Adventure Week

March 12, 2020

During February Half Term week, seven students from across Beaumont College’s campuses took part in a week of Adventure Training activities. The group are all doing their Gold Level for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and this was their Residential section, to stay away from home in a new place, with new people and participate in some exciting, new activities. It was a great challenge for each of the group for various reason.

Pip, Jadhaan, Aaron, Natasha, Marcus, Harry and Liam are aged between 19 and 22 years old came together as part of the Gold DofE team from the Barrow, Carlisle and Lancaster College locations. They had not all met each other until they arrived at Calvert Trust and met with their Instructors Matt and James. The group had three days of activities including horse riding and horse care. Harry and Marcus were able to lay out an obstacle course for the horses to be led around. An afternoon of Bushcraft, where teams were sent off to collect twigs and sticks to make a camp fire. The team were then able to sit and cook their bread dough on sticks. There was a morning climbing up rope ladders and pulley hoists, requiring strength and guts as the students dangled higher and higher from the ground.

The staff at Calvert Trust were really impressed with all of Beaumont College’s students. Their ability and maturity in managing themselves away from home through this time. Mornings and evenings were relatively relaxed as students organised their meals and social times in the games rooms. Everyone enjoyed a chilled out swim in the pool with the sensory music and lights.

The week was full of fun and laughter. It allowed the team to gain trust in each other and learn how to help each other in challenging activities. They showed courage and commitment to their team. For some it was their first time away from home and for others they just got to be that bit more independent organising their own kit, activities and timetable. They also developed skills that will support them later this year on their Gold level Expeditions.

Students had spent several weeks preparing for this trip to structure their understanding of what they were going to do and how that would work for them individually and this successfully supported students who have difficulties with anxieties and change to routine.

It was really impressive to see students leading on the high ropes course and flying down the zip wire, encouraging the support staff to follow on. With a busy afternoon orienteering in Whinlatter Forest it did demonstrate the skills the group has already in navigation.

Many thanks go to the team at Calvert Trust who gave our group such a wonderful opportunity, the brilliant support staff that participated in the daring adventures and the Super Seven who gave up their Half Term holiday to learn and develop their own strengths and enjoy time with new friends. A truly wonderful team all round with exciting times ahead.

 

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