Everest Mountaineer's High Praise For Outdoor Centre
23 October 2012
Kenton Cool (left) with the Centre's Manager, Mike Gray
The University's Oaklands Centre certainly offers boundless opportunities for the next generation of outdoor leaders.
”kenton Cool
Kenton and student Conlegh Conwey work together to ascend the centre's Jacob's Ladder
A climber at the peak of his career inspired University of Derby Buxton students just embarking on theirs as he officially opened the University's new Outdoor Leadership Centre.
Students, staff and invited guests listened as world class climber Kenton Cool described his latest Everest climb - the tenth time he has reached the summit - as he cut the ribbon at the University's 58 acre Oaklands Manor Outdoor Leadership Centre on Manchester Road on Friday October 19.
The evening celebration also kicked off the first ever Buxton Adventure Festival, of which the University was a key sponsor.
After enjoying a tour of the 58 acres of mixed woodland, and watching students demonstrate their skills on its climbing wall, 'Jacob's Ladder', complex high ropes course and a 'leap of faith' - even joining in at one point - Kenton Cool had plenty of good things to say when he addressed an audience of students and members of the adventure community.
Kenton said: "This is an amazing facility where dreams can become real. If I was 21 again and could study somewhere like this my learning would be far stronger. The University's Oaklands Centre certainly offers boundless opportunities for the next generation of outdoor leaders."
The University purchased the Manchester Road site in April to provide its outdoor, adventure and countryside management degree students with a dedicated space to develop leadership management and outdoor activity skills.
The 58 acres includes a 30 foot high climbing wall, a complex high ropes course, three low ropes courses and an artificial underground caving system. Since starting their studies in September, Outdoor Recreation and Adventure Tourism degree students have been using the facilities on site to develop their leadership skills through experiential learning.
The site's dry stone walls, broad-leaved woodlands and moorland landscapes are also providing opportunities for Countryside Management degree students to develop their estate management skills, and play a large part in the site's long term sustainability.
Second year BA (Hons) Outdoor Leadership student, Matt Ferris, 26, has used the centre frequently since returning to University in September.
He said: "The new facility is giving us some real benefits,providing real world learning experiences in an outstanding setting.
"We've already been using the site to familiarise ourselves with the working practises of running an outdoor centre. Combined with the wonderful staff here at the University, the outdoor centre provides an outstanding start for any aspiring outdoor professional."
Dr Peter Dewhurst, Strategic Director of the University of Derby Buxton, said: "We were delighted to welcome Kenton to officially open Oaklands, and to have so many members of the Peak District adventure community here with us to celebrate was wonderful.
"It was inspirational for our students, and for us, to hear about Kenton's experiences climbing Everest, and we hope that the centre will enable many of our students to go on to have such distinguished careers as his."
The event also acted as an opening event for the Buxton Adventure Festival, which ran from Oct 20-21, at Buxton's Pavilion Arts Centre. The latest venture of Heason Events hosted audiences enjoying ten famous speakers from the adventure community including cave diver Gavin Newman and mountain bike world champion Danny Hart, along with 30 films being shown.
To complement the Festival, the University of Derby Buxton and Derbyshire Village Games teamed up to put on afternoon activities for children of all ages.
To find out more about the University of Derby's Outdoor, Countryside and Adventure degree programmes visit www.derby.ac.uk/outdoor
