Caving is one of the activities on offer
Youngsters living in and around a national park have the chance to take part in the final session of an outdoor activities scheme that is closing in the face of budget cuts.
The Go Dales! project has run for three years but is being wound up by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority.
It was funded by the authority and Sport England to encourage young people to take up active pursuits in the national park.
The final session is open to young people between the ages of 14 and 25 who live within or around the northern half of the Yorkshire Dales national park.
The activities will be based at Low Mill Outdoor Centre in Askrigg in Wensleydale and participants will be able to go underground to explore under the Dales, to test their balance in open canoes on Semer Water, to try out their high-rope skills on the site or to go gill scrambling in the area.
In addition, Dales Mountain Biking will be offering cycling sessions in Wensleydale.
Go Dales! project officer Kath Needham said: “We staged a similar adventure day last year and everyone had a great time, and left with smiles on their faces.
“Over the last three years we have been offering groups of people free courses introducing them to an activity; then signposting them to places where they could continue the activity, such as outdoor clubs or facilities within the park.
“In this way we hope that they may return independently to the national park in the future.”
Malcolm Petyt, the YDNPA’s member champion for recreation management, said: “The Go Dales! project has been a huge success and has enabled hundreds of young people to try taster sessions in exciting sports they may otherwise never have had the chance to experience.
“At the same time, they have been able to enjoy the landscape of this beautiful national park and to find out for themselves just what makes it such a special place.”
Both the Go Dales! website and the Welcome to Yorkshire site will continue to provide information on outdoor activities.
The Go Dales! scheme was a victim of cuts forced on the national park after the coalition Government slashed its budget by 31 per cent. Bus services and guided walks are also being cut, and the authority is proposing 18 job losses.
Open access work under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act will be pared to cover just the legal minimum obligations of the authority; there will be no further improvement of the rights-of-way network in the national park and review of the definitive maps of the area will be handed to county councils.
Anyone wanting information about booking a place on the 2 May adventure day should contact the organisers or call Corinne on 01969 652395. Bookings will be taken until 21 April.
