A little piece of paradise on the Isle of Wight
Set in 48 acres of woodland on the banks of Wootton Creek with quaint log cabins, it would be easy to confuse Little Canada with the country from which it draws inspiration. Locations don’t come much better than this and we also have private access direct to the water from our seafront.
Little Canada is home to our thrilling Aqua Explorer Camps along with our multi-activity DISCOVER! Adventures and EXPLORE! Adventures.
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Kids’ adventure camps at Little Canada
What you can find at Little Canada
Little Canada is packed full of handy facilties for your child to enjoy between activities. Whether they are looking to chill out, grab a snack, buy a gift for mum or dad, or socialise with their new friends, Little Canada has everything they need.
Car Park
Indoor Activity Zone
Retail / Shop
Vending Machines
Drying Room
Accessible Bedrooms
Camp Fire
Sports Pitches/Courts
Table Tennis
Sports Hall
Watersports
What’s on the menu at Little Canada?
Tasty meals and plenty of choice to please even the fussiest of eaters
Adventure is hungry work! Kids at Little Canada enjoy three nutritious meals a day in our dining rooms, picking and choosing from a varied menu of delicious family favourites.
Hot and cold meal choices with vegetarian options
Self-service fresh salad bar
Fresh fruit available with every meal
Allergies, intolerances and special diets catered for
Kids love sleepovers at Little Canada
Sharing a room with new friends is part of the PGL experience! Our rooms at Little Canada are clean, warm and cosy, with comfy beds and clean bathrooms close by. After a long day of action, our young adventurers look forward to a fantastic nights’ sleep, ready for more excitement tomorrow.
Woodlands House
Large dormitory style rooms sleep 8-10 children in bunk beds, and they all have en suite bathrooms too!
Log Cabins
Little Canada’s famous log cabins! 4-8 bunk bedded rooms in chalet style lodges. Each lodge has its own en-suite bathroom facilities.
Adventure for all ages at Little Canada
We’ve learned that children get the most from their PGL adventure when they’re with kids their own age, which is why at Little Canada we split our kids’ camps into three main age groups. Not only do children feel more confident and relaxed around same-age peers, it means their adventure will be perfectly tailored to suit their ability, offering age-appropriate excitement, challenges and activities to provide maximum enjoyment from their Little Canada holiday.
Our overlapping age ranges give you the option to choose the best group for your child if they are sitting at the upper/lower age limit.
Activities
Little Canada is bursting with incredible activities and fun challenges for your young explorers to discover.
Abseiling
The tower is over 10 metres high. The task – to walk backwards off the top, gradually working back towards ground level, suspended only on a rope. It’s all about trust, courage and confidence. It’s also a very dynamic way to learn calculating and controlling risk. Some children deal with heights more easily than others, but the support and encouragement of the rest of the group is important for each individual’s success and will help strengthen peer relationships.
Aeroball / Airball
A cross between trampolining, basketball and volleyball - it’s an exhilarating, high-energy sport. Four players learn the basics required - then spring into action! The aim is to get the ball in the opposing player's net. As well as being lots of fun, your child will develop team tactics and improve communication skills along the way.
Archery
Our Archery sessions offer the chance for every child to experience success. Accuracy, control and a steady hand are vital for achieving the best results and many children discover a talent for a new skill. Handling bows and arrows may be a brand new experience for your child and presents a variety of new challenges! We encourage safety awareness from the outset and teach the basic skills on an indoor or outdoor range.
Archery Tag
Let the battle commence! Archery with a twist - you are aiming for each other! In this game of skill and teamwork you are equipped with foam tipped arrows to battle it out in action packed games. You will do some basic skills training before entering the arena to see who comes out victorious! Available March to September
Axe Throwing
Discover your inner Viking on our NEW Axe Throwing ranges. Hone your skills, and get your eye in, as you aim for maximum points on the target. Technique over strength will be the key to mastering this activity and as the session progresses you'll discover the best ways to fling an axe down the range. But, by the end of the session, will you be brave enough to 'call the Crux'?
Beach/Coastal Walk
Explore the area and discover the natural environment while our instructors lead activities or games along the beach or coastline close to Bawdsey Manor. There are opportunities to examine coastal features, compare local beach profiles and begin to explore marine ecology. *Exclusive to Bawdsey Manor*
Canoeing
Canoeing is exciting, challenging and tonnes of fun! It’s also a great opportunity for your child to learn new skills such as paddling and steering in order to control their craft effectively.
