Abseiling, falconry and initiative games were on the curriculum for Year 7 girls last week when they spent an exciting few days at the Pioneer Centre in Shropshire. Getting to know one another and learning to work as a team after just two weeks in school were the main aims of the trip, but having three days of fun will be the lasting memory for everyone.

After a brief tour of the beautiful site and an obligatory fire drill the action began with a wide range of ice-breaking games. Food at the Pioneer Centre is good and plentiful, and with so much fresh air and exercise everyone had worked up an appetite. As always, the staff were impressed by the range of fashion and dancing expertise shown at the disco later on that first evening.

Jasper the Owl won a few hearts in the falconry session and caused a few gasps as he skimmed over our heads without a sound, while the girls who volunteered to be rabbit runners were no match for the speed and sharp eye-sight of the hawks! We also learnt a great deal about the history of falconry and how expressions such as cadging a lift and pecking order entered the English language.

Meanwhile other girls were trying to work out how to safely remove a ‘bomb’ before it ‘exploded’, using only a rope and their ideas, or how to negotiate the obstacles of the challenge course as a team, with the added difficulty of having to balance on crates so as not to touch the ground.

Abseiling and climbing are always popular and helped many girls to overcome their fear of heights.

Teachers were put to the test, too. They had to negotiate an inflatable assault course before attempting to eat a banana one-handed in a race. They also played charades at the campfire, where we learned a variety of new songs. Everyone had the opportunity to try all the activities; even the cuddly toys enjoyed their own Teddy Bear competition.

Time passed all too quickly and after a treasure hunt on the final morning and a prize-giving ceremony where everyone’s achievements were celebrated we set off for home.

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