SBC Outdoor Education Department

Scottish Borders Council Outdoor Education Department run a variety of activities and courses both in and out of schools for young people, teaching staff, volunteers, and members of the public.
Whiteadder Watersports Centre near Duns offers term time sailing, canoeing and kayaking sessions for Borders school pupils, and operates a programme of public sailing sessions at weekends and during school holidays. Courses range from introductory through to advanced level. Sailing runs from late April through until mid October. All instructional staff at the centre hold the relevant RYA qualifications, as well as First Aid, and are all PVG Checked. We also operate an Assistant Instructor scheme, helping local young people gain experience and qualifications to enable them to work towards becoming sailing instructors. We are inspected annually by the Royal Yachting Association, and are a recognised RYA centre delivering accredited RYA courses.
All our boats and equipment are modern and relevant to the courses we run, and we supply wetsuits, wetboots, buoyancy aids and helmets on each of our courses. Away form the sailing, we also offer fishing and rowing boats for hire on the reservoir, and are responsible for bank fees at the reservoir.
We operate the Duke of Edinburgh scheme throughout the region, managing and supporting over 300 pupils a year as they progress through the award at each of the 9 secondary schools. Outdoor Education staff are involved in the training, delivery and assessment of the expedition section.
Mountain Biking and cycling road safety training are delivered through mountain bike clubs and the Bikeability scheme, with Outdoor Education staff delivering sessions directly as well as providing training and mentoring opportunities for teachers, parents and other volunteers.
Skiing lessons are held each winter at the dry ski slope at Jedburgh Grammar school. These introductory lessons are designed to help people new to skiing to gain the basic skills and confidence to allow them to progress to using tows and slopes at venues such as Hillend as well as the various Scottish ski areas.