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Enrichment Week - Outdoor Challenge
Tuesday 19 July 2011
This year’s Outdoor Challenge was an enjoyable week and a great character building experience for both pupils and staff with lots of emphasis on building learning power.
The first two days were spent at school developing the leadership and team-working skills needed to survive in the environs of Coates. The expedition was planned during this time, tents and equipment were checked and a short reconnaissance was completed to familiarise ourselves with the terrain. “TEAM – Together, Everyone Achieves More” – to quote Mr Owen.
With rain forecast, we set off, arriving 4 hours later at GR 972009. Tents were pitched, food was purchased and the first meal prepared, consumed and cleared up. Then it rained, putting paid to plans for a bonfire, rounders and other outdoor pastimes. However, Mrs Ellison kept us all entertained with a game of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Time rushed on and before we knew it, it was time to get up again – at 0030 hrs. A night walk had to be completed to search for clues needed on the following day. So 25 bleary eyed pupils, some still in pyjamas, spent the next hour stumbling about in the woods in the dark looking for glowing yellow plastic containers. It rained.
Day four dawned and after a satisfying breakfast - dry coco-pops for team 2 - the three groups got started. This was another challenging day and it rained – not continuously but in short sharp deluges. Everyone got soaked and despite blisters and lack of sleep, all tasks were completed and the highly sensitive nuclear devices were retrieved and brought safely back to base camp.
Day five consisted of the teams breaking camp, then transporting the nuclear detonators along the Thames footpath to the water park. On arrival a BBQ had been prepared and after a nourishing meal, pupils were kitted out and strapped up in preparation for the death defying climbing activities provided by Head 4 Heights. Once it rained and everyone got very, very wet.
One parent commented “Our son came home totally soaked to the skin and full of tales of hardship... then said how fantastic it was and that he'd do it again! He was so wet that we had to put a heater in the van to dry the seats out even though they have vinyl seat covers!”
by Stuart Green
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