WHAT is PGL?

In this post:  just what is PGL?

In the UK schools, the joke goes that PGL stand for Parents Get Lost, because school kids go for a week at a time, leaving parents at home - alone.  But Parents don't always stay home....

I had just as much fun as they did

 Over the week-long February break (called "half-term" here in the UK), the kids and I ventured out on a 3 day "Family PGL weekend".

Not everyone knows what PGL really is, especially if you're outside the UK.  Even some people in the UK have never heard of PGL.  So what is it?

Well, PGL is mostly an adventure camp.  You do rope climbing, obstacle courses, vertical climbs, high ropes, archery, kayaking, and other adventure activities in a school-camp-like setting.  Geared towards school groups, PGL also offers summer camps, family weekends, and outside-of-the-box opportunities for businesses to build their staff relationships (aka "team bonding"!).

PGL was established in 1957 by Peter Gordon Lawrence. The UK's leading provider of school activity courses and adventure holidays mainly in the UK, there are also locations in France and Spain.  It began when Lawrence started leading canoe trips to young adult groups and grew into what it is today.

It is harder than it looks.  Our eight year old could not step off the platform

Not wanting to go far during our February break because Dad wouldn't be joining us, and also not wanting to drag the kids on another day trip to "sightsee", I was looking for something different.  Something FUN, something outdoors, something that didn't require tons of planning on my behalf.  The PGL family weekend checked all the boxes.

Can you see the bonding between these happy siblings?

We all LOVED it.  But it is not for everyone.  The dorm like bunk-lodging might turn some of you off immediately.  If you need luxury accommodation, this is not for you.  The kids and I were housed in a room with 4 bunkbeds (8 beds), toilet, simple sink and 3 shower stalls.  They provided the bedding.

what kid doesn't like going off to camp?

As soon as we arrived, we were greeted by our group leader, Rachel.  We were shown to our room and then directed to a large hall, a gorgeous former hunting mansion where most of our group meetings would take place.  There were board games set up to play and tea and coffee available.  A couple of other families were there already.  Dinner was served at 18h followed by "get to know you games" in the hall.  Cheesy as they were ("name that tune while I gargle", "make a tower with shoes", "paper airplane contest") it did indeed allow us to mingle with the others in our group.  There were 9 families.  Being solo with my kids, I was pleased to learn I was not alone.  One Dad was doing a father-son weekend with his 2 boys.  A mom from London was celebrating her daughter's birthday (daughter's choice) and let her daughter bring a couple friends.  One mom lived near the camp and brought her 2 children (recently divorced).  The other 5 groups were 2 parent families with 1-4 children.  All the kids were probably 8 and up.  I wouldn't recommend PGL for smaller children, you'll just be sitting in your room while the activities are going on.

Caythorpe Hall where most of our large group activities took place

board games upon arrival

Saturday was a full day with four 1.5 hour sessions including High Ropes, Giant Swing, Sensory Trail, and Archery.  We were placed in groups of about 10.  Our group was the four of us and a family of 6.  Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served cafeteria style offering about 3 choices for main dish, one being vegetarian.  The food was satisfying.  I didn't cook it, and so it tasted even better.  The kids enjoyed it, and there was a nice variety.  Not bad for camp food.

Cafeteria

Sunday morning there were 2 sessions: Vertical Challenge and Challenge Course.  After lunch, we taxied back to the station and returned home to London!!

getting ready to be hoisted up for the Giant Swing.  Grandma VanAmber would really love this one!

 We attended the PGL family weekend at Caythorpe Court.  Our total cost, including lodging, meals (Friday dinner to Sunday lunch) and activities was 342 pounds.  The round-trip train fare from London cost 55 pounds and the taxi (Amber cabs) to and from the centre was 20 pounds each way...meaning our entire weekend cost totaled less than 450 pounds. 

The videos show a bit more of the FUN:

 For more information or to book a PGL family adventure (weekend or weeklong) or maybe send the kids to camp!:
http://www.pgl.co.uk/PglWeb/families/default