Château de la Baudonnière

The Château de la Baudonnière have been offering linguistic, cultural and experiential courses since the early nineties, and now have an over-subscribed programme that runs year round. The Chateau is all about French language immersion.

Everything that is done involves using practical spoken French to convey meaning and students are encouraged to speak French to get what they want.

Situated 90 mins south of Cherbourg, the Chateau nestles in 90 acres of its own grounds which incorporates an orchard and cider press, boule pitch, farmyard, lake, assault course, climbing wall, archery range, tennis court, orienteering and initiative courses.

The French native staff team deliver activities to your group in French with a maximum group size of 12. Each activity concentrates on a particular area of French vocabulary; (e.g. climbing = body parts and movements) and starts with an introduction to the language and activity and finishes with a debrief which includes helping the class to complete their workbooks.

Voyager groups are in the unique position of being able to incorporate one or two days at this centre of excellence into their tour. Excursions and cultural visits form the remainder of your tour and your tour coordinator will offer advice on how to create a well balanced programme that works.

"I have been on 27 outbound trips and this one was by far the best. The Château have a unique way of developing the children and should be really proud of this".

Lynne, Party Leader, Kew College

Why do teachers rate these tours so highly?

• Professional French native animateurs will be speaking French with your group during the day, in the evenings and at mealtimes.
• Your French native tour manager will be with you the whole time.
• Students will enjoy activities such as canoeing, archery, fencing, bread making, assault course and climbing while they learn French at the same time.
• Educational structure, with each student provided a comprehensive workbook to reinforce their experience.
• Programmes that are especially designed for Primary, Middle, Secondary and Sixth Forms, and for every level of French, including complete beginner.
• Normandy specialists with 25 French staff on the ground.
• Unbeatable value for money.
• It works – even with complete beginners!

L’Histoire back to top

1990 - It was a rainy day in Cherbourg. The headteacher of Riverston School was checking out pupils on an exchange visit. As he wandered through the town he was surprised to come across two pupils, looking bored, bedraggled and more than a little dispirited.

They explained that their hosts were out at work, so they had been given sandwiches, shown a bus stop and sent into town, with instructions to return at supper time. The headteacher, Michael Lewis, was less than impressed. He resolved then and there that some better way should be found to introduce his young charges to the joys of France and speaking French.

He found it, Château de la Baudonnière, and lovingly set about the task of converting it into a spacious centre of excellence for learning. Surrounded by forest with its own lake and a river that runs through it, the result is just perfect. Groups of Riverston pupils still use it regularly but other school trips go there too!

La Philosophie back to top

The Château is all about French language immersion. Everything that is done at the Château involves using practical, spoken French to convey meaning, and the children are encouraged to speak French to get what they want. A friendly, French family environment supports this philosophy.

As one of our party leaders said; “The classroom situation is always artificial to some degree. Here my pupils know it’s for real. If they know that when they want something, they have to ask for it in French, they will do it!”

Pupils leave after our full week programme having had a great time in a fun, but educational tour environment. Their ability to speak and understand French will have improved substantially but more importantly pupils will have the confidence to use French and they will understand the practical benefits of learning and using the language. We hope this translates to having pupils who are both more able and more motivated back in the classroom on your return.

Les activités back to top

Below are details of activities and outdoor sessions available at the Château. They all provide a perfect situation for students to feel at ease using the French language, and include the learning/practice of verbs, actions, directions, instructions and vocabulary relevant to the immediate environment. They enjoy the activities so much they do not realise just how much they are learning.

As far as possible all sessions are conducted in French, unless otherwise requested and depending on the age and French level of the students. All safety points will also be covered in English when necessary. Most sessions are followed up with a French worksheet applicable to the students’ level. All safety equipment is supplied by the centre (e.g. helmets, harness) and sessions are run by our fully qualified and experienced staff.

Escalade

Climbing sessions take place on the Château’s own climbing wall and is suitable for students of any age. After issuing equipment and explaining the safety procedures, the students will climb various “routes” on the wall. They will use commands in French to each other and will learn French words for movements and parts of the body.

Exercices d’Initiative

On location in the Château forest, tasks are set for each group to encourage the students to work together. These team-building and problem-solving activities are challenging, fun and require good communication skills and a lot of team spirit.

Parcours de Santé

This very popular session is held on our purpose built assault course in the Château grounds. Explanations are done in French and pupils repeat action statements before being allowed to do each obstacle. Ideal for practising popular verbs and the use of prepositions. Usually rather wet and muddy, the students enjoy finishing off the session with a run against the clock and a dip in the river!

Canoë / Radeaux

The kayaking is held on our small lake at the Château. Simple instructions are done in French and the students will master various skills in a very safe and fun environment. Students should be confident in water, but do not need to be excellent swimmers. Raft building is a team building exercise, where the group has the task of making their own raft with some ropes, barrels and plenty of patience. Then it’s (often) ‘off we go, oops’, splash!!

Tir à L’Arc

Archery is conducted on the Château’s own archery range, where the pupils get the chance to be a Robin Hood. After the obligatory safety talk and explanation of the equipment, the students shoot the arrows onto targets, an excellent opportunity to practise French numbers (scores) and directions. All this followed by a balloon shooting competition!

