Day 1
A fantastic first day is coming to an end here at Colomendy and our Year 4s are smiling as they walk back down to the site after their night hike. The staff here at the Kingswood site engage with the children so well, and it didn’t take long to be out and about exploring all the fabulous activities on offer. One group of children climbed up into the forest area to enjoy an afternoon on the obstacle course which was then followed by some den building. Teamwork remains at the heart of all of these activities and we hope that some of the uploaded photos give a taste of what has been required. At the very bottom of this beautiful campus, the remaining children had a full afternoon of raft building. Some heavy lifting and intricate problem solving was needed to get the rafts onto the water, and a great deal of courage and bravery was required to step into the chilly lake itself, infested with toads according to some. The ducks very sensibly removed themselves before the children intruded! Our activity leaders played some fun games with the children on the water, and the session ended with the opportunity for a full dip for those that wanted it! By 6.00pm, the children were looking forward to their dinner and there was lots on offer in the canteen. After dinner, there was the chance for some free play before our leaders played some fun games in the evening sunshine. We hope that some photos of today’s action have been uploaded, but unfortunately the internet strength is limited here. More photos will be made available once we are back at school.
Day 2
The children awoke to a beautiful sunny morning on Day 2 here at Colomendy. A hearty breakfast was enjoyed by all and the children were raring to go for a full day of action packed activity. The Kingswood staff all descended ‘en masse’ in their distinguishable green team uniform and got the children buzzing with excitement before sending groups to different locations across the site. Throughout the morning sessions, groups got to experience the Obstacle Course, Nightline, The Zip Wire and Orienteering. If you check out the school Twitter feed, you will see video footage of the adrenalin fuelled Zip Wire, which was a particular highlight for some, including the wonderful Miss Crook. Our instructors were particularly impressed with the orienteering skills of The Blue Coat School pupils, and the speed at which they raced around the course. Walking back down to lunch, it was lovely to hear such positive comments about the challenges of the Obstacle Course, but even nicer to hear three pupils talk with such appreciation of the excellent Forest School areas that have been developed at BCS by Mr Isherwood and Mrs Walker. The food appears to have been very well received by the children on this trip, and lunch was welcomed by all. The afternoon involved some shelter building in the forest, and the competitive side of the children certainly came out in their efforts to build the sturdiest den – it was great fun! A new activity that has been introduced into the programme this year was caving. The company has cut out a very clever caving system into the surrounding limestone, and all of the skills that the children have been developing were certainly put to the test in this fun and challenging teambuilding task. After dinner, the much anticipated campfire was lit, and our activity leaders led us in song as the sun began to set. This time together gave the children the opportunity to share their favourite jokes, and sing Happy Birthday to one of their friends – it was a great way to end a super day!
Day 3
The children impressed us this morning in the way they helped to clean and tidy their rooms, as we prepared for departure from Colomendy. After a trip to the Laundry, stomachs were filled with full English breakfasts, cereals, toast and fruit. It was then straight into action as one group headed down the valley for a session of raft building, while the other groups ascended into the woodland for a host of other exciting activities. As this final blog is being written, those who have been on the water can be seen walking briskly back up to camp with their paddles in hand. They can also be heard, as another rendition of ‘Everywhere we go …’ resonates across the camp. A final trip to the Dining Room shortly before our coaches arrive for the journey home. We hope it has been a memorable time for the children, and they must be highly commended for their efforts and positive approach … Well done, Year 4!
