Morning!

It's 7.15 and the children are just beginning to rise - we can hear 'thunder' downstairs as they get themselves ready in their rooms. They had a great night! All children were asleep by 11pm and have slept through, despite some thunder and rain!

Breakfast is at 8 and then we are off caving, climbing or canoeing! A fun day is in store.

WOW! What an exciting day we have had!  

After breakfast which included cereal, toast and yoghurt, we had a quick play outside before getting ready to go out on our adventures!

Group 1, with Miss Carter, went out on the river canoeing. 'In the children's words: 'we started with putting the canoes together to make it more stable and then played a pirate game'. The day ended with 10 minutes literally 'splashing about in the river'.

One of the children said 'it was the best experience that he had ever had,' and another one commented on all the nature that they experienced.

Group 2 were with Mrs Brand and they went out rock climbing and hiking. 

'Rock climbing was fun....we started playing a ninja game and had to spot each other and make sure we weren't making a noise.'

The afternoon involved a walk to a castle. After some initial reservations about the 'point of going on a walk just to see bushes and stuff,' the children began appreciating everything they could see and experience from the natural world.

One of our self-confessed football addicts said that he had really appreciated the nature walk and it was one of his gratitudes for the day. However, for the majority of children their gratitude was the fact they got to roll down the hill in the 'sheep poo'.....rest assured no one actually rolled in the poo!

Groups 3 and 4, meanwhile, went off caving with Mrs Gill and Miss Spooner respectively. This involved lots of ducking and diving, learning about limestone and stalactites and various challenges as the children squeezed themselves into various spaces including the 'cheese squeeze', 'letterbox' and 'toilet'.

All of our children have made us proud today. They have all shown resilience, for some it involved climbing up steep hills and others squeezing themselves into what looked like at first glance impossible spaces. They have shown determination with many overcoming their initial reluctance. Throughout it all they have worked together - encouraging each other, helping each other and keeping an eye out for their friends. Miss Spooner was very grateful for the various children that assisted her through the caves.

Since we have been home, we have all had showers and then some free time outside playing.

Dinner tonight was leek and potato soup, shepherd's pie and chocolate cake and custard. Many have tried foods that they did not think they liked and we are making sure all our children have had enough to eat - there is fruit available at all times.

If the orienteering goes well later, they should get back in time for some tuck before their bedtime story.