Frequently Asked Questions

All accommodation comes with night toilets on camp. There is also night-time motion-sensor lighting which alerts teachers that someone is using the night time toilet.

Pods have electric sockets. When staying in the bell-tented villages, there will be the option to charge phones in the indoor dining room at meal times. We also recommend that teachers bring a portable charger.

Whilst the activity centre does not have WiFi, it has a good mobile signal (so adults accompanying students can use their mobile data).

We provide 1 free teacher place for every 10 students. (additional teachers are charged at half price). We recognise that some pupils may require additional support and request that schools contact us to discuss individual pupil requirements.

Your group can arrive at 10 am on the first day and leave at 1.45 on the final day.

All Rootd instructors are outdoor first-aid trained. The school will be responsible for appointing a first-aider who will be the first point of contact for any basic first aid.

At Rootd we hold the LOtC Quality badge and are proud to offer Learning Outside the Classroom approved School trips. You can learn more in our blog post about the importance of LOtC for your School trip provider.

We recognise that schools won’t know exact numbers at the time of booking, so we will ask for an approximate expected number, and allow a 10% flexibility, so you can adjust your numbers by 10% up or down at any time prior to 8 weeks before the trip. If your numbers change by more than 10%, please let us know as soon as possible and we will do our best to accommodate you, but this will be subject to availability, and subject to meeting the minimum numbers agreed at the time of booking.

Once you have agreed your dates, you will have up to 14 days to complete and return your booking form, and on receipt of your completed form we will issue a deposit for 30% of the trip costs, to be paid within 14 days of receipt of your booking form. The remaining balance of your trip is payable 8 weeks before.

We can hold dates provisionally for up to 14 days, subject to demand and availability, to give you time to put arrangements in place and check dates and costs with your school and parents.

All our activity programmes are tailored for each school to take into account your objectives, budget, group size, age of pupils etc. so do get in touch to discuss your requirements, check availability and for a detailed quote. We recommend booking early to secure your preferred dates, as we take bookings 12-18 months in advance and the peak Summer term in particular fills quickly.

Yes! We welcome any school wishing to have a tour of the site prior to booking.

Yes! With the unpredictability of the British weather, we often find that weather in Autumn and even Winter can be perfect for a Rootd Adventure. There are benefits to opting for a residential outside of the summer term, and our instructors tailor activities to suit the weather as much as possible. Our camping village is set up through April-October, and indoor accommodation is available September through to May.

Yes, all dietary requirements are catered for as long as we are aware of them in advance. A group information and medical form will be provided, to be completed and returned by 8 weeks prior to the trip.

All Rootd outdoor instructors are DBS checked, first aid trained and have specialised experience in outdoor education as well as all the necessary qualifications for the activities undertaken (archery, bushcraft, etc.).

Most importantly, our team are knowledgeable, remarkable and welcoming.

We can accommodate group sizes of between 30 – 144.

We provide all accommodation, activities, equipment, instruction, meals (except packed lunch on day 1), so schools benefit from an all-inclusive activity package.

Our locations are situated in the South East of England (Hertfordshire), all easily accessible and within a short distance of both the M1 / M25. All centres have flexible accommodation options including our bell tented villages, offering an authentic under canvas camping experience, or stylish ‘glamping pods’ complete with underfloor heating.

A Rootd Adventure is all about challenging yourself, trying something new, working together, using your imagination and developing a love and appreciation for the great outdoors. 

Our instructors work as a team with teachers, and while they take overall responsibility for the planning and delivery of activities, we do expect teachers to get involved as much as possible. There should be a minimum of one teacher per activity at all times.

We find that when teachers get involved in the activities, this helps pupils to get the most out of the experience and it builds bonds that will directly benefit classroom learning.

Yes, you should be able to receive calls, messages and emails, although reception can be limited in some areas of the camp. We highly recommend bringing a portable phone charger to keep your battery topped up.

