Nether Edge’s Thornbridge Experience
Nether Edge have just been on a 3 day residential to Thornbridge and the experience was great for the children. They arrived with some nervous Y3/4 children who had never been away from home. They all put their luggage in the Yurt and started their activities, once they had started the children soon started feeling comfortable and had the biggest smiles on their faces.
After completing the Thornbridge Challenge, team building, and some den building activities the children were really tired out and ready/excited to see their rooms. They went to their rooms and their first task was for the children to put their bedding on, which was a first experience for most of the 46 children there. They really struggled but after a while their beds were ready. We settled down to have tea and the children helped set out the dinner plates and cutlery, then after dinner they washed and dried up. All the children enjoyed relaxing in the lounge and socialising with each other and getting settled for bed, after a day of activities. The experience of sharing a room with their friends was so exciting and all they wanted to do was to chill out in their rooms.
On the second day the children started the day by setting out the breakfast plates and cutlery, and after breakfast they made their own lunch. This was challenging for some children as they had never learnt how to butter bread, but all of these skills were life skills that they gained from the Thornbridge experience. After the children completed their lunches, they headed out to start the Low Ropes activity which the children absolutely loved. They worked incredibly well as a team, and communicated really well too. The children then participated in an indoor climbing activity, which the children thought was fantastic, and they thoroughly enjoyed the experience. After a lovely lunch in the sunshine they headed off for a walk down the Monsel Trail. All of the children were really excited about walking through fields, and getting so close to the animals.
On the final day after stripping the beds and making sure the children had cleaned their rooms and made their dinners, they all we enjoyed building dens for their rock friends, and they enjoyed playing on the field. The experience for the children was phenomenal. For the teachers, it let them see a side of the children they don’t always get to see at school, it allowed them to see some great leadership skills and brilliant team work from all the children. Rachel Mowat stated “I believe the children now have more confidence within themselves, and have defiantly become more independent. It has defiantly been an experience of a lifetime for these children!”
If you are interested in sending a group to Thornbridge, or would like to know more about what Thornbridge could offer your school, contact your SSCo.