Cranedale Activity Week 2015

In July, 24 boys in Year 6-8 and three members of staff spent a week at the Cranedale Centre, a field centre situated in the village of Kirby Grindalythe on the northern edge of the Yorkshire Wolds, a few miles south east of Malton. This year the Centre ran a new game for all similar to ‘Survival’ called ‘Predator’ alongside others like High Rise, Wild Woosey and Livewire designed to test teamwork and develop mental strategies. There was also a trip near Flamborough Head to visit the lighthouse and scour the rock pools for crabs.

The weather was reasonable, considering all the rain during much of the rest of the summer and the boys threw themselves enthusiastically into all the challenges. These included mountain biking in Dalby Forest for everyone, beck scrambling (year 8) or kayaking (Year 6 and 7 only) on the River Esk, and also coasteering (Year 8 only). Many thanks to Keith Mitchelmore and his wonderful staff at the Centre and a big thank you to Mr Drax, Mrs Weir and Mr Hallam for giving up a week of their holiday to enable the trip to take place. We say farewell to Mrs McConnell and Mrs Adcock who have been ‘cranedaling’ for a combined total of over fifty years. Miss Jackson also popped in for a day before heading off to an international school in Vietnam and we wish her well.

Congratulations are due to Jacob B (Y6) Henry S (Y7) and joint winners Anish D and Reese W (Y8), who so impressed the staff with their determination, help to others, willingness to act as part of a team and general attitude all week that they were jointly awarded the “Cranedale Shield”.