Challenge Course
The PGL Challenge Course is legendary – it’s a well-loved and popular activity that can even get quite competitive sometimes! As your child negotiates the various obstacles that lie ahead, it’s an experience that will promote teamwork, lateral thinking, problem solving and decision-making – as well as being physically challenging too.
Climbing
Your child will need to combine different skills including perseverance, strength, an ability to deal with heights – as well as trust in their belay partner and equipment. Those who have never tried it before will find it an exhilarating experience. Climbing at PGL may take place on indoor walls or outdoor climbing towers; whichever it is, we always use a top-rope belay for safety. Weight limit: 140kg
Dragon Boating
Manoeuvring and racing a dragon boat demands good coordination and communication of a large team - as many as 24 children learn to paddle rhythmically and effectively together in a race across the water. Ultimate success depends on tactics, technique and brute effort - but in the end there are no losers– just a lot of fun, laughter and mutual support along the way.
Fencing
Fencing is a great workout for both body and brain. It’s challenging, exciting and involves good eye-to-hand coordination, fast footwork, lightning reflexes and even quicker decision-making. It’s a sport that offers huge potential for the enthusiast to learn more and progress at club level, but it’s also accessible and great fun for beginners too. Our qualified instructors will teach your child the basic principles and safety procedures before they progress onto outwitting their opponent in this great Olympic sport.
Giant Stand Up Paddleboard
The giant stand up paddleboard is a fun and relaxing way for your child to enjoy being on the water. It's a great activity for building confidence on a board through teamwork, balance and coordination. Available May to October.
Giant Swing
The ultimate test of nerve and joint decision-making. Two or three of children are harnessed into the swing, while other members of the group haul them up to 10 metres into the air. After the group in the swing decide together how high they want to go, a pull on the ripcord will send them plummeting earthward. It’s a fast and exhilarating drop, but good communication will get the right balance between fear and fun! Weight limit: 150kg
Jacob’s Ladder
It’s an exercise in teamwork and friendly cooperation. Your child's objective, in teams of three, is to climb to the top of a suspended ladder of logs. The gaps between each log become wider, the higher you go. Pushing up, pulling up, standing on shoulders – it’s all about working together to achieve a joint purpose. The activity promotes friendship, communication, discussion, leadership and decision-making as each team progresses to the top. Weight limit: 150kg
Kayaking
Kayaking is a great way for your child to explore our beautiful lakes and rivers and it remains one of our most popular activities. Our instructors will help your child get started, teach them the basics and then help them to push the boundaries of what they can achieve. There are games and individual challenges to improve teamwork, communication and confidence on the water.
Keelboat Sailing
Learning the basics of sailing a larger dinghy is a rewarding experience, taking your child out of their normal environment and introducing a new set of skills. They’ll learn how (and when and why) to raise and lower the sails, and the importance of the keel that gives the boat its name. Our instructors are RYA qualified and will ensure your child gets some hands-on experience; steering the boat and getting to grips with all the basic techniques required.
Laser Tag
The wide-open landscapes at our adventure centres offer the ultimate backdrop to a team laser tag battle. Working in teams, your child will head off equipped with their own laser gun and vest. They'll develop team tactics, communication skills, and a steady hand as they duel to come out the triumphant team!
Orienteering
Orienteering makes an excellent introduction to practical map-reading and is an exciting way to get to know your surroundings on centre. Your child will work in a small teams or as a pair to locate control points across the grounds of the centre. As it’s essentially a competitive activity, the idea is for your child to find all the controls more quickly than the others. The activity helps them to improve decision-making, map reading and correctly judging distances.
Problem Solving
Problem solving sessions test initiative and ingenuity. Children work in small teams to solve puzzles and complete set tasks - it’s a great way for your child to get to know their new friends really well. By the time they finish they’ll have an appreciation and understanding each individual’s ability (including their own!) when it comes to planning, communicating and making decisions – skills which are all key to achieving the objectives of each task.
Sensory Trail
The sensory trail is a challenge in more ways than one. During the activity your child will negotiate a series of obstacles – blindfolded – with the other members of their group for guidance. It’s a challenge, which raises questions about our abilities and assumptions, and demands mutual trust, self belief, and effective communication to complete the course successfully.
