Year 6 Bushcraft Trip

Transcription

1 Letter to parents of boys in Year 5 Dear Parents, Friday 25 April, 2014 Year 6 Bushcraft Trip As you are no doubt aware, part of the Year 6 programme at Abingdon Prep involves a Bushcraft Trip to Cornbury Park near Charlbury, Oxfordshire, which incorporates a night s stay in tents or hand-made shelters. For your son s cohort, this trip has been planned for Friday 19 and 20 September 2014, with the boys leaving school at on the Friday and returning to school by on the Saturday. I have attached below a detailed itinerary for the programme, including a kit list. Please could you give consent for your son to attend the trip by printing off, completing and returning the booking and consent form at the end of this mailing. The cost of the trip will be This cost will be added to your bill, unless you enclose a cheque with your consent form. In the meantime, should you have any further questions, or require more information, please contact me (robert.shaw@abingdonprep.org.uk) or visit the Bushcraft website at A representative from The Bushcraft Company will be speaking to the boys in a special assembly on Tuesday 13 May at in the Hall. Parents are invited to attend if they wish to find out more information. Yours sincerely, Robert Shaw Trip Leader

2 abingdon preparatory school YEAR 6 19th of September 2014 for a 24 Hour Residential Bushcraft Course

3 THE WOODS This course is a fantastic opportunity for students to be introduced to the natural world, immersing them in a new and unfamiliar environment where they will have the chance to explore new areas of learning and develop new skills. With strong links to the National Curriculum, this course is designed to extend the boundaries of the classroom and allows the children to learn within a dynamic setting. Whether the students are learning how to light fires using flint and steel, or trawling the forest for exciting plants and trees, our emphasis is on creative thinking, encouraging curiosity about the world around them and allowing them to express themselves freely. The students will be split into tribes of between 10 and 15 students, and each tribe will work together to complete each task, promoting teamwork and engendering positive relationships amongst them. At the end of the course, the students will return to the classroom excited by what they have achieved, and ready to approach learning with new energy.

4 ITINERARY - please note that this is a provisional programme and the actual activities and/or their order may be different on delivery Day ONE Day TWO 10:00 Arrive 08:00 Breakfast Fire Workshop The students will learn about the basic principles of fire and the fire triangle, and be shown some of the ways we can make fire. They will then collect firewood in their tribes and light their fires using flint and steel. Wilderness Cookery We will show the students how to manage a fire safely and responsibly and how to cook a simple, delicious meal of fresh trout, corn on the cob and roast bananas, over the fire they have built. DIscussion Group Leave No Trace The students will learn the importance of leaving their environment as they found it, and understand the impacts human activity can have on the natural landscape. 10:00 Depart 13:00 Lunch Scavenger hunt Each tribe will be asked to explore the area around our camp and see if they can find a variety of items from the natural environment. Our instructors will then identify the items they gather and teach the students how to easily recognise different plants and trees. Wild Food Workshop The students will be taught why it is important to find food when we are in a remote setting, and how this has been achieved over the centuries. Our instructors will demonstrate the many different trapping methods, before each tribe designs and builds a small model of a trap. Field Games 19:00 Supper Hot chocolate and marshmallows Bed in bell tents

5 learning outcomes Students will learn: To conduct themselves safely in an unfamiliar environment To participate in group activities and work towards a shared goal To feel positive about their individual contribution to team efforts To recognise their own and others achievements To develop confidence in new surroundings To enjoy spending time out of doors and involved in new activities To think both practically and creatively about the world around them How to ensure that their presence in the woodland leaves minimum impact on the environment Citizenship: 1.b.c; 2.b.f; 3.b.e.g; 4.a.b; 5.a.b.c. PSHE: 1.b.c; 2.b.f; 3.b.e.g; 4.a.b; 5.a.b.c. Geography: 1.a; 5.a.b. PE: 4.d; 5.f; 11.a.b.c. Science: 2.5.a.b; 5.1.a; 5.2.b. national curriculum links

6 KIT LIST Below you can find our recommended kit list. We do stress that it is not necessary to go out and buy all new and expensive kit to come on our courses. So long as you have a sleeping bag and roll mat, torch, appropriate footwear and some warm clothes you will be fine, but just to be sure we have outlined the key items of kit below. Large rucksack (or alternative bag/suitcase) Warm sleeping bag (season 3) Sleeping bag liner (optional) Pillow (optional) Roll mat Tracksuit/hardwearing trousers x 2 T-shirts x 2 Warm jumper/fleece Waterproof jacket and trousers Warm socks x 2 Footwear - walking boots, old trainers Wellington boots Wash bag including toothbrush, toothpaste and face wipes Warm hat Gloves Whistle Water bottle Good torch with fresh batteries Insect repellant Alcohol Hand Gel

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