5. Adventure & Challenge Programme

The End? – October, 23, 2011

So the week is over, yet somehow it doesn’t feel like the end! During our time, so many experiences were had by everyone, it was the most amazing, truly inspirational week I have ever had the privilege of being part of!

I will keep every single moment, close to my heart and cherish everything I shared with the students and mentors!!

As part of our final presentation, we wrote a poem to describe our experience, here are the lines I wrote, which helps describe our journey;

Overcoming fears & gaining trust,

Working as a team was a must,

So proud of the progress made by our team,

We’ll never forget all that we’ve seen.

Young minds and hearts grown through our time,

Fond memories of OB will always be mine.

Leap of Faith! – October, 23, 2011

Since the first day of training, the Leap of Faith task stood out in my mind as I knew I wanted to do it, even though I knew I would be petrified! So when the opportunity finally came on Thursday, the nerves began to set in!

I was thankful to have time with my students in the morning doing other activities, while fellow Mentor Graham tackled the Leap of Faith with his team first, that way I had time to try and build up my confidence!!

When our time finally came, we walked up to the dreaded post where I had a chance to catch up with Graham. I was soooo pleased to hear that he had completed it even though he was worried about it too, and was even more pleased to see he had survived, (totally irrational – I know!!!)

During the morning some of the students and I had already agreed that if they jumped, then I would too, but as they each completed it one by one, my sickness and fear set in more and more and I had no idea how I was going to do it!! So my time came and my whole body was shaking and I felt even more sick, strapped in the harness my walk up the post began.

I tried so hard to contain myself, but halfway up the post I couldn’t help but stop to give me time to compose myself. As I was clinging to the post, all of the students were being so encouraging, I had to carry on and try to get to the top!! Once I finally reached it,  all I had to do was climb on top of the post, but fear had completely set in and I couldn’t move  a muscle, apart from my mouth of course – I screamed and shouted so loudly, I just couldn’t contain how scared I was!!

The students and instructor were so good, shouting that I could do it and giving me guidance on where to put my feet, I knew I couldn’t give up. It took every ounce of courage in my body to ignore how petrified I was, and step up onto the top. I then just had to jump and try to catch onto the trapeze!!

I can’t remember ever feeling sooooo vunerable but had to carry on, I took one finally breath and jumped – I managed to reach and cling onto the trapeze, but slipped pretty much straightaway and fell down into the safety of the harness!! Once I was brought down to the ground, I couldn’t believe that I done it – I overcame all of that fear and jumped!!

It took five minutes for me to get from the top to actually jumping (the longest five minutes of my life!!) -  It just goes to show that you can do anything you put your mind to!!! 

Team Building Actitivies – October, 23, 2011

Throughout the week, there was a number of opportunities for our students to bond and work together as a team. At the beginning, there was an obvious seperation with everyone staying close to the person that came from their own school, but by the end of the week, they all worked as one and really enjoyed eachother’s company.

The bond they had formed was evident through the encouragement and banter they shared together, a truly special bunch of unique individuals coming together to overcome their fears and complete each challenge given to them;

Hike and Camping Update Cont. - October, 23, 2011

Looking back, I am truly amazed at how all of the students made it through the hike. It was one of the most difficult things I had to do, let alone how difficult the students found it!!

It was the first full day our students were going to experience; they had only arrived the afternoon before and had been pretty much thrown in the deep end!

We started at 11am and didn’t get to camp until gone 6pm! Throughout the hike, there was a mixture of emotions, mainly negative ones, due to how heavy our bags were, how steep some of the hills and how long it was taking us to walk, but there were also some moments that were shared and created a great bond between them all!! Most of the students at some point wanted to give up and just couldn’t be bothered to walk any further, but we eventually made it to our camp!!!

It was so windy and cold when we arrived, but thankfully there was no rain in sight so we managed to get our tents up, water from the stream and stoves ready to cook with. After being fed and watered, some of the students went straight to bed, but some stayed up and took the opportunity to bond that bit more.

I also had the opportunity to take in the views and the moment, the stars in the sky were absolutely amazing and although I pretty much froze all night in the tent, I am so grateful for the experience!!!

Hike and Camping Update – October, 19, 2011

What an adventure!!! Feeling absolutely wrecked, but so proud of the students that are part of my group, considering how hard I found it, they all made it through the 14km hike and camping!!

Was a very long day but managed to get through it, even gave rock climbing a go – was so scary!!!

Am off again for some evening games now, so will go into more detail of our adventure as soon as I get another chance.

End of the First Day – October 17, 2011, 22:47

Have had such a great day, but feeling wrecked already!!! The students in my group have done really well to overcome the challenges they were faced with today, but the thought of us setting off at 10:30am tomorrow and hoping to get to base camp with all of our gear by 5pm will certainly push us all to our limits, especially when I think about having to put our tents up after such a long day of walking!!! Have no doubt we’ll get through it, but know it will be one of the most challenging things we’ll do this week!! Happy Days

Jog and Dip – October 17, 2011, 16:52

Something quite exhilarating jogging into the sea, even though it’s soooo freezing!!!! So proud of all my group going through with it!!!! Getting ourselves packed later for day of walking and camping tomorrow, will have to contend with wind, rain, hail and maybe some snow!!!

Students Arriving!! - October 17, 2011, 13:11

After a great morning of experiencing some of the team bonding activities with the mentors, we’re now all briefed and ready for the students and the week ahead!!! Some students have already arrived and the rest should be joining us soon, so proper excited now!!!!

Lots of team building activities this afternoon including ‘Jog and Dip’ later which should be very interesting, especially as I have had to borrow shorts from fellow mentor Barry, as I left my swimming costume at home!!!!!

 All Settled In!!!! – October 17, 2011, 08:53

Arrived yesterday evening, welcomed by the most gorgeous views!!! Had a great evening catching up with mentors and now with my belly full of a scrummy breakfast am waiting for the Mentor Morning to begin!!!!

YAY!!!! Today’s Finally Arrived!!!! – October 16, 2011, 09:18

Sooooooooo excited!!!!! Will be travelling to Aberdovey this afternoon to get settled in, meet with the other mentors and prepare for the week ahead!!! Have checked the weather and it looks like we’ll be joined by some rain on four out of the five days – Should be fun!!!