Year 8 Outdoor And Adventurous Residential Experience
The Calvert Trust Centre
Keswick - The Lake District
22-26 March 2004
Having to wait for our long distance pupils to arrive meant that we arrived a little later tahn usual at the centre, on the shores of Bassenthwaite.
After a welcome drink and a short time to get organised in our rooms, we went to the pool for a swim, canoe session and introduction to the sauna - all before tea. The evening meal had bearly settled when we set off on a whistle stop tour of the site and it's facilities. We were then kitted out for the challenges of the week before retiring for our fist good night's sleep.
Everyone awoke early the next day, enjoyed the full choice of breakfast options and the set off for a day of rock climbing and orieneering. We tackled the sloping crags at St Johns in the Vale, which stretches all of the group, returned to base for our packed lunch and then ventured north of the lake to Whinlatter for an orienteering challenge through the woods. The free evening was most welcome and several chose to take to their bed early to recharge batteries for the next day.
Wednesday was our water day and we spent the sun drenched morning in rafted Canadian canoes - racing up the lake; taking shelter and sustenance on the headland; collecting ducks and balls tossed to the elements from the rescue boat and eating our lunch in the sunshine by the boathouse.
A short walk away from the lake brought us to the Assault Course at Mirehouse. This is a series of fun challenges, set about a small stream, in beautiful surroundings. Having conquered all that lay before us, we walked back to the centre where we undertook a variety of abseils in the shelter of the Sports Hall. In the evening, as uf we hadn't done enough already, we had another swim and sauna session.
Thursday saw us based at the newly refurbished Riding Centre. The group being split into two: one half riding whilst the other tried their hands at archery in the Tithebarn. Both activities proved to be very enjoyable especially for those who where ticking off yet another first on their list of experiences. Later that day, we ventured into the picturesque town of Keswick for a touristy stroll and a little shopping. Thursday evening is traditionally disco time and everyone donned their glad rags and boogied on down - or something like that.
Friday, as ever, is a busy, bittersweet time. There's that last chance for a full cooked breakfast; bag-packing to be finished; rooms to be cleared and farewells to be passed on to all those who had helped us to have a really great week.
Special thanks go to Lou, our assigned instructor, Nick, Dave, Debs and several others who helped along the way and of course, Bruce the Chef and his kitchen crew who kept us well-prepared for the demands of the week. Finally our congratulations go to all of Year 8 for facing up to all the challenges and making the week happy and fulfilling.
Words / Photography : Brian McManus
