residential week as an Outdoor Learning Module for which children can gain 20 credits towards Children’s University awards. Let us know if your school would like to be involved.

Find more information at:

http://www.childrensuniversity-cardiff.org

On the 4th of December 2004 Stackpole For Outdoor Learning celebrated its 21st birthday in style.

Staff, volunteers and important people from past and present congregated to eat curry, play loud music and chat about the old days! The Reverend James, Angelfish and an unnamed folk supergroup provided the entertainment, whilst curry and a superb cake were provided by Kath and Erica (kitchen goddesses!).The official cake cutting waas carried out by the Centre's very first manager, Gary Davies, who now heads the South West Wales Tourism Partnership.

Of course, a good time was had by all, although some are less clear about the details than others!

Stackpole For Outdoor Learning visitors will now be transported around in our minibuses accompanied by the gentle fragrance of chips!

Our buses are now powered by biodiesel, which is recycled cooking vegetable oil. It's not a strange as it sounds, Mr Diesel (who invented the diesel engine) designed it to run on peanut oil!

It means that we are now using a fuel which is essentially carbon neutral (ie no new carbon dioxide is being released into the environment) instead of using crude oil derived diesel.

For more information on the product visit www.sundancerenewables.org.uk

Thursday the 19th of September 2002 and Stackpole for Schools have officially raised their Eco Centre Green Flag. It is the National Trust's first residential Centre to recieve the prestigious award. It is only the fourth Green flag to be awarded in Wales and the first outside of the Field Studies Council.

The Green flag is awarded to Centres when strict environmental criteria have been satisfied. These include reducing waste and increasing recycling, saving energy and water, stopping littering and taking and active role in improving the environment, for example by organising beach cleans.

All the groups that stay at Stackpole for Outdoor Learning take part in the scheme and are also made aware of their impact on the environment. Even if only a few of the children who visit the centre return home and increase their families awareness then the process can become far reaching and self perpetuating.

NEW News! January 2005.

We have successfully regained our Green Flag Award for a further 3 years. Our assessment checked that we have maintained our sustainable standards and have brought in new projects as well.

We have already started useing biodiesel in our minibuses (see News story) and are looking at various other renewable energy sources for our centre.

What else can we do? If you've visited us and have an idea then let us know in the 'forum'.

For more information about the day please go to the 'At Stackpole' section.

Breaking news - Our third and'permanent Green Flag' just awarded - are we the first in Wales?