Yes, you will need to bring bedding for the teacher accommodation. In the teacher tents and pods, you’ll be provided with a camp bed with a fitted sheet. We recommend bringing a warm sleeping bag and pillow, and you may wish to bring an additional blanket for your warmth and comfort.

Yes, a thorough risk assessment will be carried out, and a copy of our risk assessment will be emailed to you well in advance of your trip.

Other than their packed lunch for the first day, we ask that children don’t bring food, as all meals for the duration of their trip will be provided.

We have some very persistent squirrels who will quite quickly hunt out snacks in tents, so to avoid any issues we have a ‘no food in tents’ policy.

Your activity programme will be shared with you 6-8 weeks prior to your trip, once the payment balance has been received.

Yes, please arrange your children into groups for the accommodation before your trip to enable a smooth settling-in process on arrival.

You can inform us of any dietary requirements by completing the group medical and dietary requirement form, which will be emailed to you 12 weeks prior to the trip. Please ensure this is completed and returned to us at least 6 weeks before your arrival date so we can make all the necessary arrangements.

Yes, it’s essential that you bring a first aid kit with appropriate contents for the outdoor setting. Please ensure any member of your party requiring medication, including asthma inhalers, brings it with them. Teachers will be responsible for arranging and administering any medication required.

We also ask that you appoint a first aid trained teacher or staff member to respond to minor first aid requirements on the trip.

Yes, it helps to bring a few spare items. Although every child should have the compulsory items from the kit list, we’d advise you to bring some spare water bottles, some additional clothes/layers from lost property and at least one spare bedding set or sleeping bag.

Yes, you can reserve a trip over one year in advance by paying a £750 holding fee. This will then be deducted from your first deposit, which is due 9 months before your trip.

No, there’s no additional charge if a child has a one to one.

Our standard arrival time is from 10am onwards, and our usual departure time is 13.45 on the day you leave.

Once you’ve booked, you’ll find your exact arrival and departure times on your booking confirmation form. These are set to work with your activities and mealtimes.

Yes, our pods have smoke alarms and fire extinguishers, and they have been assessed and approved for fire safety.

If you need to cancel your trip more than 8 weeks before your arrival date, you’ll be refunded the full deposit.

If you cancel less than 8 weeks before your trip, you’ll lose 25% of the deposit.

For cancellations between 29 and 56 days before arrival, 60% of your trip costs will be payable. For cancellations between 15 and 29 days before arrival, 70% of your trip costs will be payable.

If you cancel 15 days or less before arrival, we will be unable to make any refund.

During activities, we work to a ratio of 1:15 with Rootd staff members. Our activity groups are a maximum of 15, so this means there is one staff member with each group. We also ask that there is one member of the teaching staff with each activity group.

Outside of the activities, schools are encouraged to follow their own ratio guidelines.

All members of staff are first aid trained, safeguarding trained and food safety trained. Staff are highly vigilant at all times and always put the safety of children first.

To keep the camp secure at night, there’s a main gate and barrier, which are both closed from 8.30pm in the evening until morning. There is CCTV at the barrier and at other points throughout the centre. These are monitored by main reception and the duty staff manager when reception is closed. The centre manager lives on site and out Rootd staff stay overnight in case of emergency.

Yes, all members of the Rootd staff hold a current and up-to-date enhanced DBS.

To make the most of their outdoor adventure, we encourage every child to come for the full duration of the trip. However, if you do have any specific individual requirements, please let us know and we can discuss the option of a day visit.

No, teachers don’t have to share sleeping spaces. In our bell tents, teachers have their own sleeping compartment with a light, bedside table and bed with mattress. In our teacher pods, teachers have their own private room with a shared ensuite and kitchenette.

To meet the needs of SEN children, we offer teachers the opportunity to visit us before the trip, so you can plan ahead and talk to the children about what to expect before they arrive on camp. We also offer children the chance to visit us beforehand, so they can familiarise themselves with the grounds and facilities.

During the trip, our friendly and patient staff will do all they can to support their needs and make sure they get the most out of their trip.

Yes, there will be other schools there when you’re on site, but not within your bell tent or pod village.

