Photos will be uploaded in the morning at breakfast time!
That is the end of day three and everyone is beginning to feel tired! But the staff are still raring to go….no…they are tired too! But, we have had another successful day today…nice weather….good food….good friends working together and great activities.
The children needed to be woken again in the morning and the morning started off cloudy and quite chilly. It was not as nice as it had been but as the day went on the weather just got better and better again.
So….up early…down for breakfast……packed lunched made….and back up to the accommodation to get ready for the day ahead. Mrs MacDonald from Longside was leaving today and Mr Imlah was coming up to do the last two days. We hope that Mrs Mac enjoyed her two days with us and she was a great help as one of our leaders.
So…..two groups were kayaking and two groups were Canadian canoeing in the morning with the last group going mountain biking.
The kayaking area was very busy and after getting the lifejackets, helmets and paddles they were off to be shown all the different ways of using the paddles to help them when they were in the water. Then they were put into kayaks on their own or in a pair if they preferred. Once on the water they spent a bit of time getting used to the kayak and trying some of the different techniques they had been shown. Before long the groups set off on their adventure on the loch. Some of the groups went up the loch against the current knowing they would get to come back down with the current while another group headed across the loch and went round the island at the far side where the ospreys have their nest. All in all they certainly covered a fair distance on the water and they all came back excited about their journey. They were quite wet and both the morning group and afternoon groups were keen to make it back up to their rooms to get changed and dried!
The Canadian Canoeists went out on ‘rafted canoes’ – meaning that two canoes were joined together to create a super steady canoe which would not be able to be tipped over. This allowed Henry to go out on the water, with his plaster covered in two plastic bags which were taped up and join in the fun. The groups had a great time and they too covered a lot of the loch in their journey. It was almost perfect conditions for kayaking and canoeing today.
The other group were off biking and again they had a great time. Some found the going a little bit difficult and did a shorter route and one didn’t feel too great so Mr Jenkins took him back to the base and then went out to re-join the group….only to take a right at one point where they had taken a left and so ended up away on his own and had an extended run to get back to the centre – but still before the rest of the group.
After another picnic lunch outdoors they were ready for the afternoon. More biking, kayaking and problem solving for the five groups. The two cycling groups split into two mixed groups and set off out on the road. Again Mr Jenkins ended up having to take one back who had pulled a muscle..but as he found it hard to walk the long distance back to the centre we phoned for someone to come and collect him and drive him back. So again Mr Jenkins was left to make his own way back to base!
However, all was well and everyone from all the groups made it back safe and sound in time for tea! Thursday tea is always BBQ night! They cooked the food in the kitchen but we ate down on the beach and enjoyed the sunshine and Alfie the dog and the cutest puppy which caused a big distraction to them eating their tea! They had burgers in a bun, chicken, backed potatoes and salad as well as soup to start and a choc ice to finish. Then before the evening activity we went to the big play area to let them let off some steam and those who had not made it to the shop got a chance to spend their pocket money!
Then it was time for the ‘wide game’ or ‘capture the flag’! The kids love it…..most of the staff love it…..and one spends 90 minutes watching them run, jump and dodge eachother as they run through the forest trying to capture the enemy ‘tails’ and their ‘flag’ to win the game! However a great time was had by all and they all joined in very competitively!
After this we gate crashed the disco the other school was having and then they were shown the video that had been made by the staff over the week! It had captured the week perfectly and showed some of the highlights of what has been a great week!
So….after a later than normal bedtime we have to look forward to the last morning before we travel back home tomorrow. We will be up early, have breakfast and then have to be packed and tidied and ready to leave for home BEFORE we do the morning activity at 9.30. This will be a stressful morning ensuring that everyone is packed, all the clothes from the drying room are claimed and the rooms are left tidy!
In the morning two groups are canoeing, two are doing archery and one group is sailing. Let’s hope for a dry activity before we have to get everyone on to the bus for coming home!
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