Based at the Rest House, Hackworth Park.  The Pilgrim Club provides a weekly children and young people's drop-in facility.  Pool, snooker, table tennis, play stations, computers & internet access are just some of the activities available.  Regular issue based sessions discussing the many positive and negative influences.  Children and young people may encounter in today's society.  Are explored in an informal learning environment.  Children and young people are encouraged to participation in the selection, planning and delivery of all activities.      

An introduction to and where possible hands on training in outdoor adventurous activities are also encouraged.  In preparation for youngsters undertaking such activities as.

 Raft building, kayaking & canoeing, orienteering, hill walking, cycling, mountain biking, camp craft, bush craft & survival, forest school, sailing, Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme training and expeditions.

Hackworth Park and the recently mapped 30 control point course.  Provide the Orienteering base from the charity.

The Rest House is also the home of the "Bike Swop Shop".  A bicycle repair, maintenance and bicycle road safety training to national standards project.  

Ellerton Lake Water Park, North Yorkshire provides a lakeside access to water sports and camping and a base for hillwalking and cycling activities.

Thornton Stewart Sailing Club is the base for the clubs sailing activities. 

FOREST SCHOOL

The charity are presently establishing a Forest School facility which is expected to be in place by early 2009

BUSH CRAFT & SURVIVAL

The aims of the syllabus are to increase awareness of the surrounding environment and encourage the sustainable and low impact use of resourses readily available to enhance outdoor and wilderness experiences, however extreme

Ideas & Aims

Learn about the basic survival needs

Water

Food

Fire

Shelter

Navigation

First Aid & Health 

Find out about and learn how to safely use the tools and equipment used in Bush Craft & Survival

Types of tools

Safe use

Care & maintenance

Become familiar with a local area e.g. woodland and be able to use the resourses available for an overnight camp

Study the uses of wild plants and trees native to the British Isles

Be able to confidently identify 25 species of plants and trees

Demonstrate some of their uses, e.g. food, cordage & medicinal

Choose an element of Bush Craft & Survival and develop skills and knowledge to a higher level

For example

Wild food & outdoor cooking

Primitive skills such as making bows/arrows

Primitive crafts such as carving and weaving

Construction techniques

CAMP CRAFT

The charity were asked by staff from New College Durham.  If we could provide some outdoor activities for students in their NEET group (Not in Education or Employment Training).  These activities took place at White Kirkley and in Hamsterley Forest  

HILL WALKING

 County Durham and it's many rural areas provide numerous hill walking opportunities localy. The Lake District is also a short drive and very much a club favourite.

ORIENTEERING

Lottery Funding

Awards for All     

Has enabled The Pilgrim Club to establish an Orienteering section and course in Hackworth Park, Shildon.  The 30 control point course completed during January 2008.  Has provided the opportunities for club volunteers to organise   orienteering events, training events and entry in to competative events around the North East.

RESIDENTIAL ADVENTURE CAMPS

 The first of the 2008 adventure camps took place at Ellerton Lake Water Park.  The North Yorkshire site is the home of the club's water based and camping activities.

In June twelve youngsters from the club's under 13s group spent the weekend under canvas.  For many of the  group this was not only   their first time  camping and being away from home, but also their first opportunity to experience canoeing and kayaking.   

The charity is very keen for youngsters too gain confidence and nationally recognised achievement awards and hopefully go on to gain coaching qualifications.  The British Canoe Union Star Personal Achievement Awards are seen as one step to achieve such goals. 

During these camps   members are encouraged too gain the BCU awards.  With much success being achieved in the one & two star awards. 

Members of the Regular Army, Cadet Training Team were also using the park and made their climbing wall available to the group.  Which was very much appreciated by volunteers and youngsters alike.

The second camp also took place at Ellerton Lake and 18 youngsters took part.

Canoeing, kayaking and campcraft activities were provided by the club volunteers.  Once again the Army Cadet Training Team based at Catterick.  Offered the youngsters the use of their climbing wall and also the opportunity to paddle their inflatable boats and improvised rafts.           

The Army instructors were excellent

with the kids and we cannot thank then enough.

 Sedgefield Borough Council's KoolKa$h funding initiative for the under 13s.  Have awarded the charity £953 towards a 5 night summer camp to take place during the 2008 summer school holidays.

 CLIMBING/ABSEILING

 Club members regualy take part in climbing activities in the Lake District.  With Hodge Close and it's high abseils a favourite location. 

During the summer a group from the club paid a visit to Brimham Rocks in North Yorkshire.  The club use activities on this site.  As an introduction and opportunity for youngsters to become familiar with and gain confidence in climbing. 

On a recent visit to the Ice Factor climbing facility in Scotland.  Youngsters from the club had the opportunity to experience Ice Climbing on the world's largest indoor ice climbing wall.   

MOUNTAINEERING

Winter training on Sca-Fell was our first mountaineering activity.  Club leaders spent two days in the Lake District in preparation for the forthcoming Ben Nevis climb.  

 It was along drive from County Durham to the Glen Nevis camp site for our short stay, but well worth the journey. Standing on the highest point in Great Britain and having to cope with the weather conditions and the climb to get there.  Gave everyone a huge sense of achievement.  

 During our next summer camp, Sca-Fell Pike became our next challenge.  This time the weather was particularly kind.  Revealing some spectacular views. 

GO APE 

In Grizedale Forest is another club favourite place and we often visit when in the Lake District.