Our Story
Acorn Adventure has been organising school trips for over 40 years!
Acorn Adventure is one of the original providers of outdoor adventure for UK schools and families, with 40 years of experience.
Acorn’s founder, Andrew Gardiner, is still the proud owner and Chairman of the company, and we remain a privately owned, family business that continues to put customers and staff at the heart of the company.
We believe passionately that every young person should enjoy the challenge of adventure throughout school life, and our aim is to provide schools with quality, character-building outdoor experiences at affordable prices.
Where it all began...
Acorn began life in 1982. Andrew Gardiner, Acorn’s owner and chairman, was a teacher at nearby Four Dwellings School in Birmingham where he helped to arrange camping trips for the school to a farm in Tal-y-Bont, near Barmouth, North Wales. He soon noticed the profound benefits that the pupils – and the staff – gained from these trips. Before long he decided to give up the teaching profession and organise the trips for other local schools.
These simple ‘camps’ proved to be popular and so Andrew looked for other special locations that would appeal to teachers wanting to inspire their pupils and improve their attitude and performance in school.
Why it all began...
For thousands of years, the oak has stood for strength and endurance. Acorn's aim is for every child to experience a journey of adventure throughout their childhood. We want all young people to develop a good sense of adventure & discovery and grow from a little acorn into a majestic oak.
No single moment produces a great oak tree.
By providing young people with a range of adventurous activities throughout their school life, we challenge them, we inspire them and we encourage them. We help children develop vital characteristics for a happy, healthy adult life.
That's why it all began, and why we are still here today.