Outdoor pursuits have a strong tradition at Marlborough. The Outdoor Activities Department has its own dedicated building, the Kempson Centre, boasting its own indoor climbing wall and named after Mr G Kempson, a former school master at the College and member of two early expeditions to Mount Everest (1935 and 1936).
The department offers a broad range of activities. These are designed to be fun and challenging and offer something for everyone - from beginner to expert.
In their first year at the College, pupils have the chance to try out a wide range of outdoor activities including sub aqua diving, rock climbing, mountain biking and canoeing.
In their first Summer Term, the whole Shell yeargroup spends a week in the Brecon Beacons. Pupils are placed in their boarding house groups and follow a programme of exciting activities, the emphasis being on the skills needed to be an efficient and successful member of a team. The week includes an overnight expedition in the mountains which can count towards the bronze Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
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Once in the Remove and above, pupils can opt for various outdoor activities pursued in the afternoons as games’ options. There are also evening clubs for those wishing to polish their skills at climbing, canoeing or lifesaving and regular weekend expeditions to such venues as the Wye Valley, the Brecon Beacons and Snowdonia National Park.
In addition, the department organises an on-going programme of weekend activity trips which might, for example, be arranged for a particular year group within a boarding house. There are camping trips, water sports’ days, dry slope skiing trips, and caving and gorge walking adventure days.
Throughout, pupils are encouraged to build on their skills of teamwork, self-reliance and leadership. Older pupils are often placed in positions of leadership responsibility.
The College is a firm supporter of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award scheme. Recent groups have completed their expeditions on foot, mountain bike and horseback and as far a-field as Morocco, Poland, China and Iceland.
In the Remove (Year 10) pupils are trained for their Bronze Expedition, starting with a week's training in North Wales and finishing with an expedition in the New Forest.
After GCSE, pupils are free to undertake their Gold Award.