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You’ve already done the bouncy castle, bowling and cinema parties – if you’re struggling to think of something different for your kids birthday party then OutdoorNI.com has the answer.
It’s hard enough to keep your own kids amused never mind all their friends too – but don’t worry there’s no need to panic OutdoorNI.com has put together a list of some great outdoor adventures that are sure to provide the perfect solution to your kids party problems. These great activity ideas are perfect for 8-12 year olds and with group discounts on offer they are not only fun but affordable!
Make their day memorable by giving them a birthday party with a difference. Here are some great ideas to get you started…
Mountain Boarding, GASP Surfin’ Dirt, Bryansford, Co. Down
When it comes to birthday parties for boys it doesn’t get much better than this – treat them to a session on the grassy slopes at the one and only Mountain Boarding centre in Ireland. With boards, safety gear and training included they are sure to have an unforgettable time.
Zip Wire Session, Lurgaboy Adventure Centre, Co. Armagh
Make sure your kid’s feet don’t touch the ground on their birthday with a zip-wire session. Everyone is sure to be screaming with excitement as they warm up on the leap of faith before zooming down the 375m zip wire. It doesn’t get much more thrilling than this!
Birthday Party Special, Carrowmena Activity Centre, Limavady, Co. Londonderry
Choose between a half day or full day of activities. With a minimum of 4 activities available a party at Carrowmena is guaranteed to be action packed. Choose between climbing, archery, team challenges, low level ropes course, maize maze, orienteering or canoeing to name just a few! Book 8 or more friends and the birthday boy or girl will go free!
Outdoor Waterpark, Corralea Activity Centre, Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh
For a totally unique birthday party head down to the one and only water park in Northern Ireland. Comprising of no less than three water trampolines all connected by various walkways and logs, this floating obstacle course and see-saw is sure to be a real hit with the kids. There’s no need to wait for the sunshine – everyone is guaranteed to have a splashing good time whatever the weather as the centre provides wetsuits and buoyancy aids for all sizes.
Multi-Action Day, Ardclinis Outdoor Adventure, Cushendall and Carnlough, Co. Antrim
Let someone else tire them out! Fill the day with a choice of 3 activities including treasure hunts, raft building, crate climbing and outdoor laser tag and that’s only the start of it! With loads more activities to choose from the birthday boy or girl can pick and choose their favourites.
Activities Galore, Breckenhill, Ballyclare, Co. Antrim
The laughs are sure to be plenty with activities such as earthball (a giant inflatable ball), archery, nightline, parachute games and catapulting tennis balls! With hot lunch, snacks and drinks provided as well as a barbecue available on request this is a great way to take the hassle out of the day so you can enjoy it too! Suitable for those aged 11 and up.
Surfing, Alive Surf School, Portrush, Co. Antrim
A beach party with a difference; it doesn’t get much cooler than a surfing party! The kids will be in safe hands with the Alive Surf School instructors as they teach them how to ride the waves on the North Coast. Lessons last for 2 hours and include all equipment, tuition and a snack for afterwards.
Multi-Activity Package, Xplore Outdoors, Coleraine, Co. Londonderry
Based on the North Coast Xplore Outdoors have everything you need for an unforgettable birthday party. With camp craft, canoeing, orienteering and body boarding just some of the activities on offer - you’ll be spoilt for choice!
Get ready to give your child the best birthday party ever!
The newest member of Outdoor Recreation NI, Sarah joined the marketing team in the Summer of 2011. Despite having studied in St Andrews, Scotland for the past four years she still can't hit a golf ball however enjoys walks in the Mournes and adventures on the water.
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OutdoorNI.com does Surfing is the latest in our regular blog feature ‘OutdoorNI.com does…’ which is our opportunity to showcase the exciting outdoor activities available in Northern Ireland.
Find out how OutdoorNI.com’s Sarah Nelson got on when she embarked on an afternoon’s surfing with Long Line Surf School.
My family have spent many a year having a rainy picnic on the beach; mum and dad sheltered in the car while my sister and I body boarded the waves doing our best Baywatch impressions. However despite always heading straight for the sea on holidays and living with a beach on my doorstep for four years I have never actually had a go at surfing.
