Lakes Trip 2008

Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday

Monday

It was a first for those of us that have been on the Lakes trip before – the busses not only arrived on time but left on time also! After a smooth start, we reached our first stop – Grizedale Forrest at 12.30 where we sat in the glorious sunshine and ate a leisurely picnic before embarking on the first of our team building activities of the week.

Shelter building using materials found on the forest floor was an excellent opportunity to get our hands dirty. Teams scavenged for wood, moss and leaf litter and competed for the prime building spots. After three quarters of an hour of hard work, the teams proudly displayed their efforts. Despite the children’s enthusiasm for getting wet, the shelters were not subjected to a downpour to test their waterproofing abilities.

The blind trail provided opportunities to develop communication skills; small teams, blindfolded, following a rope through the forest encountering obstacles along the way, such as, wobbly bridges, spiders webs and even underground tunnels. The teams excelled; everyone having a truly enjoyable time.

From Grizedale, it was a short drive to the YMCA Lakeside centre; our home for the rest of the week. The kids spent half an hour making their tents homely and settling in before a rather well deserved evening meal. Spirits were high and everyone was thrilled with the high quality tented accommodation and excellent weather. We spent our evening exploring the site, playing a few games of footy and rounders, with some adventurous souls even trying their hands at the art of juggling.

As the sun set, pupils settled into their tents in anticipation of an early start and an exciting day ahead of them tomorrow.

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Tuesday

No rest for the wicked! Our eager children kindly woke staff up at 5 a.m. on Tuesday morning. Some attempted to get back to sleep whilst others took advantage of the morning sunshine to enjoy the breathtaking beauty of Windermere at dawn.

After a hearty breakfast our activities began. Each of our four groups follow an individual program for the week starting at nine, breaking for lunch at twelve and tea at five and ending at eight each evening. Over the week the groups will each undertake:

Group and individual canoe sessions.
Obstacle and ropes courses.
Initiative and team building activities.
Zip line and king swing.
Climbing and abseiling.
And not forgetting the all important raft race.

Each day in this blog we’ll focus on some of the activities undertaken.

Runway – After a climb through the woodland to the launching platform pupils are faced by the 100 foot steel cable zip line, suspended over the treetops and the challenge of launching themselves into the air.

Screams of excitement filled the air as the fun began. Safety always comes first at Lakeside and the kids had the opportunity, under the watchful eyes of supervising staff, to be responsible for ensuring their team mates were safely secured in their harnesses, clearing the runway and landing area and hoisting equipment up to the instructors in the treetops.

All the children thoroughly enjoyed themselves. Some bravely facing their fears and other hurling themselves into the sky with obvious delight.

Rock climbing – The numerous acres that make up the Lakeside site are blessed by some excellent crags, perfect for learning the art of climbing and abseiling. After a hike through the lush forest groups settled down for a three hour session in which everyone is encouraged to have a go, climb as high as they feel comfortable doing and physically challenge themselves. Even some adventurous staff braved the crags, proving they are not only game for a laugh but that anything the kids can do they can do too!

Once again the pupils were fully trained in safety procedures by the dedicated Lakeside staff and were given the opportunity to take responsibility for belaying their fellow climbers. Three hours flew by with everyone getting the opportunity to climb two routes of differing inclines and difficulty level and the chance to abseil down a vertical rock face.

The weather was stunning and a fun time was had by all. An evening shower didn’t dampen our sprits and the children, worn out from their day retired early to bed, unlikely to rise at five a.m. on Wednesday!

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Wednesday

Canoeing

A visit to Lakeside wouldn’t be complete without a session or two on the water. The teams had the opportunity to learn the skills of the paddle as a whole group in the team canoe and in pairs in the smaller canoes. Helmets and buoyancy aids firmly in place the kids took to the water like ducks (stones in some cases!) We played games, got wet and had a thoroughly fun time.

Blue tubes

A new activity for us and one based solely around having fun. Blue tubes need little description. Basically tubes (blue in hue!) up and down the hillside, water and fairy liquid, some wet children and echoing laughter.

Obstacles

Two separate courses were set to challenge the children. Low ropes is a course made of rope obstacles set low to the ground. Children work in pairs, one traversing the course, the other spotting (helping and making sure their partner doesn’t fall and hurt themselves). Fall off and its back to the start! The larger course was a team effort, instructors presenting a range of different challenges, such as carrying a bucket full of water over the length of the course or making sure each team member had hold of a length of rope at all times. The route took us over rope bridges, walls, rocks and swings, ending with the rather impressive shoe eating swamp of eternal stench!

King swing

Simple and effective and generally one of the most exciting activities. The king swing is basically a very big swing between two large trees. The children were harnessed in, clipped on and hoisted up by their team mates as high as they dared go (nearly all opting for maximum elevation!) Much screaming and cheering as the kids released themselves into freefall. Everyone wanted more turn on this one but there were just too many great activities still ahead of us.

Wednesday was a day of mixed weather from bright sunshine to brief showers. Spirits were high and practice began in earnest for our end of week talent show.

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Thursday

Thursday started with fine weather and some very sleepy faces. A big breakfast set us up for our last action packed day.

