August 18, 2014

Cranedale

In an action-packed week in July, 40 of our boys mountain-biked, orienteered, canoed, trekked over moors, climbed walls, scrambled down a beck, and sailed dinghies during their stay at the Cranedale Centre near Malton on the northern edge of the Yorkshire Wolds.

There were also a number of activities designed to test teamwork and problem-solving, such as ‘high rise’ where teams of four were given three long poles, three short poles, several lengths of rope and challenged to construct something on which they could all stand a foot off the ground for 30 seconds. In the final survival exercise – a tamer version of The Hunger Games – Miss Weir joined Mr Clark as a herbivore and tried to evade dozens of blood thirsty carnivores all out to get them.

The sun shone every day. Year 8 were invited to Cranedale for the first time and followed an exciting new programme which included ‘coasteering’ at Filey Brigg. Under the watchful eye of two specially trained firemen, the boys leapt into the sea wearing wetsuits, gloves, boots, lifejackets and helmets. They then waded or swam through the surf from reef to reef, having to cling to rocks waiting for that seventh monster wave.

Congratulations to Will Hodgson (Year 6) Ben Gibson (Year 7) and Charlie Shepherd-Elliott (Year 8) who were this year’s winners of the Cranedale Challenge Shield awarded for demonstrating qualities such as determination, help for others and teamwork.

Thanks to the Cranedale Centre team, to the activity providers and to the six members of staff who attended – Miss Adelaide, Miss Weir, Mr Caulfield, Mr Clark, Mr O’Dwyer and the trip leader, Mr Drax.