16 September 2011
The motto of the Bushcraft Company, who hosted us once again for this year's Year 6 trip, is 'Think outside!' The evidence at the end of this trip was that much thinking had definitely been done and we all, boys and staff, spent the whole time outside.
Having located our clearing in the Wychwood Forest, and having been introduced to the art of fire lighting, the various tribes - Inuit, Mohawks, Apache and Navajo - set to work gathering firewood of different size, matchstick, finger stick and wrist-sized. With camp fires blazing, a fine feast of trout, including the eyes, sweet potato and corn was cooked and polished off.
The afternoon was given over to team building games and shelter building, with about a third of the party opting for their bivouacs in preference to the relative luxury of a tepee. Another fine supper and camp fire entertainments were enjoyed, including a memorable solo number from Ruaidhri Taylor, before a long night of dorm feasts, midnight conversation and, yes, some sleeping, accompanied by the hooting of owls, completed the long day. The boys, suitably camouflaged and drenched by a sudden shower, were just about recognisable on return to school.
