UCPA Background
UNION DES CENTRES SPORTIFS DE PLEIN AIR The Union Nationale des Centres Sportifs de Plein Air (UCPA) is a union of youth associations, including the National Olympic Committee, sport federations and representatives of the French Government, such as the Ministry of Youth and Sports, which co-manages the UCPA.
Zoom UCPA highlights 1965 : the UCPA association (Union des Centres de Plein Air) was founded by Maurice Herzog (the first man to climb the Annapurna and Minister of Youth and Sports from 1958 to 1963) by merging the UNCM (Union des Centres de Montagne) and the UNF (Union Nautique Française). 1969 : launch of the UCPA short ski method of teaching ("methode évolutive"), adapted by the French National Ski and Climbing School (ENSA) which trains qualified skiers. The first UCPA centre in Tunisia. 1972 : the new UCPA outdoor leisure centre was founded in Bois le Roi near Fontainebleau. 1976 : UCPA was registered as a Training organisation and received Government approval. 1980 : the first monoski was tested in a UCPA centre. 1980 : the first snowboard test in France in a UCPA centre. The creation of the first UCPA golf centre. 1984 : launch of a new horseriding teaching method ("Sur Selle"). 1987 : opening of a new UCPA Centre in the French Caribbean. 1993 : opening of the Villeneuve la Garenne diving centre (near Paris), the deepest diving pool in Europe and the first Junior Centre. 1996 : the first Kite Surfing test in France, in Hourtin. 1997 : launch of Mobile Sport Equipment (ESM) to take sport to young people. 2005 : 40th anniversary of the UCPA
PROJECT AND MISSION
UCPA is a non-profit making French organisation (in accordance with the French Act of 1901) which specialises in outdoor activity holidays for young people aged 7 to 17 and 18 to 39 years old. In October 2005, UCPA celebrated its 40th anniversary.
Our philosophy (the "UCPA PROJECT") is simple and honest: "to provide an opportunity for young people to experience the outdoors through sport ".
UCPA has over 90 centres and more than 40 different activities to choose from. It is not surprising that over a quarter of a million people take a holiday with UCPA each year. Its reputation for value-for-money is unparalleled. The centres are located throughout France and the French territories e.g. Guadeloupe, Martinique, Corsica.
UCPA values
Accessibility We give people greater access to sport in a number of ways:
Education We support Education Projects that lead to greater autonomy and responsibility among young people through sport.
Quality We are tuned in to young peoples' expectations and we adapt our methods to meet their needs, mentality and lifestyles.
Dynamism We aim to innovate, meet young people's social needs and diversify our activities.
Openning out We aim to foster the socio-professional development of UCPA personnel. We attach great importance to training, progress and redeployment opportunities.
Environment In 1997, UCPA published an ENVIRONMENT CHARTER in which we declared our intention to protect the environment (available in French at www.ucpa.com).
UCPA members
MEMBERS UCPA is an unusual union of youth associations, sport federations and government bodies that guide the association and take part in its management, in accordance with its philosophy as governed by The UCPA PROJECT
GOVERNMENT BODIES - Ministère de la Jeunesse et des Sports(Inspection Générale, Direction des Sports, Direction de la Jeunesse et de l'Education Populaire, Direction du Personnel et de l'Administration) - Ministère de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche - Ministère de l'Environnement et de l'Aménagement du Territoire - Ministère de l'Intérieur - Secrétaire d'Etat au Tourisme - Direction du Tourisme - Délégation Interministérielle à la Ville (D.I.V) - Collectivités Territoriales (locales, départementales, régionales) - Caisse des dépôts et Consignations
SPORT FEDERATIONS - C.N.O.S.F (Comité National Olympique Sportif Français) - F.F.C.K (Fédération Française de Canoë-Kayak) - F.F.C.T (Fédération Française de Cyclotourisme) - F.F.E (Fédération Française d'Equitation) - F.F.E.S.S.M (Fédération Française d'Etudes et de Sports Sous-Marins) - F.F.G (Fédération Française de Golf) - F.F.M.E (Fédération Française de la Montagne et de l'Escalade) - F.F.S (Fédération Française de Ski) - F.F.T (Fédération Française de Tennis) - F.F.V (Fédération Française de Voile) - F.F.S.A (Fédération Française des Sociétés d'Aviron) - F.F.V.V (Fédération Française de Vol à Voile)
YOUTH ASSOCIATIONS - A.T.C (Association Touristique des Cheminots) - C.E.M.E.A (Centres d'Entraînement aux Méthodes d'Education Active) - C.S.F (Centre Subaquatique Français) - E.E.D.F (Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs de France) - E.E.U.F (Eclaireuses et Eclaireurs Unionistes de France) - E.I.F (Eclaireurs Israélites de France) - F.A.G.E (Fédération des Associations Générales Etudiantes) - Fédération des Clubs Alpins Français - F.F.C.C (Fédération Française de Camping et de Caravaning) - F.U.A.J (Fédération Unie des Auberges de Jeunesse) - F.N.F (Fédération Nationale des Francas) - F.F.M.J.C (Fédération Française des Maisons des Jeunes et de la Culture) - F.S.C.F (Fédération Sportive et Culturelle de France) - F.S.G.T (Fédération Sportive & Gymnique du Travail) - F.J.S.F.O (Fédération des Jeunesses Syndicalistes F.O) - F.N.L.L (Fédération Nationale Léo Lagrange) - F.O.E.V.E.N (Fédération des Œuvres Educatives et de Vacances de l'Education Nationale) - F.P.E.E.P (Fédération des Parents d'Elèves et de l'Enseignement Public) - G.U.M.S (Groupe Universitaires de Montagne et de Ski) - Les GLENANS - L.F.A.J (Ligue Française pour les Auberges de Jeunesse) - S.T.A.J (Service Technique pour les Activités de Jeunesse) - U.F.C.V (Union Française des Centres de Vacances) - U.N.E.F (union Nationale des Etudiants de France) - G.C.U.F (Groupement des Campeurs Universitaires de France) - G.D.F (Guide France) - L.F.J (Loisirs de France Jeunes) - S.D.F (Scouts de France) - T.T (Tourisme et Travail -ANCAV) - U.F.J.T (Union nationale des Foyers de Jeunes Travailleurs) - U.S.F.E.N.-F.P (Union Sportive de la Fédération de l'Education Nationale - Fonction Publique) - U.T.A.N (Union Touristique les Amis de la Nature)