Escrime

Fencing takes place at the Château in one of our purpose built fencing rooms and is an excellent opportunity for students of all ages to learn French in a safe and fun environment, as well as learning about the safety and the equipment. This activity also encourages the students to practise new phrases in French as well as enjoying the fencing itself.

Photogramme

This activity is designed to enhance the students’ knowledge of French whilst also enabling them to capture an image from their activity, be it a leaf or a flower or their very own design. Using our dark room we can develop the image onto paper for the students to take away with them.

Aéroballe

Aeroball is a fun, totally unique sport! The trampoline-basketball-volleyball game is suitable for all ages and is played by two teams of 2. Simple instructions are given in French and the students will have the chance to learn/practise the vocabulary for the body parts. It’s also a great opportunity to practise the numbers (scoring and counting down the end of the match). Aeroball is quickly becoming a favourite activity for students and teachers alike!

Fabrication du Pain

Suitable for all ages bread making is not just a case of making bread, it’s also a golden opportunity to practise your singing talents, as we sing French songs. Students will be guided from the very beginning with simple French instructions. From the measuring of the flour to the kneading of the bread, this activity will keep their enthusiasm going throughout. They will even get to taste the fruits of their hard work as their bread will be baked in time for the evening meal.

Cirque

Enables pupils to discover the art of Circus on an artistic as well as technical level. Students are introduced to juggling, diabolo and other tools in a fun and educational manner. The French spoken during this activity is very varied and is based on the practice of the different tools’ names (stick, balls, diabolo..), action verbs (to walk, to move..), directions (left, right, up, down..), colours (orange, red, green..), numbers (one, two, three..).

Course d’Orientation

The students will be taught map reading in French using orienteering games and courses in the Château grounds. As well as using French language for features, directions and map symbols the team orienteering challenges will involve other French language quizzes along with finding the control markers.

Découvrir la richesse de notre culture... back to top

Le Mont St Michel

Probably the most beautiful place in Normandy. Built in the 11th century, the Abbey is a feat of medieval architecture with outstanding and panoramic views over the bay – and its rooms are as impressive as its exterior. As a centre of Christian pilgrimage, the Abbey has been kept in good condition throughout its life. The nearby Maison de la Baie explains the history of Le Mont St Michel with an audiovisual tour.

The adventurous can approach by crossing on the tidal causeway, but wearing shorts is recommended! One of our expert French native guides will be keeping you on course, whilst noting the local flora and fauna, pointing out some of the many points of interest, and explaining about the famous salted sheep.

Local Markets

French markets are always lively and colourful. You will see all kinds of stalls, including fruits and vegetables of the season, fresh fish and sea food, and French livestock such as chickens and rabbits. You can join the bustle, buying all kinds of souvenirs from French fashion, jewellery and sunglasses, to the traditional Camembert or Normandy cider. You’ll certainly find the ‘hot produce’ stalls with their evocative smells of pancakes, saucisses grillées and more, are impossible to walk by without sampling!

St Malo

Our region is rich in towns where every stone is steeped in history, with medieval ramparts perched over picturesque valleys. One of the finest is St Malo, with its magnificent cathedral, Wax Museum and the Old Market Hall, shops with local crafts and open markets. It’s also home to a huge aquarium, where you can ride on a submarine or even touch living fish – a real hands on experience!

Goats Cheese Farm

Observe all the processes involved in the production of this unique product, watch the milk move from goat to dairy, from curd to cheese, culminating in a tasting session.

Dinan

Dinan is one of the most attractive medieval walled cities in France. The old town is full of half-timbered houses, churches, castles and cobbled streets overlooking the river Rance. Its fortifications made Dinan an almost impregnable fortress.

Granville

The old town with its narrow cobbled streets of houses built from local granite offers panoramic views towards the islands of Jersey and Guernsey to the north and Mont Saint-Michel to the south. Built on its own little peninsula, once the basis of the town's defences, Granville is compact and a fantastic shopping centre.

Arromanches / Landing Beaches

Arromanches is at the heart of the D-Day Landings. There are museums with vivid and emotive displays, including the famous 360° cinema with unreleased footage from war correspondents, filmed on D-Day. There is also the Musée du Débarquement in Arromanches Les Bains, built on the site of the Mulberry Harbour, with working models and film to explain this incredible technical feat.

Caen

Two Abbeys, a castle and a good range of shops. As well as the Caen Memorial which stimulates thought and debate about the future of the planet, presenting a wealth of material from the 20th century in an innovative way.

Local Beaches

If your group would like to unwind and have a little R&R there are many delightful sandy beaches, perfect for an impromptu picnic. One of our French native guides will be happy to organise beach games. Alternatively, your guide can take you on a beautiful coastal walk, and tell you about the wildlife, and the reasons for the rapid transformation of the coastline.

Bayeux

This visit takes you to the entrancing and ancient city of Bayeux, with its rich artistic and architectural heritage, including the magnificent medieval cathedral. You can also visit the Bayeux Tapestry, a unique 70m long document, made in the 11th century of woollen embroidery on linen cloth. The tapestry tells the epic story leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the defeat of King Harold by William the Conqueror.

Villedieu-Les-Poêles

15 minutes from the Château, groups can visit the town's Bell Foundry, Copper Workshop and Pewter Museum. It is rich in history and has a great morning market every Tuesday.

 

Visit www.the-chateau.com for more information

 

 

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