You will have exclusive use of your camp facilities and use of the shower block at an allotted time. The dining area will be booked and used separately by your school during your allocated mealtimes.

All activities will take place within your own school group, and you’ll have your own dedicated Rootd team leader who will be with you throughout your stay.

No, for every 10 students a teacher will receive a free place on the trip.

When children come on a Rootd school trip, they have a unique opportunity to switch off from the demands of daily life and experience the freedom of the outdoors with their friends – making unforgettable memories together.

With the support of our Rootd team members, children are encouraged to rise to new challenges, test their limits and uncover their potential. This builds resilience and self-belief, meaning they’ll leave feeling confident and with a big sense of achievement.

We offer a range of accommodation at our Phasels Wood activity camp. We have two bell tent villages, which are ideal for the summer months, and one pod village which is available all year round.

Our bell tents sleep up to 6 children on bunk beds, and the tents are fitted with coir matting flooring, storage and outside lighting. Our pods, which sleep up to 8 children on bunk beds, are heated in the colder months and equipped with lighting, an outdoor coat cupboard and shoe rack.

Between activities and before mealtimes, children will have the chance to enjoy some free time together, supervised by teachers.

We have chill out areas on camp where they can play games in outdoor and sheltered areas. Games bags are provided, and children can plan table tennis in all three camps. Children will also have the chance to relax and unwind in our cosy accommodation, where children often play card games or complete personal hobbies.

When children first arrive at our Rootd camp, they’ll be greeted by our friendly Rootd team at the coach park. The camp lead will introduce themselves to both the children and teachers, before walking them to their camp and showing them around. Children will have the opportunity to explore their accommodation and settle in before starting their activities.

We take food safety very seriously. To make sure allergies are catered for safely during mealtimes, we implement a 5-step process:

1. We communicate with schools before the trip to ensure we’re fully prepared and that camp leaders are notified of any allergies.
2. During mealtimes, both the camp leader and lead teacher will be present when food is served to provide an added level of oversight.
3. We use an allergen matrix to double check all food items prior to serving.
4. Meals are served on coloured crockery to ensure that children with allergies or dietary requirements are easily identifiable by all staff members.
5. Appropriate alternative meals and snacks will be offered, which take all dietary needs into consideration.

Yes, we have a dedicated Rootd shower block on site with children’s showers and adult-only showers. Our teacher woodland pods come with their own ensuite bathroom with shower facilities.

All activities will still go ahead if we experience bad weather during your trip. It’s likely that there will be cold spells or at least some rain, but as long as children have enough layers and waterproof clothing we find they’re generally happy to take part in outdoor activities – undeterred by the British weather!

We also have plenty of covered areas available around the camp where children can shelter during and in between their activities. And our indoor dining area is available to children during mealtimes.

Our site manager monitors the weather every morning to ensure that the necessary arrangements are put in place in the event of thunderstorms or high winds.

Yes, we cater for all dietary requirements, as long as we’re made aware of them in advance of the trip. We ask schools and groups to request this information from parents at least 8 weeks prior to the trip and share this with us, so we can ensure we’re fully prepared for your visit.

A designated duty contact stays on site overnight and is always on hand to support teachers in case of emergency.

Our tent villages and pod village are fitted with motion sensor lighting for the safety of teachers and children. The teacher tents and pods are positioned next to the children’s accommodation, and night toilets are provided, so no one needs to leave the camp at night.

To keep the site secure, there’s a main gate and barrier, which are both closed from 8.30pm in the evening until morning. There’s CCTV at the barrier and at other points throughout the centre, which are monitored by the duty staff manager, and there’s a perimeter fence around the site.

All our Rootd staff are DBS checked, first aid trained and have the necessary qualifications to teach the activities they lead.

They have also received safeguarding training, food safety training, National Governing Body (NGB) training where appropriate, and they have been signed off in in-house activity training.

In addition, they regularly undergo Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to ensure they’re up to date on the latest guidance and legislation.

You can find out more about our staff and their experience here.

