April 2010
More than 200 young people will be descending on Yorkshire
Water's Thruscross Reservoir near Harrogate next month for a day of
adventure organised by the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority
(YDNPA) in partnership with the Nidderdale Area of Outstanding
Natural Beauty.
They will be trying their hand at a range of outdoor
activities including sailing, orienteering and rock climbing.
The event on May 8 is being organised by Go Dales!, a project
run by the YDNPA to encourage under 25-year-olds to take up active
pursuits in the countryside.
And the project's major event of the season has now been
granted the Inspire Mark the badge of the London 2012 Inspire
Programme, which recognises innovative and exceptional projects
that are directly inspired by the 2012 Olympic and Paralympic
Games.
Seb Coe, Chair of the London Organising Committee of the
Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, said: "The Go Dales! Adventure
Day is encouraging young adults to fulfil their potential. I am
proud that, with the help of partners such as the Yorkshire Dales
National Park Authority, we are delivering on our vision to use the
power of the Olympic Games and Paralympic Games to boost
participation in active outdoor recreation in the
countryside."
Go Dales! Project Officer Kath Needham said: "The Adventure
Day is completely free and is aimed at 14 to 25 year olds who want
to have a go at some of the activities the project offers.
"And, if they live within an hours drive from Grassington,
there may be an opportunity to attend further funded sessions to
continue developing their skills.
"We would like to say a big thank you to Yorkshire Water who
have given us permission to use the site and also to North
Yorkshire Sport and Canoe England for helping to organise
it."
The event, which also forms part of Canoe England's 'Go
Paddling' programme, will run from 10am until 4pm at the reservoir,
which is east of Harrogate and taster sessions will include
canoeing, sailingorienteering, and cycling. There will also be an
information hub to help people find clubs, societies and facilities
in the project area to help them continue with the
activities.
Go Dales! is supported by Sport England through National
Lottery funding and aims to introduce primarily, 16 to 25-year-olds
from the Keighley, Bradford, Craven, Richmondshire and Sedbergh
areas to the National Park and to the huge range of adventurous
sports it offers. It then tries to act as a link between the young
people and clubs and organisations specialising in their chosen
activity.