THURSDAY 25th MAY 2023
Today was characterised by leaping, jumping, dangling, shuffling, building, cooking and walking, lots and lots of walking!
Day 2 saw Group 1 with Chloe, Poppy, Hannah, Jacob, Alex and Callum build shelters as part of the bushcraft challenge, then complete the Air Jump and the assault course in the afternoon. Group 3 with Amelia, Summer, Martha, Charlotte, Melissa and Sophia did the same activities but the other way around. The buzz in the dining room this evening was about the excitement of the Air Jump. This involves climbing up a wooden tower to a platform about 4 metres off the ground, then leaping onto an enormous bag of air. The airbag itself is about 3 metres tall – so big it wouldn’t fit inside the classroom – so the first jump isn’t too challenging. But getting the technique right is key to moving up the levels; the children have to throw their legs out first then fall onto their backs with their arms held across their chests. Once they have mastered this, they’re allowed to go up to the next level, which is when things start to get really interesting. All of our children achieved the 5 metre leap, many overcoming their nerves to do so. Some of our children even progressed to the 7 metre leap – which feels like an enormously high platform to throw yourself off. Two of our children – Charlotte and Summer – made it to the very top – an 8 metre high platform – and, cheered on by the rest of the group, completed the Air Jump challenge. Charlotte said she just loves the feeling of falling and the smile on her face told the story. Well done all!
Hannah said her favourite activity was the bushcraft: her shelter was almost completely waterproof and she cooking on a fire she had made herself. As part of the course, the children learn about things they can do to survive in the wild, and some of the dangers they would encounter. They learn about the Rule of Three: we can survive without food for three weeks, without water for three days, without shelter in extreme conditions for three hours and without oxygen for three minutes. Well, if they ever get caught out in a forest, they’ll now know how to build themselves a pretty sturdy lean-to.
Meanwhile, Group 2, with William, Liam, Oliver, Scott, Arieanna and Betsy were getting stuck into the Tree Top Trail (or the Chree Chrop Chrail as most children have been calling it). This involves first learning how to manage the clever harnesses which ensure the children are attached at all times either to a cable or to a rope with a ring key on, then setting out on the trail. There are actually lots of different routes and the children, once attached, have lots of autonomy about where to go and which route to follow. This isn’t for everyone as it involves heights and wobbly bridges and cables strung between tall trees, but even the starter level offered a big degree of challenge, and the children had to work in pairs to cross two high wooden bridges and stay balanced on each step as they did. Some stopped at this point, but many continued. Sensibly, Betsy, William, Liam and Oliver chose to follow the lower course. Fearlessly, Arieanna set out with her new friends to tackle the higher ropes. These included a series of hoops called ‘the rib cage,’ wobbly beams, a cable with dangly buoys blocking the way and other dangerous-looking challenges. With gung-ho enthusiasm, she completed it twice. Meanwhile, the others made their way to the end and then went back for more. Most impressively, Oliver, who had made a slower start, decided he no longer had a fear of heights and set out on the higher course. I followed after him with my legs shaking and my heart in my mouth but he had no need of me and moved his way steadily from challenge to challenge and completed the course.
This evening, as the children were playing Mad Hatters, the Room Inspectors went around. The standard was definitely ‘mixed’ this year, with Fressingfield children achieving a second-place finish in the girls’ category (well done Poppy, Martha, Hannah, Melissa, Charlotte and Chloe), and also two last place finishes in both the boys’ and the girls’ categories. Oh well. They might not be the tidiest this year, but their achievements have come in other areas.
Lights out, which last night seemed exciting for some and worrying for others, couldn’t come quickly enough for some of our children this evening – it’s been a long, exhausting but very rewarding day.
Well done Year 6!
