We are all having an awesome time in Howtown. WiFi is very intermittent but we keep trying!
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Dalton's first activity of the morning was 'Ghyll Scrambling'. After kitting out in waterproofs, helmets and wellies, they headed off in the mini bus to a nearby gill to ascend from the valley floor. There wasn't too much water in the stream, but everyone still managed to get soaking wet - there were plenty of water filled wellies. After lunch it was time for rock climbing. The views were spectacular and the sun was finally shining. Everyone was given safety instructions and it was fantastic to see and hear the children supporting each other. Even Mrs Hall and Miss Wootton managed to scale the heights! The children finally settled at about half 11 - not bad for the first night! Sam and Mel (who was from Tanfield), woke the children at 7am to get dressed and head for breakfast. After a full English breakfast, it was time for room inspection. One group of boys managed 9.5 out of 10 - a brilliant score for the first inspection. Another group managed 2 out of 10 - oops!! Are their bedrooms as bad at home? Arkless headed out for rock climbing at a nearby quarry. The children were brilliant. Despite the challenging climb, everyone had a go at tackling the cragg. There was plenty of encouragement for those who found it a little daunting. After lunch, we headed off to the woods for games, bushcraft and bread making. The children had a couple of superb games of hide and seek - no iPads, tablets, Xboxes - just children playing in the woods. Can you see where we hid?
After a few games of hide and seek, Jana taught us how to make bread. We collected sticks to make a fire and then mixed flour, chocolate chips and water into dough. It was messy. Finally we moulded the dough onto stcks to cook over the fire. It tasted....interesting!
Once the children were organised into groups, Arkless donned their tunneling suits and ventured into the underground tunnel system. We were so proud at how the children supported each other in both words and actions. Fears were definitely conquered today!
It may have been cold but we had no fear - most of us!!!
After a filling tea, both groups embarked on their jog and dip. The jog lasted about 100 metres (less for the staff!), before it became a stroll and dip. The children took in the spectacular scenery surrounding the centre, as they walked for about a mile, before ending up at the lake. Once on the shore of Lake Ullswater, the children sampled their first experience of the icy cold waters. They were given their safety instructions, before finally taking the plunge - the children were far braver than the staff, with Nicola and Georgia actually managing to swim. It was very refreshing and everyone had fun - even if it was freezing! After a long journey, through pointless roadworks and a two mile traffic jam on the A66, we finally arrived at Howtown. It was a long drive, but everyone was ready (ish) for the challenges that lay ahead. The children were given a tour of the site and shown their bedrooms for the next week. Everyone unpacked (for some this meant spreading the contents of their suitcases over the floor) before having lunch. The children were split into two groups - Dalton and Arkless - named after famous mountaineers and explorers. Arkless Group Dalton Group
The groups worked with their instructors, Bruce and Jana, to talk about their aims and aspirations for the week. The children thought about PRIDE - Perseverance, Respect, Independence, Decision Making and Encouragement - key skills to have a successful week. Hope everyone is enjoying packing. Here is the kit list in case you have mislaid it and want to double check! |
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AuthorMiss Shield is working with Mrs Coy and Mrs Hall and Year 6. We can't wait to begin sharing more of our work with the world! Maths Boot Camp has links to lots of great revision and practice websites.
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