Activity Ideas: Things to do - Visit a theme park

One youth worker who is a fan of such trips is Marcus Harris, youth service manager at North Fulham New Deal for Communities. He has been involved in planning numerous trips to theme parks and thinks that, as long as they are organised effectively, young people can gain a lot from the experience.

His youth team gets young people involved in the planning stage, which gives them an added sense of responsibility and also ensures the fun of the trip is balanced with an educational aspect. In the past, visits have provided an ideal opportunity for young people to meet other members of their community as local residents have been invited along as well.

Harris points out the positive atmosphere that the trips promote is helpful for discussing more controversial issues. "We use the time in the coach to consult on important neighbourhood issues," he says. "People are more happy to contribute in this context because they are excited about where they are going."

However, Harris does advise a note of caution. "You need to ensure you have robust risk assessments," he says. "We also brief the young people beforehand about their conduct, because there is a tendency for them to get over-excited."

Some local authorities and funders are not so keen on trips to theme parks, however. A perceived lack of educational opportunities means that many are no longer willing to either pay for or run them. Harris says: "There's always going to be a tension in providing fun activities that are also seen as educational. But encouraging young people to even engage with groups or services can be difficult. I firmly believe there can still be space for good, old-fashioned fun."

Thorpe Park's education facilitator Chris Chedzey is a former secondary school teacher and believes that theme parks are thinking carefully about the educational value of the experiences they offer.

At Thorpe Park, the education centre has recently been refurbished and now talks can be provided on subjects such as maths and business but within the context of a theme park. For example, young people would look at the speed a roller coaster travels as part of a maths talk. Young people can also gain an insight into a real workplace and are able to participate in real-life recruitment exercises, giving them a sense of what employers are after.

The majority of youth groups visiting the park are aged between 16 and 24, which also constitutes the main theme park workforce demographic. Chedzey argues that it is useful for the young people to see others their own age in a work-based setting.

But as well as the educational aspects, the thrills and spills definitely have their part to play. Chedzey says that theme park visits help young people to bond with others. "They talk about the fear or excitement they felt in a group setting," he says. "It can be quite powerful and help young people to come out of themselves."

FURTHER INFORMATION

- Theme Parks UK offers an independent guide to UK theme parks and includes discounts as well as travel and accommodation information. www.themeparks-uk.com

- Youth Fun Days offers discounted tickets for youth groups visiting any of the Merlin Entertainments Group's attractions, which include Alton Towers, Chessington World of Adventures, Thorpe Park and Legoland. www.youthfundays.co.uk