A School Trip With A Difference
During the week of the 11th July 2009, 14 lucky San Andrea students had the time of their life while on a school trip with a very different theme to the norm. These particular students visited a Kingswood camp in Norfolk, UK and enjoyed a week packed with unusual activities.
Starting off at 5 o’clock in the morning on Saturday the 11th July was no easy task for the students, or their accompanying teachers, Alex Bonavia and Elaine Bajada. A further 9 hours of air and land travel were quite challenging, but, as the students put it that same evening, ‘worth the journey’. The setting at the Kingswood Overstrand Centre was ‘amazing’, with the student and teacher lodgings being based in an old hospital within massive grounds, all being situated within sight of the coast. The first thing the whole group did was to head down to the Overstrand beach for some leisurely games and activities.
The next day, after a very hearty breakfast (one of the many), the whole group enjoyed various activities, ranging from ‘orienteering’, where the children learnt mapping and decoding, to ‘outdoor laser’ (simulation of war games in the woods). Other activities during this day varied from climbing a 6m wall to ‘nightline’, where the children had to follow a rope blind-folded through a wooded area. Needless to say, both their teachers added on to the obstacles that had to be overcome. A few squeals and screams later, the children emerged muddied and smiling. An evening activity that balanced out the physical activity of the day was ‘scrap heap’, where the children had to put their heads together to design and build the best possible water-balloon-protector. To spice up the planning, they had to sing or dance if they required particular resources such as tape.
Monday the 13th proved to be one very exhausting day for the children, with the first activity being ‘Jacob’s Ladder’. This activity involved the children both physically and mentally, with them having to climb a 6m high ladder in pairs, always helping each other up. Aeroball followed, a game with the same concept of basketball, but played on a trampoline. Problem-solving activities, volleyball, quad-biking and circus-skills were also on the agenda that day. It was thoroughly packed.
Tuesday saw the whole group travelling to London, where a visit to the inspiring Science Museum and a ride on the London Eye were organized. Later, a short walk around the Westminster buildings allowed the group to admire some beautiful architecture.
On Wednesday morning, the children and their teachers woke up to a very challenging task, that of the Leap of Faith. This was an activity for the bravest and most daring, where a 6m pole (that wobbled like a toothpick) had to be climbed, only to be jumped off from at the very top onto a metal bar a distance away. Caving followed this activity, and, provided with miner’s helmets, the children enjoyed exploring the subsurface of this planet. A relaxing afternoon was of the order of the day, so the whole group took the half-hour walk on the cliffs to Cromer and enjoyed a dip in the cool refreshing sea. A new twist to a game of Frisbee was also discovered when the group, together with Spanish and French children, played Ultimate Frisbee.
Thursday saw the children showing their IT skills during a session of ‘I Venture’, this being followed by ‘Team Tech’ and Archery. The afternoon was relaxing, with the group being taken to Norwich, to visit the Castle Museum, and the shops. That evening, the children had a great opportunity to mingle with other cultures in the way they know best – a disco.
Friday was a very easy-going day, when compared to the rest of the week. Two sessions of ‘I Venture’, in which the children prepared their own photo edits, and a session of Field Games where then followed by ‘Fashionista’. Here the children had to use their creativity to design and produce their own fashion wear, using mainly coloured plastic bags, for various categories (including national design, sportswear, evening etc) and compete against other countries. Needless to say, the laughs and cheers were of the order of the day, especially during their red carpet moment together with other international students.
To end the week in true Kingswood style, on Saturday, before the group departed, a double session of ‘High Equilibrium’ was organized. This involved the children (as well as their teachers) climbing a 6m pole in pairs then balancing on a horizontal wooden beam at the top – a seesaw with a difference!
The main aim behind this whole trip was ‘learning through fun’. The students had the opportunity to try a variety of unusual activities which mainly targeted both personal and also group skills. Activities such as ‘Leap of Faith’ and ‘Climbing’ nurtured mainly the importance of believing in yourself and trusting other people. Other activities such as ‘Team Tech’, ‘Jacob’s Ladder’, ‘Scrap Heap’ and many others, urged each and every student to develop their own group skills. To complete all this, they also had the luxury of being able to mix with other international students of their age and enjoy the fun altogether.
Towards the end of the week, we gathered all the students together and asked them one important thing which they learned throughout the week. For us teachers, two very important points were ‘perseverance’- the importance of never giving up in what you are doing but always try to push your limits as far as possible, and ‘patience’ – with each other as a group but also with those around us.
In return, the students came up with the following important points which they learnt throughout this week: team work, need help, determination, trust, unity, understanding, collaboration, cooperation, support, communication, respect, education, obedience and organisation. Undoubtedly, all of these factors are important when it comes to group dynamics. As accompanying teachers we feel that all the students managed to show good group skills in most cases, and therefore we are very satisfied with the outcome.
It is also very important to note that our group was highly praised by all the staff at the Kingswood centre for the high level of education and politeness shown. As accomapnying teachers, we also would like to show our gratitude towards the students since they were extremely responsible and mature throughout the whole stay.
Alex Bonavia
Elaine Bajada