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Land and Wave
Welcome to the Year 8 Land and Wave Residential Trip Information Hub. This page contains everything you need to know to prepare your child for our adventure in Dorset from Tuesday 23 June to Friday 26 June 2026.
We have designed this guide to answer your practical questions about travel, kit and camp life so that the departure is as smooth as possible.
How the trip works
This is the first year we have run this residential with Land and Wave, an experienced outdoor provider based in Swanage, Dorset. The journey takes approximately two hours by coach.
- Departure: On Tuesday 23 June, please arrive at school at the time specified in your recent Evolve email. You will be directed to a meeting point to check in with staff.
- The Stay: Students stay in spacious bell tents in groups of approximately six people. Boys and girls are in separate tents.
- Groups: Students are arranged into activity tribes of about ten people. Each tribe has a dedicated leader.
- Coming Home: We depart the campsite on Friday afternoon. We expect to arrive back at school around 4:00pm. Staff will send an update via Evolve once we have an exact estimated time of arrival.
Medical information and medicine drop off
We want to ensure every student is safe and well supported. Please complete the Medication Form saved at the bottom of this page.
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Medicine Drop Off: Please bring any required medication to the school reception on Monday 22 June between 3:30pm and 5:00pm.
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All medicine must be in a named ziplock bag with the original box. You must include a completed medicine form stating the dosage and frequency.
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School Medicine Supplies: We carry a supply of paracetamol, antihistamine cream and sun cream. If your child is allergic to these, please provide their own.
Communication and mobile phones
This trip is a time for students to disconnect from screens and engage with the outdoors.
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No Mobile Phones: Electronics and phones are not allowed. They will be confiscated if seen or heard. This prevents damage to expensive items and removes safeguarding risks regarding photos in tents.
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Staying in Touch: You will be emailed a dedicated school trip mobile number before we depart. This is for emergency use in the evening. During the day, you can contact the school reception on 0118 9353353 and a message will be passed to trip staff.
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Updates: We will do our best to share photos on the school Facebook and Instagram pages so you can see what the students are up to. No news is good news: we will not make contact every night so please do not worry if you do not hear from us.
Who to contact
If you have questions about the logistics of the trip, please contact our Trip Leader, Miss Bishop, via: jbishop@bulmershe.wokingham.sch.uk
For urgent medical updates, please ensure your details are also updated on the SIMS Parent app.
Activities and Schedule
Here's an idea of the kind of programme students will be undertaking. Their days will be packed with both coastal and woodland activities.
Note: the below is an example and not the confirmed programme of events for this trip
Tuesday
AM: Travel to Dorset
PM: Kayaking in Swanage Bay
EVE: Mini Olympics
Wednesday
AM: Coasteering at Dancing Ledge
PM: Archery Tag and Slip and Slide
EVE: Night hike
Thursday
AM/PM: Bushcraft in the woods
EVE: Nightline
Friday
AM: Stand up paddle boarding
PM: Depart from the campsite
What to pack
Miss Bishop is still finalising the full kit list, but here are some things to think about:
Please pack everything into a soft holdall or rucksack rather than a suitcase. These are much easier to store in the tents and pack onto the coach.
Kit essentials
- Old sports clothes that you do not mind getting muddy or ruined
- Suitable shoes for hiking or walking
- Water activity clothing including a separate pair of shoes that can get wet
- Waterproof jacket and trousers
- A refillable water bottle
- A small day bag for daily essentials
Please ensure every item of clothing and equipment is clearly named.
A full, detailed kit list will be emailed to all families shortly.
Food and dietary requirements
Land and Wave use a central camp kitchen for breakfast and dinner. Lunch is served either at the kitchen or out on activities.
Menu:
Typical meals follow these lines:
Breakfast - cereals and toast, with daily hot options like bacon baps or pancakes.
Lunch - Packed lunch of sandwiches or sausage rolle
Dinner - Main courses such as Fajitas, Lasagne or curry, alongside various desserts.
Allergies:
Please ensure all dietary requirements are listed on the permission form. Vegetarian and other medical diets are fully catered for.
Important:
Do not pack any food in student bags. Snacks in tents attract squirrels, foxes and rodents. We promise that no student will go hungry.
Frequently Asked Questions
What if my child is homesick?
Please let Miss Bishop know in advance if this might be a problem. We can discuss a specific plan to support them and decide if or when they should contact home.
Will they be able to shower?
There are toilet and shower blocks on site. While students are allocated time for showers (usually after muddy activities), they are not always used every day on a short four day trip.
Can we choose who is in my child's tent?
We will send a Google Form for you to complete with your child. While we cannot guarantee they will be with everyone they list, we will do our best to ensure they are with at least one friend.
More FAQs to follow...watch this space!