Activity report:
English Lessons
The children had English lessons every day with specialist EFL teachers, Rebecca and John. They learned the vocabulary for all the activities they would be doing during the week, listened to stories and prepared a show for the last day. Lessons were in the beautiful old Caythorpe Court building.
Rifle Shooting
We all wore safety goggles and had to listen carefully to the safety instructions. We found out how to load and shoot at a target. In the Red Team, the best shooters were Adam, Kéry and Hippolyte.
Abseiling
We all wore safety helmets and were attached to a harness. We climbed up inside the abseiling tower two at a time and abseiled back down. It looked scary watching the children descend backwards from the top of the high tower, but they were all keen to have a second go!
Challenge Course
Balancing on poles, scrambling over nets, swinging on ropes … The most agile members of the Green Team were Robin, Blanche and Camille.
Kayaking
One of our favourite activities. The sun was shining over the lake as we learned the capsize procedure and how to paddle our canoes, but we soon found out that the water was VERY cold when our instructors splashed us! Ambre and Lilla were very good at going round and round in circles. Noémie and Alexis kept paddling into the reeds and had to work out how to get themselves back out again.
High Ropes
Way up above the activity centre, we faced the ultimate challenge! We were strapped securely in harnesses but it was still nerve-wracking stepping out onto the platforms and making our way around the course. Maxime said it was the best thing he had ever done. We thought Romane was going to stay up there for ever, dangling over the tyres, but eventually Victoire gave her a push and got her going again. Even the children who were very nervous at first loved it and were thrilled with themselves for their achievements.
Problem Solving
The children worked together in their teams to solve problems. They had to arrange themselves on the bench in order of their birthdays, work out how to carry a ‘bomb’ with a pair of ropes and use sections of drainpipes to transport a ball down the hill. Good communication – in English – was essential!
Sensory Trail
Wearing blindfolds, the children had to rely on their senses – and each other – to make their way around a challenging course, with lots of obstacles below and above them to avoid. Tess looked terrified but was very proud of herself for completing the course.
Games
The children had lots of games and activities organised by our PGL Group Leader, Dom. Wednesday night was Cluedo night. They had to solve the mystery of the disappearing PGL manager, by tracking down and interviewing a chicken, a gorilla, a pirate and other suspicious characters. We joined forces with children from another school to practise our English.
Accommodation
We had a block all to ourselves, with rooms for 3-4 children. The children could colour in sections of the Winnie the Pooh door label for excellent behaviour and remembering to speak in English. They learned how to organise themselves, make sure they had the right equipment for the next activity and how to get along with each other. The competition for the tidiest room was fiercely fought!