Survivor
Once the ‘wilderness’ scenario is set, your child will need to develop effective teamwork to build their shelter. Basic navigational skills and meteorological skills help them decide the layout of the site. They will have to identify and share out the key responsibilities for getting each task completed, and communicate well to get the most from the project. Work as a team to build a wilderness shelter on centre, and learn how to stay warm and dry using whatever you can find. They'll need to plan their camp taking into account the prevailing weather and then share out the tasks to get the shelter built before time runs out...
Trapeze
Each stage of the trapeze counts as a success and requires courage and determination. The challenge starts with a climb to the top of a 6 metre pole. Next, a climb onto the small platform will require balance as your child stands to make that leap for the trapeze! It’s an exhilarating and heart-pounding activity that will give your child a very real sense of personal achievement. Weight limit: 150kg
Tunnel Trail
On their own or in small groups, your child will explore a series of underground tunnels. The tunnels vary in size and they will have various tasks to carry out during their exploration. Completing the tasks will improve your child's self-confidence, problem-solving skills and teamwork. Please note this activity will only be available between May and September at some centres due to weather.
Vertical Challenge
Vertical challenge offers a chance to use all those skills you would use in any ground-based challenge course – but it all takes place at height! Your child will be harnessed and instructed on how to belay. They make their way up a course of suspended obstacles that include climbing walls, cargo nets, crates and ropes. The Vertical Challenge develops physical skills as well as transferable skills including climbing, communication, cooperation and lots of group support. Weight limit: 150kg
Zip Wire
Once at the top of the zip wire platform, your child is securely attached to the overhead wire before making their flight across the sky! Their route may take them through a forest or even over a lake. It’s a hugely exhilarating experience that requires personal courage and determination – it pushes most children beyond their natural comfort zone. It’s also a chance for the rest of the group to offer support and encouragement. Weight limit: 90-120kg (varies by location)
Ambush
If you love hide and seek, you’ll adore Ambush which takes this popular group game and ramps it up an extra notch! After sundown children will split into small teams, with one team hiding within the centre grounds, leaving a trail for their competitors to follow. Great for developing strategic and team building skills. Ambush is usually run in the dark, and torches are advised. Available September to March
Archery Tag
Let the battle commence! Archery with a twist - you are aiming for each other! In this game of skill and teamwork you are equipped with foam-tipped arrows to battle it out in action packed games. You will do some basic skills training before entering the arena to see who comes out victorious! Available March to September
Balloon Splash
Each team completes a series of challenges or games to earn coins that will allow them to purchase items from a mystery box! Teams will then work closely together to create the best contraption to protect their water balloon from destruction.
Beach Chill Out
The idyllic setting of Osmington’s pebble beach is the ultimate backdrop to a fun evening of socialising, music and beach games. After a busy day of action-packed activities this is the perfect activity to unwind and spend some free time together as a group!
Campfire
The ultimate way to enjoy the great outdoors as a group! Get hands-on constructing your campfire during the day, and it will be lit ready for you to enjoy in the evening. Sing, chat, play games or simply relax around the campfire, our team can cater for all ages in the idyllic settings of our campfires.
Campfire Marshmallows
Everyone's favourite campfire activity…. Marshmallow toasting! Gather around and toast your Marshmallows to perfection whilst enjoying songs, relaxation and games around the campfire
Cluedo
Team PGL need help to solve a great mystery onsite! Children are split into teams and given a map with locations of characters on, and a score card to find out who committed the crime! In their team they'll work to locate the character somewhere onsite and have a task to complete to receive information about the suspect. This game can take place in the evening, so torches are advised.
Creation Station
After a busy day in the great outdoors, our Creation Station session offers the perfect chance to relax and socialise with friends, while creating a keepsake to take home. Choose from a selection of arts and craft activities; from rock painting to creating friendship bracelets. The ideal way to unwind and flex your creativity!
Disco
Time to party! A popular last night choice, children show of their moves to popular hits with “follow-the-leader” sessions, plus lots of unique PGL dances! A fun and sociable evening.
Laser Tag
The wide-open landscapes at our adventure centres offer the ultimate backdrop to a team laser tag battle. Working in teams, your child will head off equipped with their own laser gun and vest. They'll develop team tactics, communication skills, and a steady hand as they duel to come out the triumphant team!
