Year Six’s indomitable team spirit shines at Old Chapel

As part of the end of year festivities, Year Six pupils travelled to the Old Chapel outside Crickhowell for their two-night residential and water-sports adventures.

On arrival, we quickly pitched tents and headed off to Dolygaer water-sports centre for our lunch and the gorge-walking activity. In stunning surroundings, the children navigated waterfalls and plunge pools, pushing themselves and supporting others to step out of their comfort zones. After hot showers, we couldn’t wait to get back to the campsite and cook noodles and hotdogs on the Trangia stoves. Mr Butt and Saffy joined us for tea and campfire s’mores until our beds beckoned.

After a hearty breakfast of cereal and bacon baps, we headed back to Dolygaer for a day on the water. The children explored the reservoir on canoes and had great fun playing team games and leaping and sliding off a giant SUP. Famished once again, we returned to camp to find that Mr Redman had delivered delicious portions of fish and chips and pizzas, which were devoured instantly. Mrs Atkins then held a campfire quiz, which entertained the children until they could not stay awake any longer.

Our final day was filled with activities at the Old Chapel. Mr Redman taught the children many bushcraft skills in the woods, from traversing a slack line to building chairs from sticks. Mrs Redman got her fire bowls out to make five-minute fires, using fire steels to create sparks. With the children’s help, Mrs Rawnsley prepared chocolate orange brownies and baked bananas, which they cooked later on the fire and ate with lashings of squirty cream. Most importantly, the children had time to play in the stream: an activity which they had loved doing all those years ago in Year Two and which they were desperate to do once more. The Old Chapel certainly holds a fond place in their hearts and we hope many will return again as part of such things as their Geography fieldtrips and Duke of Edinburgh’s Award expeditions at ‘Big King’s’.

Over the three days, the children have impressed us with their resilience and their indomitable team spirit, which has shone through during their entire time at King’s Hawford. They are a very special year group and one which will be greatly missed.