So when Long Line Surf School recently launched on the North Coast I couldn’t wait to have a go. Based at Benone Beach, away from the hustle and bustle of the seaside towns Long Line Surf School is situated in the perfect natural setting for that chilled out vibe that comes hand in hand with the sport. Long Line HQ – a purpose built distressed wood cabin situated right on the boardwalk beside Benone Tourism Complex adds to the whole surfing experience. It is here where I and a few others who were taking part in the group session met our instructor for the lesson, head coach and owner of Long Line Surf School, Dan Lavery.
After a warm welcome Dan kitted us out with wetsuits and booties before everyone had a quick change, eager to get to the beach. We were also given stylish Long Line branded rash vests for over the top of our wetsuits – so at least for a few minutes I looked the part – however it’s safe to say any such illusions were soon to be shattered once I was in the water!
We were then introduced to our surf boards and buddied up to carry them a short distance along the board walk to the beach – a treat in itself with the stunning Binevenagh Mountain as the backdrop to our walk and indeed the whole lesson. As we came through the grassy dunes there it was; a stunning 7 mile stretch of sandy beach complete with crashing waves making it easy to see why Northern Ireland is one of Europe’s premiere surf spots..
Once on the beach we had a brief safety chat where Dan assured us that we were in safe hands - all Long Line surf instructors are fully trained surf coaches with ASI (Academy of Surfing Instructors) and hold Beach Lifeguard qualifications. Next it was time to get to grips with our boards and learn the lingo so we knew the correct terminology for the different parts. Before we knew it, it was time to hit the waves for some body boarding to get used to handling the boards in the water. As we headed into the sea it didn’t take long for the first cold waves to heat up thanks to our cosy wetsuits. If it wasn’t for the dark clouds…and the rain… and the wind we could have almost been in Hawaii. All joking aside the session proved you don’t need fantastic weather to head down to the beach – with the right equipment the chance to have a go at surfing is reason enough!
After about 15 minutes of experiencing the rush of the waves speeding us into the beach it was time to head back to the sand to learn the one thing crucial to surfing –learning how to stand up. Dan gave us all a demo before we practiced the positions on our boards. Just about managing to stand up on the security of dry land, I quickly came to the realisation that this whole standing up on the water thing mightn’t be as easy as it looks…Thankfully Dan helped us put everything into perspective, explaining how long the average surfer spends on their feet and that even if we managed to get on our knees that would be encouraging enough– although I couldn’t help but have the feeling that this was directed at some more than others! He also took the time to show us what not to do – some great tips to try and save us the hassle of working it out the hard way.
Now it was the moment we’d all been waiting for – the chance to have a go ourselves. Armed with determination and my all important surf board I headed in. After my first few attempts it was clear that ‘If at first you don’t succeed…’ was to become my personal mantra for the afternoon. It didn’t take long to accept that I would be spending the majority of my time in the waves as supposed to riding them but luckily for me - falling in was half the fun! I eventually managed to progress onto my knees – an achievement in itself. Others in the group were a lot more successful with the majority managing to stand up so at least I was able to live vicariously, acting as an all important witness and joining in on the celebrations whenever somebody successfully stood up and rode into the shore.
Dan spent his time in the water dividing his attention between us with an enthusiasm that quickly rubbed off on those taking part. When he wasn’t giving us tips and shouts of encouragement he was taking footage on the schools Go-Pro camera. This latest technology allows those priceless moments that are normally restricted to memory and forgotten with time to be captured for friends and family to see. For the more serious surfers hoping to progress their skills this technology is also a great tool for analysing technique. Unfortunately I think the only thing any footage of me will be useful for is to serve as a reminder of what not to do. Well, either that or for blackmail purposes!
Before I knew it Dan was giving the signal for one more go and I was reminded of my younger days when I would stubbornly object to such calls from my mum and dad however having realised this was not quite appropriate I headed in with the others. To be honest my arms where pretty knackered anyway! Back at the cabin Dan put on some chilled music and we all got changed. Throughout the whole session Long Line’s Surf School’s aim to ‘encourage a lifestyle... not just a sport’ was put into practice with an emphasis on having fun in a beautiful, stress free environment. This was perfect for someone like me who doesn’t have a competitive bone in their body when it comes to sport (which is probably a good thing given my ‘surfing’ performance). Saying that, there was still plenty of opportunity for those with a competitive nature to set their own personal challenges.
All in all it was a fantastic afternoon - if I had this much fun only getting half way there, then imagine what it will be like when I finally manage to stand up! I will most definitely be rounding up a few mates and heading back for another lesson– even if it is in the hope that they will take the bad look of me!