Movie Night
Lights, camera, action! Our on-centre cinema experience offers children the opportunity to chill out with friends after a long day of action-packed adventures, and enjoy a film! Perfectly coupled with a trip to the on-site shop to grab a movie snack!
Passport to the World
Hop aboard PGL airlines to take a trip around the world! Here, children are split into teams and given a map with a mixture of country flags located around the site. Each country has a plaque located on the point on the map. The plaques have questions to answer related to that country, which must all be answered correctly before returning to base. It might be dark when this activity takes place, so torches are advised.
PGL Tournament
At PGL Tournament guests will play a series of exciting team games and complete a selection of individual challenges to determine which team is the best! Challenges include: Basketball Shoot, Human Skittle and Ultimate Frisbee
Quiz
In teams, guests are set Q&A-style challenges with lots of interaction and plenty of variety to keep them motivated and to maximise their participation. As well as general knowledge, rounds may include dressing up, dancing and miming.
Silent Disco
Party the night away without the noise of a disco. Every guest has their own set of headphones, where guests can select music from a number of channels to find the tunes they enjoy. Then spend the evening dancing away with friends or trying to guess what song your friends are listening to.
Which Little Canada adventure will you choose?
From dipping your toe into a short and sweet DISCOVER! Adventure, diving into the full multi-activity experience with an EXPLORE! Adventure or going all out on an Aqua Explorer camp – there’s something for everyone at PGL Little Canada.
Which adventure will you choose?
Aqua Explorer
Each holiday includes a selection of action-packed watersports activities, such as Aqua Parks, Sailing, Wake Boarding and Coasteering. Plus you'll get to take part in our very best PGL watersports - Giant SUP, Raft Building and Dragon Boating to name a few! Half your time will be spent doing specialist watersports and half enjoying classic PGL Multi-Activity.
Find Out More
DISCOVER! Adventures
Day camps, 1, 2 and 3 night stays jam packed with outdoor activities and new experiences.
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EXPLORE! Adventures
4 to 7 night outdoor activity breaks. Our EXPLORE! Adventures offer longer stays, more activities, bigger challenges and plenty of fun!
Find Out More
How to find Little Canada
Little Canada is located on the stunning Isle of Wight. To make it easier getting to the island, we now offer an escorted island travel service from Southampton and Portsmouth, via the ferry. Our friendly team will meet your young adventurers, at one of our collection points, and see them safely across to the island to begin their adventure.
Explore other locations nearby
Dorset – Osmington Bay
Located on the spectacular Jurassic Coast, enjoying views across to Weymouth, Osmington Bay is an incredibly special place to visit. It boasts all the land-based activities that you would expect to find at a PGL centre, along with thrilling water sports at the nearby Weymouth & Portland National Sailing Academy.
Explore Osmington Bay
Surrey – Marchants Hill
With over 45 acres of beautiful grounds, Marchants Hill is a vibrant and bustling centre nestled in the ‘Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, within walking distance of the Devil’s Punchbowl. This centre offers the best of both worlds – green spaces and fantastic transport links!
Explore Marchants Hill
Sussex – Windmill Hill
Welcome to Windmill Hill, an impressive Grade II listed mansion house on the beautiful Sussex Downs… where big adventures, new discoveries and unforgettable experiences can be found around every corner!
Explore Windmill Hill
Your child is in safe hands at PGL. We go above and beyond to protect the safety and wellbeing of everyone in our care.
Our long-standing dedication to safety has led to us holding over 15 governing and safety accreditations, and we voluntarily apply for Ofsted inspections to be on the Childcare Register.
Everything we do is built on five protective pillars:
Safe PeoplePeople are at the heart of all we do. From our ‘safer recruitment’ process (including enhanced DBS for all centre colleagues) to our in-depth training programmes, continuous development and supervision, we go the extra mile to ensure our guests are in the safest of hands.
Safe Places Our centres are continuously monitored, maintained and risk-assessed by dedicated teams to ensure our places are safe and secure, always. What’s more, ongoing investment in our locations is powering breakthroughs in guest comfort and satisfaction.
