Personal Development Weekend

On a cold Saturday morning about thirty people and myself woke early to go and spend a weekend getting wet, cold and in some cases quite scared. We went to a place in Wales called the Conway Centre, which is about two hours away from Malpas.

On our arrival we were immediately divided into four groups with whom we would spend the rest of the day. The aim of the first day was to carry out numerous challenges in reward for points, which would then be carried forward to buy equipment for the end challenge, which was to build, and sail, a raft. The challenges included getting the whole team to the top of a fifteen-foot wall with no ropes or help, make the longest human chain without breaking until the final distance was recorded and other such physical and mental tasks.

The raft building was a good challenge which took a lot of planning before we got in the water as it was too late when you were sailing as some groups found out. Fortunately I managed to stay reasonably dry until we all decided to jump into icy cold water off a wall! That night we also went climbing on the indoor climbing wall. This was one of the easiest things that we did on the whole weekend but thoroughly enjoyable.

Sunday came and again it was another early start so we could get as much done as possible. There was a choice between Sea Level Traversing or Gorge Walking either way we were going to get wet so it was just a choice of which sounded the best. I chose to go sea level traversing. We had to climb up the side of rock faces avoiding the waves, which were crashing in and soaking the unfortunate participants. Because of the typical British weather we were restricted in what we could do but the best part for me was probably crawling from one cliff to another on a rope, with the sea below looking cold and rough.

Unfortunately this was all we could manage to do but it was great fun nevertheless. We managed to communicate and work with people who we would normally not do so it was a huge success.

Is this just some crazy English idea or do you do things like this where you are from? If so let me know…

Chris Bentley, Bishop Heber High School

benters_pup@hotmail.com