• Accessing the Thames - Day or residential voyages tailored to the interests and needs of people with disabilities, older people, community organisations and adult education colleges.

• Living and Learning Afloat - Day or residential voyages for children and young people.

• School on the River – A day of Key Stage 2 environmental education activities, based around our education pack, that use the Thames as an educational resource, take place on the Venturer and the river bank.

• Linking People Afloat - Due to a successful pilot scheme in 2007 we are including day cruises for individuals who would like to take part in an Accessing the Thames trip but are not part of any group.

• Private & Corporate Hire - We are also available for private and corporate hire.  Please contact the Boat Project office for more details.

Accessing the Thames

Day Voyages - On a typical day cruise the Venturer goes up river to Walton or Shepperton. Tea and coffee is served when you arrive. We request that you include lunch for our volunteer crew.  Everyone eats together around the table in the saloon or on deck when the weather permits.  

Residential Voyages - Groups can explore the Thames up or downstream. On a typical residential voyage up river to Windsor, the first night can be spent at a peaceful spot in Laleham.  The journey takes you further upstream through Windsor Great Park, with its magnificent views of the Castle. On arrival in Windsor there will be time to explore the town, go out for a meal or to the theatre. The following day the boat returns down river stopping at Staines or Egham for the night, returning to Kingston in the afternoon of the fourth day. Additional visits can include Hampton Court, Penton Hook and Runnymede.
 

Back to Top

Linking People Afloat

Linking People Afloat is an extension of Accessing the Thames.  It will give people who may not belong to a relevant community group the chance to share the experience of a day trip with other individuals and our crew.  Dates for summer 2008 are:

• Mon 30 June      •  Fri 29 August     • Thurs 25 September      • Thurs 9 October (new)

All bookings must be made in advance with the Boat Project office.

For more details download our flyer click here.

Back to Top

Living and Learning Afloat

A choice of day or residential cruises, tailored to the needs of children and young people, is available on our Living and Learning Afloat courses.  It is particularly recommended for groups of young carers. The voyages provide opportunities for social, leisure and educational activities on board the Venturer.

During the voyage the group helps to run the Venturer - they learn how the Venturer works, plan the route and on board activities, assist the crew on deck, buy food, cook, clean and help keep the boat shipshape.

The group leaders, our skipper and crew work together to facilitate the group, oversee activities onboard and encourage the young people to work as a team.

Back to Top

School on the River

School on the River is a Key Stage 2 environmental education pack, specially developed and written by the River Thames Boat Project with a local teacher. It offers a day of activities which use the Thames as an educational resource. For School on the River bookings the Venturer is moored alongside the towpath and used as a floating classroom. 

• School on the River offers a comprehensive cross curricular environmental study programme of the Thames.

• Children learn about the Thames through a variety of activities which take place on board the Venturer and on the river bank.

• School on the River covers a range of subjects including: Geography; History; Science; English; Maths and Art.

• Experienced teachers are employed to deliver School on the River, supported by our trained volunteers.

• Work sheets are easily photocopied and cover pre-visit activities, on site activities and post-visit activities.

• The Teachers’ Notes provide useful background reading and National Curriculum links.

For more information go to our downloads page.

• Opportunities to compare and contrast the non-tidal and tidal Thames within a small area.

• An island, a weir, foreshore, two footbridges and a variety of bank treatments.

• Three locks - the smallest and largest on the river Thames.

 
“Feedback from the children was as always very positive.  The work from the visit reflects how well they were able to learn from the experiences offered.”

Back to Top

"The river blows, the river flows and gets on with its journey
You must care for it as it cares for you.
To and fro it drifts by, braving by the rocks, gazing at the stars.
The breeze rises up into the swaying of the air.
It’s a journey to somewhere, somehow it can find its way.
Boats drift down the river line,
The bubbling trail turns to air.
The swans follow their shadows in the drift.”

                                                Darrel School