About us

80 years enabling people to access the outdoors and the environment

SOEC is a charity and social enterprise and has spent over 80 years enabling people to access the outdoors and the environment in a safe and sustainable way. To this end we offer a broad range of programmes and activities, all designed to be relevant, exciting and challenging.

Every year we welcome thousands of  young people to our Centres. Visitors are mainly from schools and youth groups, but we also welcome many other groups, each with its own specific outcomes, whether outdoor learning, study, music, art or sports, or simply to use our Centres as a venue for a large event or gathering.

We are guided by the principles that outdoor learning should be fun, and that learning about ourselves and our place in the world is a natural outcome of our programmes.

How it all started

In the closing years of the great depression of the 1930s, the government was concerned about the health of children living in inner city areas. In 1939 it passed the Camps Act, which provided funding for the construction of 25 Residential Outdoor Education Centres in England and Wales, and a further 5 Centres in Scotland.

With the onset of war in the 1940s they remained in government control and used for evacuees. In January 1947 they were finally handed over for the educational purposes originally intended, and the Secretary of State for Scotland established the Scottish National Camps Association Limited and for 40 years, SNCA operated as a “Non-Departmental Public Body”, with a Chairman appointed by the Secretary of State for Scotland.

Current Status

In 1987, we changed our name and became an “Approved Voluntary Body, recognised for grant aid purposes” and continue to be constituted as a Company, limited by guarantee and enjoying full charitable status.

In 2012 the charity set up a wholly owned trading company, Scottish Outdoor Education Centres Limited, to run all business activities. All SOEC Ltd activities are monitored and managed by the charity’s board.

SOEC Today

We have created immersive outdoor experiences for over 80 years with over 1 million young people benefitting from these experiences. We use the outdoors as a place where young people can develop education, health, skills, well-being, and mental health.

1939 – The Camps Act – requires construction of Outdoor Centres of a “permanent character”

1940 – Belmont, Broomlee and Dounans open.  Dundee Courier reports on pupils engaged in outdoor education

1947 – Scottish National Camps Association established as a Non-Departmental Public Body

1987 – Government changes SNCA to a charity and Scottish Environmental and Outdoor Education Centres Association Limited is created

2011 – Consultants determine SOECs ‘Return on Investment Ratio’ to be £1 : £11

2012 – SOEC /HMIe collaboration developing shared outcomes and evaluation with schools

2016 – SOEC pilots an innovative Transition to Work for young people with autistic spectrum diagnoses

SOEC – our future

2022 – SOEC for future generations

 

“Thank you for our excellent stay at Broomlee. Our favourite activity was the tree climb because once you’d met your goal you felt a sense of achievement and it was really exhilarating to climb up”

Katie and Emily (Primary School cluster from Stewarton)

Join the Team
Come and work with us

SOEC is an exciting and rewarding place to develop your career whether as an outdoor tutor or part of the Centre team. If you are interested in joining our staff then please review the vacancies listed.

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About us
Tackling the threats of global warming head on.

Residential outdoor learning tackles head on many of the threats of a rapidly changing world and creates opportunities and solutions. OECs are needed now more than any time since 1939. Find out more about our programmes or learn more about our centres. If you’d like to get in touch about a booking follow the link below.

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