Peat Rigg Blog Day Two

Another glorious day, with the children waking up to sunshine and blue skies, began with cereal and a much needed cooked breakfast, which was heartedly consumed before the full itinerary of activities.

Splitting off into their groups they all got stuck into a variety events. For some it was building on yesterday’s team working skills and helping each other get as high as they could on ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, or getting to grips with carabineers as they climbed trees to reach the high wire platform before quickly getting back down to earth on the zip wire.

Calm nerves and a keen eye for the target was needed for those that took part in archery with many children getting the bull’s eye. For those completing the low ropes course, their skills of communication and support was tested as the children made their way around the tricky obstacles ensuring they helped their partners get round safely.

Bush craft skills were also learnt, such as whittling tent pegs from sticks, and finding kindling for making fires. They then developed their techniques with using ferrocerium rods (fire starters or flint and steel to others) to make a spark to start their own fires. Once the fires were made, it was time to do some food tasting, deer and duck was fried on the campfire, all washed down with some nettle tea. Miraculously, even a rare marshmallow bush was found and duly picked to toast on the fire.

This evening’s dinner was eaten outside, enjoying the warm weather with a BBQ. After this everyone went to do their final activity of the day, either exploring the surrounding area to complete an orienteering course, which for those who followed Mr Osborne’s map reading advice, took considerably longer than others; or getting a little wet on the night-line.

After another fantastic day of perseverance, team work and determination all the children have gone to bed knowing they have reached some personal goals and can fall asleep getting some much needed rest, feeling deservedly proud of their achievements.

See you tomorrow