2025 applications open in Autumn. To join our mailing list and receive a notification of when you can apply, register here.

Embrace an unforgettable experience that resembles the UWC Atlantic adventures of today. The Atlantic Adventure Experience (AAE) will take you on a journey that promises to challenge and excite you along with other like-minded young people this summer.

Meet new people, learn new skills and challenge yourself beyond your comfort zone – that is what AAE is all about.
The outdoor environment is the perfect classroom to explore your strengths and weaknesses, recognise those of others around you and work together to overcome challenges. Guided by experienced and qualified practitioners, you will develop new skills – physically and mentally, as you take part in a variety of outdoor activities in areas of natural beauty around South Wales. From sea adventures such as exploring deep caves to rock adventures such as climbing and scrambling, you’ll work together with your team and have lots of fun in the process.

AAE will further explore the lifelong benefits of the outdoors, providing additional opportunities to connect and fine-tune in nature and understand the key benefits of investing in an active and healthy lifestyle.

2025 Course Information

📅 Date: AAE1: 12th-19th July 2025, AAE2: 2nd-9th August 2025
📍 Location: St Donat’s Castle, Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan CF61 1WF
🧑 Ages: AAE1 (15-17 years), AAE2 (12-15 years)
💸 Fee: TBC
⏳ Application opens: Late November 2024, Deadline to apply: 31st May 2025

2024 BROCHURE DOWNLOAD

Course Fees

2025 pricing to be confirmed.

Fee is per person, including all programme fees, boarding, catering and Guard Me insurance. The fee is also inclusive of optional transfer to/from Heathrow Airport, with pick up and drop off at Terminal 5 only, within the time window and according to the conditions specified in the Course Pack. The fee does not include flights or assistance within the airport such as unaccompanied minor services with airlines, participant spending money, visa fees or travel costs outside of the transfers.

EARLY BOOKING OFFER

£100 GBP discount if booked before 31st January 2025.

Programme Detail

AAE is a 1-week residential programme aimed at 12-17 year olds. Two separate courses will run, split by age as follows:

• AAE1: 12th-19th July 2025, ages 15-17
• AAE2: 2nd-9th August 2025, ages 12-15

You must be within the age criteria for the course you are applying for, on the first day of the course. Applications are accepted on a first-to-apply basis.

No previous experience is required to apply, but you must be confident with physical activity and have a can do attitude to stepping outside of your comfort zone. The course is designed for young people with little to intermediate experience and as such may not be suitable if you are advanced in the activities included.

About Us

The Atlantic Adventure Experience (AAE) is a residential course run by UWC Atlantic Experience – a team within UWC Atlantic dedicated to delivering exceptional summer programmes for young people.
The campus is based in the rural 12th-century St Donat’s Castle in Wales and encompasses 122 acres of land including its own woodland, seafront, farm and valley.
Sitting on the Glamorgan Heritage Coast, activities will take place close by, with some activities taking place in other areas of natural beauty in South Wales.

Contact Us

If you need to get in touch, don’t hesitate to contact us by email aae@uwcatlanticexperience.com or call (+44) 1446 799 000.

Location

UWC Atlantic
St Donat’s Castle
Llantwit Major, Vale of Glamorgan
Wales, UK
CF61 1WF

PROGRAMME OVERVIEW

Through facilitated outdoor activities, insightful discussions and evening activities, you will be invited to explore and challenge your own limits. The programme will focus on:

• What makes a great leader great and how can we harness our leadership potential
• Enhance practical problem-solving that transfers to daily challenges
• Resilience building for a changing world
• Understanding failure and determination
• How to communicate simply and effectively
• Explore compassion and empathy in a team setting
• Discovery of wild places and their benefits

ADVENTURE IN ACTION

The greatest lessons are learnt from practice and reflection. On the Atlantic Adventure Experience, will have the chance to directly practice what you learn by taking a lead in shaping and co-facilitating sessions throughout the week. 

AAE is a residential adventure programme that meets the Duke of Edinburgh residential outcomes and therefore counts towards your Gold Duke of Edinburgh award.

Health, Fitness and Wellbeing

During your stay here, the days will be action-packed and full to the brim. This is why we have also designed time for reflection – guided by a facilitator – you will have the opportunity to reflect upon the day’s activities, alone and together, to more deeply understand your own personal journey.

Free time is important and essential for rest and taking time to explore the wonderful surroundings. This time each day is critical to help participants process the learning and allow their bodies the physical time to recuperate.

We also know that adventure activities can be mentally challenging and our expert facilitators will be there every step of the way to ensure that the learning experience is always positive and well-managed.

While on campus, there are also opportunities to use our facilities which include indoor and outdoor swimming pools, gym and sports centre. Participants will be encouraged to access these around the course itinerary to provide additional fitness and recreational activities.

Pastoral Care

UWC Atlantic is committed to providing the highest standards of pastoral care including a dedicated overnight supervisor. For activities, participants are split into groups run by DBS-checked and qualified outdoor practitioners working to best practices and activity ratios. UWC Atlantic is a gated community and all visitors must check in to reception on arrival.  To ensure their safety, participants cannot leave campus outside of the group activities.

Participants can enjoy unchaperoned time on campus within clearly defined boundaries, which will be explained upon arrival. This means that during free time, participants can explore designated areas of the College campus, make new friends, and enjoy the communal and sports facilities available on site.

Boarding

You will all live together in an on-campus student house. The house has a total of twelve dormitories split between two levels and each room is made up of four per room. Accommodation is shared and is allocated in advance based on age, with floor levels split by gender. The house has a kitchen and shared common room with a TV and Netflix for the short downtime period that is allocated in the programme.
All houses are located within the grounds of the College, with wonderful views of the sea and woodland, and are an easy walk to all facilities.

There will be three nutritious meals per day – breakfast, lunch and dinner, and on-campus meals will be enjoyed in the spectacular Dining Hall, giving students the feeling of being in a real-life Harry Potter movie! On days where the group will be off campus, a packed lunch will be provided. The house will also be equipped with supplies including coffee, teas, bread, jams, cereals and fruits.