A typical day on a Rootd residential begins with breakfast, followed by two morning activities. Children then enjoy some downtime over lunch, before taking part in two afternoon activities. Dinner is served at around 5pm, after which children take part in an evening activity and then relax together around the campfire.

We provide all activities, equipment, lunch (except packed lunches on the first day) and accommodation, in either our bell tent villages or pod village.

All accommodation comes with night toilets on camp. There is also night-time motion-sensor lighting which alerts teachers that someone is using the night time toilet.

No, the trip is an opportunity for a digital detox. If there was an emergency then the school would be in contact with a teacher / Rootd.

Whilst the activity centre does not have WiFi, it has a good mobile signal (so adults accompanying students can use their mobile data).

All Rootd instructors are outdoor first-aid trained. The school will be responsible for appointing a first-aider who will be the first point of contact for any basic first aid.

All Rootd instructors are outdoor first-aid trained. The school will be responsible for appointing a first-aider who will be the first point of contact for any basic first aid.

At Rootd we hold the LOtC Quality badge and are proud to offer Learning Outside the Classroom approved School trips. You can learn more in our blog post about the importance of LOtC for your School trip provider.

Yes, all dietary requirements are catered for as long as we are aware of them in advance. A group information and medical form will be provided, to be completed and returned by 8 weeks prior to the trip.

All Rootd outdoor instructors are DBS checked, first aid trained and have specialised experience in outdoor education as well as all the necessary qualifications for the activities undertaken (archery, bushcraft, etc.).

Most importantly, our team are knowledgeable, remarkable and welcoming.

We can accommodate group sizes of between 30 – 144.

We provide all accommodation, activities, equipment, instruction, meals (except packed lunch on day 1), so schools benefit from an all-inclusive activity package.

Our locations are situated in the South East of England (Hertfordshire), all easily accessible and within a short distance of both the M1 / M25. All centres have flexible accommodation options including our bell tented villages, offering an authentic under canvas camping experience, or stylish ‘glamping pods’ complete with underfloor heating.

A Rootd Adventure is all about challenging yourself, trying something new, working together, using your imagination and developing a love and appreciation for the great outdoors. 

Yes, your child can bring alternative food, and it can be stored in our fridges. However, due to hygiene regulations, we’re not allowed to heat their food, so it will need to be something that can be eaten cold.

All Rootd staff are DBS checked, first aid trained and have the necessary qualifications to teach the activities they lead.

They have also received safeguarding training, food safety training, National Governing Body (NGB) training where appropriate, and they have been signed off in in-house activity training.

In addition, they regularly undergo Continuing Professional Development (CPD) to ensure they’re up to date on the latest guidance and legislation.

You can find out more about their experience here.

To make the most of their outdoor adventure, we encourage every child to come for the full duration of the trip. However, if you do have any specific individual requirements, please let your school know and we can discuss the option of a day visit.

Every child is encouraged to take part in the activities as much as they can – seeing it as a chance to challenge themselves and step out of their comfort zone. This doesn’t have to mean completing an activity – it could just be putting on a harness and attempting the challenge before coming straight down. The aim is for every child to feel like they have accomplished something, which will boost their confidence and self-esteem.

However, if there’s an activity your child really doesn’t want to take part in, our staff are always understanding and will ensure they still feel part of the group during that session.

To meet the needs of SEN children, we offer teachers the opportunity to visit us before the trip, so they can plan ahead and talk to the children about what to expect before they arrive on camp. We also offer children the chance to visit us beforehand, so they can familiarise themselves with the grounds and facilities.

During the trip, our friendly and patient staff will do all they can to support their needs and make sure they get the most out of their trip.

Yes, there will be other schools on site, but not within your school’s bell tent or pod village.

Your school will have exclusive use of the camp facilities and use of the shower block will be allocated to your school at a specific time. The dining area will be booked and used separately by your school during your allotted mealtimes.

All activities will take place within your own school group, and your school will have their own dedicated Rootd team leader who will be with them throughout their stay.