Activity Provider:
Long Line Surf School is open all year round
www.longlinesurf.com
Cost:
From £25 per person – all specialist equipment provided
yeah! go Dan! Long Lines Surf School is our new neighbour and Dan is a super instructor for all ages and abilities, a real assest to Downhill/Benone. -McCall, from Downhill Hostel aka THE beach ... Read more >
The newest member of Outdoor Recreation NI, Sarah joined the marketing team in the Summer of 2011. Despite having studied in St Andrews, Scotland for the past four years she still can't hit a golf ball however enjoys walks in the Mournes and adventures on the water.
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The May Bank Holiday is just around the corner; it’s not often everyone gets a long weekend away from work so make the most of it and spend some quality time with the family. Join in on the fun or drop the kids off and let them have an adventure with children their own age.
There are so many great events happening across Northern Ireland that we couldn’t fit them all in so make sure you check out the kids & family events section for even more action packed fun!
Get ready to explore what Northern Ireland’s great outdoors have to offer over the May bank holiday weekend...
Co. Down
Wet Bouldering, Action Outdoors, Newcastle, 6th May
Make a splash in the Bloody Bridge River ascending waterfalls and plunging into pools. Wearing a wetsuit and buoyancy aid even non-swimmers can take part with the guidance of Action Outdoor’s friendly instructor.
Climbing for Kids, East Coast Adventure Centre, Rostrevor, 6th May
Challenge yourself and the kids by scaling new heights on East Coast Adventure’s 35ft climbing tower situated in Kilbroney Park. After working up an appetite why not enjoy a picnic or BBQ before enjoying the rest of the park?
Bank Holiday Activity Shindig, Action Outdoors, Delamont Country Park, 7th May
Based in Delamont Country Park, on the edge of the stunning Strangford Lough Action Outdoors are offering 5 great activities including canoeing, kayaking, climbing, archery and grass sledging. Can’t decide which one to do? At such great value you’ll be able to have a go at them all!
Family Adventure Day, Clearsky Adventure Centre, Castle Ward, 6th May
Have a fun day out trying various outdoor activities. Watch Dad get red in the face, have a laugh at mum, encourage the little ones and capture the memories with a 2.5 hour session giving you a taster of activities such as Canadian canoeing, archery and orienteering.
Co. Fermanagh
May Day Extravaganza, Share Discovery Village, Lisnaskea, 5th-7th May
Get your thrills on land or water. Pick and choose between banana boating, archery, combat corps, pedal karting, kayaking, canoeing or climbing. With a wide range of family packages available value for money is guaranteed!
Co. Londonderry
Kids Surf Camp, Long Line Surf School, Benone, 5th-7th May
Suitable for ages 6-12 this surfing camp is sure to get you cool points with the kids. With beach games, fun facts about the beach environment and surfing tuition this is a great way for them to learn the skills and techniques of the sport whilst having fun.
Co. Armagh
Family Activity Madness, Activities Ireland, The Argory, Moy, 5th-7th May
Activities Ireland are turning the fantastic 320 acre Argory National Trust Site into an adventure playground for all the family. Have a go at canoeing, kayaking, archery or raft building. Suitable for anyone 12 and over (parents included!) this is sure to be a great day out.
Karting for the Kids, Superdrive Motorsports Centre, Craigavon, 5th-6th May
Treat the kids to something different this break and find out if you have the next Lewis Hamilton in the family with a 30 min drive around the Superdrive outdoor karting track. Offers are also available to keep Dad busy while the kids are karting.
Co. Antrim
Belfast Sea Safari Cruise Ship Combo, Belfast Sea Safari, Belfast, 5th May
See the Titanic's history revealed before your very eyes from a 12 seater speed boat as it transports you back in time on Belfast Lough. Get up close to a visiting cruise ship and experience exclusive sea views of the new Titanic visitor centre, the famous shipyard cranes and much more!
Have a great May bank holiday weekend 2012!
The newest member of Outdoor Recreation NI, Sarah joined the marketing team in the Summer of 2011. Despite having studied in St Andrews, Scotland for the past four years she still can't hit a golf ball however enjoys walks in the Mournes and adventures on the water.
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OutdoorNI.com does Segway Northern Ireland is the latest in our regular blog feature ‘OutdoorNI.com does…’ which is our opportunity to showcase the exciting outdoor activities available in Northern Ireland.
