Wonderful Wilderness Experience
Day 1
This week Year 4 went on a special Wilderness Adventure. For the first time the pupils enjoyed a three day mini-residential in the Forest of Dean. Following a safety briefing we all had to head up to our rooms and make our beds. Firstly, we put our pillow cases on and helped each other with our bed sheets. After this we laid out our sleeping bags and unpacked. Next, we headed down to the classroom to go through the aims of our stay. We all wanted to work well as teams, improve our listening skills, learn new skills, have fun and enjoy ourselves.
After eating our packed lunch and enjoying the view down the Severn estuary we started our afternoon activities. Firstly, we took on the problem solving challenge which included the gutter challenge, blindfold trail and many other exciting challenges. Afterwards we explored the grounds in small groups in orienteering: We had to hunt for clues all around the beautiful site. We were soon worn out and looking forward to tea time!
We had chicken, chips and peas for tea and enjoyed some chill time after in the common room. In the room next door was a pool table, table football, chess and a variety of board games. A little later on we headed back to our rooms for our coats and torches ready for the night walk. On the walk our leaders told us about the famous Forest of Dean drop bears and we had to walk for part of the walk with protective antlers on our heads! Back at the house we brushed our teeth and headed off to bed.
Day 2
After a tasty breakfast we had to all head back to our rooms for dorm inspection. We had to tidy our rooms, put our clothes into neat piles and make our beds... well put our sleeping bags neatly on the bed. Next we enjoyed an action-packed morning of activities. Some headed off for bushcraft which included shelter building, fire lighting and marshmallow eating. Another group enjoyed crate stacking while the final group headed over to the archery range. We all met back together for lunch together and some quick games before we had a full afternoon of activities which included the indoor climbing wall and our first experience of tunnelling!
Each activity encouraged us to work in a pair or small group; we all needed to support the others by encouraging them and occasionally helping them to overcome a fear such as heights or darkness.
After tea we had a quick talent show in the Common Room and headed into the classroom for our evening activity, the Egg Drop Challenge. We were given £100 egg drop pounds to buy resources to help transport an egg from the top of the stairs. Excitedly, we all waited as our instructors dropped each egg. One parachute transported the egg to the ground safely and we all cheered.
After, some of us enjoyed a story with Miss Thomas and Miss Coldrick whilst a few of us had a game of Top Trumps with Mr Dean. We were all very tired after a full day of activities and headed off to bed.
Day 3
We had to bring our bags downstairs before breakfast as we would be leaving soon after lunch. Before that though we had our final room inspection, breakfast and we made our lunch. One group headed off for the bushcraft challenge whilst the other groups had a session of climbing and tunnelling. We loved the activities and didn't want them to end.
After lunch we all joined together in the classroom to review the wall of excellence and our aims from the start of our visit. It was great to see so many names on the whiteboard and hearing why pupils had nominated their fellow classmates. Finally, we said thank you to our instructors, carried our bags to the coach and sadly waved goodbye to the Wilderness Centre.
Thank you to Mrs Organ and Mrs Carter our teaching assistants for helping us during the day, Miss Thomas, Miss Coldrick and Mr Dean and our Wilderness instructors.
