Camp Ready, Compass Steady

The final day before half-term marked the last of four Resi Ready sessions, with students rotating through Packing, Cooking, Navigation and First Aid. It was the grand finale of preparations for next week’s Residentials and another important step in year 10 students’ DofEIA journey, combining practical skills, teamwork and just the right amount of chaos.

In First Aid, Year 10 tackled the all-important question: “Call for help or First-Aid-Kit it?” While nobody volunteered to test the answers in real life, students left with a much better understanding of how to respond when things don’t quite go to plan.

Meanwhile, over in Navigation, students abandoned technology, leaving them to rely on ‘ancient artefacts’ such as paper maps, compasses, common sense and actual teaching. Remarkably, only three compasses were broken. At the time of writing, several students were still facing south, but we’re choosing to see that as progress rather than a problem.

The spirit of teamwork continued with tent pitching, where students discovered that putting up a tent is a bit like solving a giant fabric puzzle. There were plenty of smiles, a few debates about which pole belonged where, and a genuine sense of achievement when tents finally stood upright without immediate collapse.

Camp cooking brought its own adventures. Armed with camp stoves, teamwork and varying levels of culinary confidence, students learned that outdoor cooking is equal parts skill, patience and optimism. Against the odds, lunch was successfully produced and, even more impressively, enjoyed.

By the end of the day, students had sharpened skills in navigation, first aid, cooking, teamwork and resilience. It was occasionally chaotic, frequently entertaining and packed with learning. In other words, a fittingly memorable way to finish the half-term and, with Residentials just around the corner next week, proof that our students are ready for the adventure ahead.