On 1st March 2010 60 students and 5 members of staff from Aireville School set off to the Outward Bound Centre at Ullswater in the Lake District. We were heading off for a one-week residential visit that would be full of adventure and excitement.
When we arrived the students were allocated to a group and a dormitory. Students were generally separated from friends so that they could meet new people and work as a team with people from different year groups.
A typical day at Outward Bound consists of a range of activities, many of which were new experiences for our students. Adventures such as climbing, canoeing, raft building, ‘jog and dip’, night paddling and night walking by a waterfall were embraced by our students. These activities were challenging and at times very hard work.
For one night in the week students stayed under canvas, halfway up a mountain. After the climb up the mountain they set up camp and prepared their own evening meal. The night was rounded off with a walk up to the summit and an early night to bed in temperatures of -5°C.
The week was generously supported by Skipton Building Society who funded 75% of the visit and we are very grateful to the Society for their financial support.
The whole week really put our students and staff to the test. It is now hoped that these students will be able to put into practice the new leadership skills that they acquired on their adventures!!