Find out how OutdoorNI.com’s Beverley got on when she embarked on a Segway Session with Segway NI
As part of Northern Ireland’s Adventureland Weekend, a couple of friends and I decided we liked the look of ‘segwaying’. Now for those of you who don’t know what segwaying is, I’d recommend you have a look at my pictures below. It’s a very hard activity to describe and I probably wouldn’t do it any justice if I tried…if this helps I have heard it been referred to as a futuristic scooter!
Our session wasn’t until 12noon on the Saturday so I was able to fit in my usual Saturday morning activity – a good lie in coupled with a chance to watch some Saturday Kitchen. Just after 11am myself and 3 friends (Charlotte, Cathy and Lorna) set off for Craigavon to take part on the Segway Skills Course with Segway NI. I know Craigavon wouldn’t be the first place you would think of to spend an afternoon doing activities, “it’s just full of roundabouts” I hear you say, but when we arrived at Tannaghmore Gardens, just off the motorway, there was a lovely atmosphere with lots of people out enjoying the sun either walking or cycling, putting us in the mood to enjoy our afternoon outdoors.
On our arrival the previous group were just finishing off and as we watched them take part in a small obstacle course, our first thoughts were, ‘oh no looks like we are going to be called out one by one to complete the tasks on our own’! But as soon as our session started we were quickly made to feel at ease and by that stage we were ‘chomping at the bit’ to get out to tackle the courses that were set out for us!
Wesley was our instructor for the day and is also the owner of Segway NI, he started off the session by giving us a safety briefing and explaining how the Segways worked. At this point I thought I was listening but I clearly wasn’t as when I was asked to get on first I managed to head towards the nearest bush! Though they really are very easy to operate because moments later I was whizzing around the gravelled area trying out my new machine to see what it could do.
We spent the first 30 minutes or so under Wesley’s guidance completing a range of skill courses in order to build up our confidence and agility. With 4 girls all eager to win this was also a chance to see who could out do each other…our inner competitive streaks were certainly out in full force at this point!
Wesley then jumped onto a Segway of his own to guide us around an off road trail, the speed was slow to start with and gradually became faster and faster once we were all comfortable with the bumpiness of the off road trail. This was certainly the highlight of the day as I got to test the speed of the new found machine! There I was overtaking my friend Charlotte, dirt flying up behind me, feeling like a bit of a speed demon, joking that I was the female version of Jenson Button, only to hear a loud crash from behind! Somehow she’d managed to fall off - with only her pride in tatters she got back on and we all whizzed back up to the start point…now I was thinking to myself, well at least I’ve only driven into a bush, that’s not as bad as falling off…right?
Our last quest was a small obstacle course which I thought would be a great way to get my scores up in order to beat the other girls, so off I went zig zagging between the cones, after I had reached the end of the cones, I turned round to head back to the start point and was on the ‘home straight’… or so I thought! Just before the finish line I somehow managed to fall off. Not only did I scupper my score, I totally out did my friend in the ‘falling off’ category! You are probably thinking right now that this activity sounds dangerous but believe me Segways are probably the most secure and safe machines you could ever get on! I must have been having a bad day…I’ve never even fallen off a horse and I’ve been riding now for almost 3 years!
So the scores were counted and guess what, I came third, not bad after my ‘show piece’ at the end and if you don’t believe me I even got a nice shiny medal to prove it!
We all really had a super day, it was so much fun and I’ll definitely be back!
A big thanks goes to Wesley and the other guys for taking such good care of us and for giving us a day that we will never forget!
Check out OutdoorNI.com’s Segway section for even more options.
Activity Provider:
07764448673
Cost:
From £20 per person – all specialist equipment provided
Beverley has been with Outdoor Recreation NI since 2005 and has a keen interest in all 4 legged friends, spending alot of her time walking with her 8 stone Rottweiler - who is nearly the same size as her!! She also enjoys riding horses whether its completing rounds of jumps or out doing cross country in the fields.
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Easter is fast approaching and there’s plenty to celebrate; the days are finally getting longer, there’s copious amounts of chocolate eggs to be consumed and most importantly the activity providers of Northern Ireland have gone all out to provide you with some great outdoor family events!
If you’re struggling to think of something to keep the kids and teens amused over the break that doesn’t involve a T.V. then don’t worry we’ve got a fantastic list of adventure activities that are sure to inspire! Make the most of the better weather, and get everyone outside and active with these great family days out that are sure to put a smile on everyone’s faces!
