b'At first arrival, we retrieved our luggage and Whitemoor Lakes made our way down a hall. We were then shown our groups and given a small tour of Whitemoor Lakesit was huge! We left for our first activity after lunch, which was team building. In team building, we screamed and ran for as far as we could and did lots of team 8th10th July 2024 activities.We had a break and moved on When we awoke on 9th July, weto our next activity, which for soon got dressed and headed to ourmy group was Gladiator. lodges common room. We waited until 08:30 which isThis involved completing an when we went for breakfast. The day was ram-packed withaerial obstacle course while exciting events including water activities, a campfire, and awe held the ropes to keep gathering to watch the European Championship Semi-Finals.the person safe. After that Read on to find out more. we had dinner followed by 09:00:After finishing our breakfast, which consisted ofthe campfire. In the campfire, sausage, egg, beans and hash brown, we went to our groupswe sang songs, played games first activity: Challenge Course. Themed on a military-styleand had a fun time. We then had training course, it was filled with a rope swing, cargo net, up- some free time where we could and-over wall, and a balance beam. After we had raced ourplay outside or inside. After free time, groupmates around the course, we played a game in whichwe went back to our rooms and got we had to get the 12 team members around the course whilstready forbed. We needed it after a standing on crates. We only got to the third obstacle; think youlong day!can do better? Filip Rusinowicz, 7W11:00:Following our 30-minute interval between activities, we lined up behind our activity post for Gladiator. When we had fastened our helmets and tightened our harnesses, we raced in pairs to climb up a vertical, swaying tower of ladders, cargo net and tyres that twisted and turned in the late morning breeze.13:00:Lunch was being served: pizza and chicken wings were on offer with options aplenty for any dietary requirement. We chatted with our year (and class) mates about what activities they had completed in the past hours.14:00-17:30:Between these hours we had two activities: raft building and nightline. Raft building came first. We had to create a raft which could float and carry 12 people on a lake. We did succeed; however, there were never 12 people on the raft all togetherWhitemoor Lakes was an amazing as the water was too enticing not to jump intoit was like a warm, yetopportunity to get out into the world and build dirty, bath after a winters day. Succeeding our half-hour break in whichyour friendships, with a whole host of activities such as we played pool, table-tennis, and/or foosball we went on a journeycanoeing, raft building, zip wiring, nightline and so many across the lawn of the centre to an assault course BLINDFOLDED. Theremore. The dorm system was amazing, as it gives you were many surprises awaiting us there, including a three-foot plunge intotime to see what it is like to be away from home with your a pool of water (intentionally placed there). However, considering this, itfriends with a whole room as a responsibility, in preparation was much like the challenge course earlier only, only darker. for other trips you may go on in your time at this school. It 19:00-20:00:Our evening activity occurred after dinner; it was agives you time to collaborate in teams with friends to build campfire. Other than the fact we were singing slightly embarrassingyour friendships to whole new heights, ready for Year 8.songs to fellow pupils, it was quite a pleasant experience. We alsoMaxi Skonka, 7Hhad to work out a riddle set by an instructor that had already left about when he travelled to Madagascar, an island off the coast of south-east Africa, and came across a market with an odd rule on how you can purchase your items. During Whitemoor Lakes, we did an activity called 20:00:No free time before the penultimate act of theraft building. In my group there were 11 people and day: Spain vs France in the semi-final of EURO2024.I liked all of them. All 11 people worked together There was no room for error as a place in the finalto create a raft made out of barrels, between England or the Netherlands awaited the winnerrope and wooden of this highly built-up game involving two titans of thepoles. The raft had international stage. France got off to a quickfire start as R.to float on a lake Kolo Muani headered in the opener from six yards out. Twowith all 11 people on amazing goals followed (the first from Lamine Yamal andit. There were two the second from Dani Olmo) as Spain came back toinstructors ensuring make the scoreline 1-2 in what would be the finalthat everybody was result. safe. The activity was 22:00-22:35:Between these times, I and thean amazing experience people I was sharing a dorm with all took showers.as whilst we were on Our maximum time was five minutes, so we had tothe raft, the instructors be quick. By 10:35 we were in bed and the lightsgave us challenges such were out, concluding our only full day at Whitemooras everybody stand up, Lakes, one which I will look back on very fondly. everybody swap seats etc.Harrison Hunter, 7A Nicholas Da Silva Xavier Woods, 7N44'