Initiative exercises – teams working together to solve a range of exciting, interesting and challenging problems was the focus for this activity. Too many to mention in this blog the highlights of the activities were:

Moonwalk – A problem involving milk crates and a low gravity surface. Feet or hands must stay in contact with the crates at all times or they floated away! The team had to cross safely to the other side without touching the floor or the obstacles in their path.

Spiders web – A giant spider spun its web in our path! The whole team had to pass through the web without touching the sides and attracting the attention of the spider. An added problem being that only one person may pass through at a time and each member of the team must go through a different hole in the web! Luckily no-one was eaten!

Rocket to the moon – Teams designed rockets and competed against each other for height and distance. The photograph below really captures the spirit of the moment.

Raft race – An absolute highlight of the week. Using only the simplest materials the teams had to design, build and paddle their rafts out into the lake. The spirit of competition took over and this years races were some of the best yet!

Team Wood competed against team Watling in the first heat. In a friendly race the two teams competed by paddling out a distance, round and buoy and returning to the shore to win. Both teams demonstrating excellent teamwork and determination, making theirs an exciting race, won Valiantly by the Watlings.

The second race was a wholly different affair. This time the teams had to paddle out and rescue their team leader, stranded in a rowing boat out in open water. This race was a grudge match, a year in the making. Team Hulbert (winner of last year’s race) took on team Palmer. With unfounded accusations of cheating last year, Palmer’s team had everything to prove and didn’t let their teacher down! With rowing almost as impressive as the Oxford Cambridge boat race, team Palmer left the Hulberts floundering far behind them, rescuing their teacher in record time after a drowning attempt made by their opponents. With victory in their sight the Palmer team ploughed back past the floundering Hulberts, who seamed more interested in showering team Palmer with spray than rescuing their teacher (who was by now in the water and swimming towards his raft,  a good 25 metres away!) More cheating ensued as Palmers opponents attempted to destroy the winning raft by untying ropes! Nothing could stop the Palmers as they lifted their raft from the lake and onto the shore. Meanwhile team Hulbert had turned on each other, refusing to let their waterlogged teacher on board! After a rest, a cup of tea and a snooze Palmers team returned to the lake as the Hulberts dragged their sorry drenched raft to land, assisted by the victors (who were greeted by shouts of “we weren’t in it to win” and “It’s the taking part that counts” (and other such phrases often uttered by losers!)).

EDIT: As the more observant reader may have noticed to above work of fiction was conjured by Mr Palmer. For a truly accurate account of events read on. – J. Hulbert

Team Hulbert had trained long and hard for the upcoming raft race and the smell of victory was in the air. A gentle breeze rippled the surface of the lake as they faced their opponents. The Palmers have a long history of cheating and deception but the Hulberts were determined to rise above such petty ways. From the start they were hampered, as team Palmer stole Hulberts premier raft design but in the spirit friendly contest no complains were uttered. Once on the water the battle commenced! Both teams surged forward towards their stranded teachers. Team Hulbert, paddled straight and true whilst the Palmers drifted wildly off course. Victory was in the grasp of the Hulberts until fate (and Mr Palmers paddle) intervened. Sensing imminent defeat Mr Palmer moved the boat containing both teachers into the path of his raft and the tables were turned. Team Hulbert battled valiantly on, however, Mr Palmer was rescued first (It is alleged that Mr Hulbert pushed Mr Palmer off the rescue boat but there is no evidence to support this accusation.) followed swiftly by the rescue of Mr Hulbert. By this time it was clear that the cheating Palmers would win but karma dealt them a savage blow as poor raft construction led to the collapse of their raft close to shore. Team Hulbert closed the gap but sadly too late to make a difference, As the Huberts approached the shore they offered congratulations and in reply team Palmer dived in to the lake and destroyed the Hulbert raft. A good battle dubiously won!

EDIT: And if you are gullible enough to believe such tripe remember the old adage – history is written by the victors – T.Palmer

Talent show

The end of our week in the Lakes is always fun and despite a rather impressive thunder storm earlier in the day, we were blessed with sunshine for our camp fire, sing song and talent show. Throughout the week the children, working in groups had to prepare entertainment for the whole party. As always the show was a rowdy affair with singing, dancing, jokes, impressions and a whole heap of fun. Highlights involved, a well written version of the “Crazy Moose” song about the teaching staff!, an excellent rendition of a Catherine Tate sketch, an amusing song about horoscopes, a truly excellent and highly amusing poem written and performed by Wood and Watling. The real highlight of the show was the astounding and truly unbelievable mind reading talents of Hulbert and Palmer (have you figured out who’s writing this blog yet?).

What amazing fun packed week we had. We don’t really want to leave but we’re all looking forward to getting home, jumping into a hot bath and seeing our loved ones. This year’s Lakes Trip has been one of the best yet. Behavior was impeccable and the children have proved once again to be a real credit to the school. We made new friends, got to know each other better, learned how to work together as a team and above all had the most fun imaginable. Memories like these will last a lifetime!

One day left – Reghed tomorrow for a relaxing end to an action packed week then home sweet home.