In no particular order here are OutdoorNI.com’s top 11 Easter Family Adventures:
1. Belfast Sea Safari, The Odyssey Marina, Belfast, 3rd-14th April
Be one of the first to try out this brand new activity and experience a thrilling Belfast sightseeing tour like no other! See the Titanic's history revealed before your very eyes from a 12 seater RIB as it transports you back in time on Belfast Lough. Experience exclusive sea views of the new Titanic visitor centre and the famous shipyard cranes as you track the route RMS Titanic took when she left Belfast harbour.
2. Easter Fun for Families, Corralea Activity Centre, Belcoo, Co. Fermanagh, 7th-9th April
Experience the thrills of mountain biking at Corralea’s pump track and trails, have a splashing good time canoeing on Lough MacNean or scale new heights together on the purpose built climbing wall – who will get to the top first?!
3. Kids Easter Surf Camp, Troggs Surf School, Portrush, Co. Antrim, 7th and 8th April
Relax and chill out while the kids hit the waves, learn how to surf and meet new friends at The Troggs Quicksilver Kids Surf Camp. No experience is necessary and video footage of the surfing is included so everyone can relive the fun. An exciting, friendly and fully supervised learning experience - the kids are sure to be talking about it for ages!
For a definite day out with a difference, get the family together and experience an off road Segway adventure tour. This unique activity is suitable for children aged 14 and up and is a great way to spend some time with the teens.
5. Youth Adventure Easter Camp, East Coast Adventure Centre, Warrenpoint, Co. Down, 11th-13th April
This Easter camp is perfect to let the kids blow off some steam and try a whole range of action packed activities. From team games to crate climbing, wet bouldering to Jet Ski rides and kayaking to climbing, non stop fun awaits! Both residential and day camper places are available.
6. Go Canoeing & Kayaking, Mobile Team Adventure, Shaw’s Bridge, Belfast, 7th & 14th April
Have a go canoeing or kayaking with Mobile Team Adventure on the River Lagan. The kids can get on with it in the morning or mum and dad can join in on the fun too during the family session. A word of warning however – you may get splashed!
7. Archery @ The Argory, Activities Ireland, The Argory & Ardress House, Co. Tyrone, 8th-10th April
For a fun and great value day out have a go at archery in the grounds of these stunning National Trust Agory properties. See who has the best aim with the bow and arrow before enjoying a walk around the properties.
8. Garron Fun Day, Ardclinis Outdoor Adventure, Garron Point, Co. Antrim, 10th-11th April
To celebrate Easter Ardclinis Outdoor Adventure are holding hour long activity sessions at their Garron Point venue. Battle the kids in outdoor laser tag, tackle the climbing wall or hit the bull’s eye in the archery competition - a great way to spend some quality time together over the break.
9. Adventure Camp, Ocean Youth Trust Ireland (OYTI), Castlwellan, Co. Down, 9th-13th April
OYTI are hosting an activity packed adventure camp for young people aged 14-19 in Castlewellan Forest Park. During the day participants will learn how to sail on Castlewellan Lake before continuing the fun into the evening around the camp fire. A week filled with excitement, adventure, fun and the chance to make new friends and learn new skills!
10. Climbing for Kids, East Coast Adventure Centre, Kilbroney Park, Co. Down, 8th-9th April
East Coast Adventure will be on location in Kilbroney Park over the Easter Weekend. Whether you’re a day visitor or camping for the weekend come along with the kids and scale the 35ft Climbing Tower – just make sure you don’t look down!
11. Family Adventure Day, Clearsky Adventure Centre, Castle Ward, Co. Down, 15th April
Have a fun day out trying various outdoor activities. Watch Dad get red in the face, have a laugh at mum, encourage the little ones and capture the memories! A 2.5 hour session providing a taster of activities including Canadian Canoeing, archery and orienteering.
Whatever you choose to do get ready to have some laughs with the kids this Easter!
Yes, I'm aware of Manders' technique. I htguoh hard about doing all those computations on the GPU myself, but there is a big difference between our samples.He only has lines for which to draw ... Read more >
The newest member of Outdoor Recreation NI, Sarah joined the marketing team in the Summer of 2011. Despite having studied in St Andrews, Scotland for the past four years she still can't hit a golf ball however enjoys walks in the Mournes and adventures on the water.
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