With a skip in their step, Year 4 pupils embarked on their first residential trip last week. They were excited for the adventures which lay ahead at Hindleap Warren.
On arrival, the children tackled their first challenge of making their beds in the dormitories. Teamwork skills were immediately required, as they collaborated to grapple with duvet covers and set up bunk beds.
Our pupils experienced rope and boulder climbing, working together to achieve goals within team building activities, and navigating obstacle courses. The weather was not the best, but the children fully embraced the wet and muddy conditions, throwing themselves wholeheartedly into all endeavours.
The sun finally came out for the evening woodland walk and the pupils enjoyed learning the game of ‘Hindleap and Seek’. They showed tremendous skills in camouflaging and hiding themselves behind trees and logs to avoid being spotted by the stationary seeker. Before bedtime, the children enjoyed a cup of cocoa and a cookie as they relaxed with a bedtime story. Exhausted from the fun-filled day, they all went to sleep with relative ease.
A gentler approach was taken the following day, with a morning walk when a family of deer were spotted. After breakfast, the children explored the sights and scents of the forest, creating pungent potions and natural artwork, using resources foraged from the woodland floor. After a hearty lunch the pupils left Hindleap Warren, feeling proud of their accomplishments. They returned to school tired but content and bursting with exciting tales to tell.
“ We were impressed by the children’s resilience and ‘can do’ attitude throughout the trip ” Hattie Thompson and Kate O’Neill, Teachers of Year 4