We offer full week or part week packages for up to 34 children. Our programmes are very flexible with a choice of activities (below). We may also be able to develop activities to meet your specific requirements.
All activities take place on site. During your stay you would have exclusive use of our beautiful house and all our excellent facilities. Our kitchen team will provide delicious homemade meals for you and will do their best to accommodate all dietary requirements. View school meal options here. All we ask is that you bring the appropriate clothing and bedding listed on our kit list.
Teachers are provided with optional worksheets to complement the day’s activities, materials for evening weaving, and sports equipment. There is a communal TV and DVD player. Some schools choose to have a movie night, hold a talent contest, evening walk or disco.
All activities have been thoroughly tested and risk assessed. Current permanent teaching staff have a combined total of over forty years’ experience of leading activities at How Hill, so children and teachers are in safe hands!
Still undecided? Check out this brilliant movie trailer style video children from Cringleford Primary School made about their stay during summer 2017. Watch it here. Or click on the film link at the top of the page.
School Prices from September 2023
2 nights
Off Peak Rate: October half term to end of February half term £152
Peak Rate : last week in February to October half term £168
Nature Trail – An adventure around How Hill including a visit to Cromes Broad, a walk through the Secret Gardens and the famous Mud Stick!
Dyke Dipping – Catch water invertebrates and work out what they are!
Toad Hole Cottage – This tiny thatched marshman’s cottage situated by the River Ant was home for a whole family in Victorian times.
Environmental Art – Children work in groups to produce some big art.
Woodlouse House – A hunt for animal homes before creating an imaginative luxury house for Wally the Woodlouse. Suitable for KS1
Wooden Bookmarks or Wands – Use woodland materials to decorate a bookmark or turn it into a wand.
Thatching – Learn traditional thatching skills, then put them to the test! Suitable for KS2
Hawks and Blackbirds – This popular and energetic game provides a brilliant illustration of predator-prey relationships and the mechanics of food chains. Suitable for KS2
Wherry Experience – Experience life aboard a Wherry. Available during the summer term.
Woodland Ecology – An in depth study of our broadleaved woodland including identifying trees; calculating tree age; discussion of seed dispersal, competition and photosynthesis.
Boat Trip to Barton Broad – Travel up the River Ant to Barton Broad. Passing the idyllic thatched village of Irstead, borrow our binoculars for birdwatching. Spot otters, kingfishers and traditional sailing boats.
Aquatic Ecology – A half-day session for years 5 and 6 follows on from the Barton Broad Trip. Small group fieldwork investigating water quality indicators and chemically test water samples in the laboratory.
Owl Pellet Dissection – Learn about owls, their ecology and adaptations before heading into the laboratory for some owl pellet dissection. Find teeth and skulls of mice voles and shrews.
Marsh Study – Cross the River Ant by boat and explore the private marshes of How Hill including birdwatching from a hide overlooking Reedham Water and explore Turf Fen Mill
Orienteering – Years 2/3/4 practice their map reading whilst years 5/6 learn how to use a compass to navigate around How Hill finding special posts.
Rush Candles – Collect soft rushes then practice peeling off the outer green skin to reveal soft white pith within, which is then dipped in a saucepan of lard melting on our camp fire.
Clay Models – Create animals using air drying clay. During longer stays they can be painted and varnished.
Watercolour painting or sketching – How Hill house is said to have “the best view in the Broads”. After an introduction to water colour painting children interpret the view for themselves.
How Hill Bingo – A bit of fun for groups on longer stays. How Hill related questions and quite a lot of excited shouting!
Weaving – Use a wooden frame and wool to create some weaving to take home.
Environmental Tiles – Design and make their own clay tile with a nature conservation theme. Best suited to years 5 and 6 staying for four nights,.
Den Building – Teamwork is put to the test building our woodland dens.
Riddle Trail – Children work in small groups, solving nature-related riddles and finding clues to follow a trail set through the woods.
Camera Trapping – Look for animal tracks and clues then decide where we should set up one of our camera traps. In the morning the cameras are collected in and the children discover if they captured footage of a hedgehog, fox, squirrel, deer?