Safe SpacesWe believe adventure is for everyone. We’ve developed our spaces with SEND, accessibility and inclusivity in mind, and can make further adjustments for guests’ individual needs wherever possible – our goal is to deliver enriching experiences for all.
Safeguarding As the leader in our industry, we are committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults in our care. Our teams are trained to recognise and report safeguarding concerns and aware of their responsibilities to safeguard guests.
Safe Travels Our escorted travel service is offered to enable young people to travel further afield in a safe and supported manner. We also aim to ensure travel provision is adaptable to the needs of every child.
Safe People People are at the heart of all we do. From our ‘safer recruitment’ process (including enhanced DBS for all centre colleagues) to our in-depth training programmes, continuous development and supervision, we go the extra mile to ensure our guests are in the safest of hands.
Safe Places Our centres are continuously monitored, maintained and risk-assessed by dedicated teams to ensure our places are safe and secure, always. What’s more, ongoing investment in our locations is powering breakthroughs in guest comfort and satisfaction.
Safe Spaces We believe adventure is for everyone. We’ve developed our spaces with SEND, accessibility and inclusivity in mind, and can make further adjustments for guests’ individual needs wherever possible – our goal is to deliver enriching experiences for all.
Safeguarding As the leader in our industry, we are committed to ensuring the safety and welfare of children, young people and adults in our care. Our teams are trained to recognise and report safeguarding concerns and aware of their responsibilities to safeguard guests.
Safe Travels Our escorted travel service is offered to enable young people to travel further afield in a safe and supported manner. We also aim to ensure travel provision is adaptable to the needs of every child.
What our adventurers are saying…
Testimonials
FAQ
What programmes are available at Little Canada?
We have three types of programmes that you can choose from at Little Canada?
DISCOVER! Adventures
EXPLORE! Adventures
TRAILBLAZE! Specialist Adventures
Our camps for your TRAILBLAZE! Specialist Adventures include:
What facilities are available at Little Canada?
We have the following facilities available at Little Canada:
- Indoor Activity Zone
- Lounge/Bar
- Shop
- Vending Machines
- Wifi
- Accessible Bedrooms
- Table Tennis
- Sports Hall
- Watersports
- Car Park
What's included in the cost of a PGL adventure?
Included in your child’s adventure is:
- Accommodation
- Food & Drink
- Activities
- Equipment
Do you cater for specific dietary requirements?
Yes, we can cater for many dietary requirements at our PGL centres. We are able to deliver catering provision for dietary requirements as specified by culture, religion and medical concerns. We regularly provide meals for a wide variety of needs including coeliac, diabetic, food allergies and vegetarian/vegan. If your child has any dietary requirements then it’s best to get in contact with your party leader or a member of the PGL team to discuss their needs.
Can I contact my child while they're staying at Little Canada?
Absolutely! If your child has brought a mobile phone with them then you can call the during free time when they’re not taking part in our multi-activities, or you can call our centre if you need to speak to your child urgently.
Does my child need to bring money?
Your child doesn’t need to bring any money to camp as our adventures are fully inclusive. However, depending on your adventure there could be excursion days where your child might want to grab a snack. There’s also a Gift Shop on-site selling sweets and small souvenirs
We recommend pocket money of around £5 a day, plus between £5 and £20 to purchase gifts which will be on sale all week. And don’t worry about your child spending it all because we operate a secure system for holding and issuing pocket money in accordance with parents’ wishes.
Is parking available at Little Canada?
Yes, parking is available on-site.
What safety measures are in place at Little Canada?
Here’s how we keep you and your children safe at Little Canada:
- Safe People: Staff are fully trained, DBS checked, and continually assessed.
- Safe Places: All buildings are risk assessed, we have segmented accommodation, secure perimeters and strict equipment standards.
- Safe Spaces: All encompassing environments, language inclusivity, and SEND trained staff.
- Safeguarding: Staff are trained in safeguarding, helping them to spot risks and act quickly.
- Safe Travels: All of our travel partners are vetted to make sure they have safety management systems in place, and we ensure travel is adaptable to the needs of all children.
Can you help my child with their travel to PGL Little Canada?
Yes – To help with travel to PGL Little Canada on the Isle of Wight, we provide an escorted island travel service from Southampton or Portsmouth, via the ferry. Your child will be accompanied by a friendly PGL member of staff who will make sure they arrive at the centre safely.