When children come on a Rootd school trip, they have a unique opportunity to switch off from the demands of daily life and experience the freedom of the outdoors with their friends – making unforgettable memories together.

With the support of our Rootd team members, your child will be encouraged to rise to new challenges, test their limits and uncover their potential. This builds resilience and self-belief, meaning they’ll leave feeling confident and with a big sense of achievement.

Between activities and before mealtimes, children will have the chance to enjoy some free time together, supervised by teachers. We have chill out areas on camp where they can play games in outdoor and sheltered areas. Games bags are provided, and in our bell tent villages children can play table tennis. Children will also have the chance to relax and unwind in our cosy accommodation, where children often play card games or complete personal hobbies.

When your child first arrives at our Rootd camp, they’ll be greeted by our friendly Rootd team at the coach park. The camp lead will introduce themselves to both the children and teachers, before walking them to their camp and showing them around. Children will have the opportunity to explore their accommodation and settle in before starting their activities.

You can see a full list of what your child needs to pack for the trip here.

A packing list will also be sent to your child’s teacher before the trip.

If you have any questions during the trip, please contact your school or your group leader. They should have all the information you need to be able to answer your queries, or they can contact us for anything else.

We find that children settle better when they don’t have outside contact, as this can encourage homesickness. Instead, we recommend that all communication goes via your school, who will be able to answer any questions and contact you in case of emergency.

No, we ask that children don’t wear jewellery during the activities to avoid it getting lost or damaged.

No, we request that children don’t bring any electronic devices with them, including mobile phones, tablets or electronic games. This is a great opportunity for them to fully unplug from their screens and immerse themselves in the activities on camp, without distractions. We are also unable to store them safely on camp.

No, there won’t be an opportunity for them to spend any money on their trip, so there’s no need for them to bring any with them.

All meals are freshly prepared on site, and include a balance of meat, vegetables, fruit and carbohydrates. Typical meals may include lasagne, curry and pasta Bolognese, all served with salad or vegetables and finished with a tasty dessert!

Yes, we have a dedicated Rootd shower block on site with children’s showers and adult-only showers.

A designated duty contact stays on site overnight and is always on hand to support teachers in case of emergency.

Our tent villages and pod village are fitted with motion sensor lighting for the safety of teachers and children. The teacher tents and pods are positioned next to the children’s accommodation, and night toilets are provided, so no one needs to leave the camp at night.

To keep the site secure, there’s a main gate and barrier, which are both closed from 8.30pm in the evening until morning. There’s CCTV at the barrier and at other points throughout the centre, which are monitored by the duty staff manager, and there’s a perimeter fence around the site.

To support children with diabetes, we provide parents with meal plans before the trip, allowing them to plan ahead and anticipate their child’s needs.

Scales are available at mealtimes to weigh the food and packaging, and an allergen matrix is provided for children and teachers.

All members of staff are first aid trained, safeguarding trained and food safety trained. Staff are highly vigilant at all times and always put the safety of children first.

To keep the camp secure at night, there’s a main gate and barrier, which are both closed from 8.30pm in the evening until morning. There is CCTV at the barrier and at other points throughout the centre. These are monitored by main reception and the duty staff manager when reception is closed. The centre manager lives on site and out Rootd staff stay overnight in case of emergency.

Yes, all members of the Rootd staff hold a current and up-to-date enhanced DBS.

We take food safety very seriously. To make sure allergies are catered for safely during mealtimes, we implement a 5-step process:

1. We communicate with schools before the trip to ensure we’re fully prepared and that camp leaders are notified of any allergies.
2. During mealtimes, both the camp leader and lead teacher will be present when food is served to provide an added level of oversight.
3. We use an allergen matrix to double check all food items prior to serving.
4. Meals are served on coloured crockery to ensure that children with allergies or dietary requirements are easily identifiable by all staff members.
5. Appropriate alternative meals and snacks will be offered, which take all dietary needs into consideration.

Yes, we have a dedicated Rootd shower block on site with children’s showers and adult-only showers. Our teacher woodland pods come with their own ensuite bathroom with shower facilities.