Residential Evening Activities

On the first evening of your residential the evening activity will be facilitated by Hive staff. There are several options you can choose from outlined below. If you are staying for a two-night camp, the second evening will be up to school staff to lead. For this evening you will be able to choose from a self-led campfire kit, a disco in the lodge or a film night. We will always endeavour to deliver your first choice in activity but may have to make changes dependent on weather.

Outdoor Options 

Campfire Songs and Stories 

Join us around the campfire for 90-minutes of songs, games, and stories. Hive staff will set up, tend to, and safely extinguish a large campfire at the centre of each circle of pods. They will then facilitate songs and games, and introduce the ancient art of storytelling, sharing a folklore tale from across the world. Marshmallows will be provided, with vegan/halal options available. 

Dusk Wildlife Walk

Hive staff will take your students into Epping Forest for a circular route in the dusk light. This is a great opportunity for them to see the forest in a different light and feel a sense of adventure. There will be the opportunity for games along the route that focus on the adaptions of nocturnal animals and get the students using a greater variety of senses. Different animals may be active in the forest at this time, so no two walks are the same! 

Forest Art 

Hive staff will take your students into Epping Forest for some nature art in the dusk light. Using natural materials students will explore the work of famous environmental artists such as Andy Goldsworthy and create their own natural installations.

Map Scavenger Hunt

An adaption of our Garden Map Coordinate Trail. Students will use their map reading skills to follow a trail around our grounds and answer quiz questions on some of the amazing animals that call the forest home. This activity includes a short lesson in the classroom to look through the different features of maps including symbols, scales, orientation, and co-ordinates. Due to the similarities this activity should not be chosen if the Garden Map Coordinate trail is one of your daytime activity options.

Wide Games

Wide Games are a selection of energetic, outdoor team games played in a large space, like a field or wooded area. Each game usually involves elements of communication, teamwork, planning, and problem solving. Hive staff will facilitate a selection of wide games to get your group working together while having lots of fun.

Indoor Options

Animal Handling

In this classroom-based activity, students will meet and handle a range of our vertebrate and invertebrate animals, e.g. corn snake, fire salamander, giant millipede. The characteristics of each of the vertebrate and invertebrate groups will be explored in detail. By handling the animals and using information cards, students can explore how each animal is classified and adapted to its habitat through evolution.

Hive Quiz Night 

A great option for cold or rainy evenings. Hive staff will lead an engaging quiz in the Lodge for the students to compete in. Questions cover nature, geography, science, sports and much more.