Is it really Thursday already?

Today was another bright day in the Cairngorms. Lots of activities going on with groups going hillwalking, gorge walking, snowboarding, climbing, archery, cycling and orienteering! What a week of fun and adventure we are having!

Jenny West shot a bullseye at Archery, Thomas Phillips won the Archery competition with the highest score!

Group Six were climbing with their instructor, Kevin, this morning. Jason, Fergus P and Ms Gallagher had fun on the climbing wall. Maddy K, Ellen, Moses, Jamie S, Anna S and Clare were outstanding on the Tree Climb.

Mud, Mud and More Mud

Group 10 cycled this afternoon with Ms Christie and Rafael. He was so impressed by them that he gave them a difficult route and they didn't let him down. Amy Yoo kept falling but kept getting back on again. Mrs Christie thought she was excellent. Tom kept remarking on the spectacular scenery. Sophi, Rose, Amy Y, Mhairi, Daniel, Tom, Lachlan, Oshioke and Santiago also got covered in mud but had a fantastic time.

Group 5 abseiled and climbed with their instructor Martin and Ms Gallagher. Cara, Hannah and Maddy B were confident climbers. Erin, Martin and Jamie Stark overcame their fear of heights and Rishi, Gaius and Kartik also enjoyed the challenge of climbing up and abseiling down a steep, slippery rockface. Great team work and great company.

Group one braved the cold and headed out into the forrest trails on the moutain bikes this morning. Helen had a very wobbly start after stating she couldn't cycle, but had a great morning, negotiating the tracks, trails, trees and bushes with ease by the end. Anna G had the smallest bike ever, reminding us all the time that she only had one gear, but did fantastically well, keeping up with the whole group and even leading from the front at times. Edie, Alice and Sean also took on the roll as leader for a while, ensuring the group were all ok and staying together, with Edie sharing her "staying warm" song, to help everyone along the way, which Andoni took to heart and sang the whole way. After cycling for about 6km, we arrived at a Drakes Bothy, where we had our snack and a chat, before heading back to the centre as the fog and mist descended. All was going well, with Anna G leading and Caitlin and Helen making sure no one got lost at the back, until Billy and Ben collided and got tangled up with each other, some bracken and the bikes in a ditch. No one was injured and it made the rest of the group giggle! A really nice morning, with a really nice group, good times.

Holly, Anis, Lily, Amy M, Harris, Fergus, Thomas, Jacob and Louis had a great morning canoeing on Loch Insch with Sally and Mr McKenna. Although it was very chilly and there were a few runny noses, everyone had a great morning, taking in the spectacular scenery and even getting to see the Osprey nests found on the bird sanctuary in the middle of the Loch. Everyone did very well, developing their paddling skills, although some did better than others, with Lewis, Harry and Amy M frequently finding themselves wrestling with the reeds at the edge! Thomas and Fergus were very pleased with themselves, mastering the different paddle strokes the best out of the group and leading the way with Sally most of the time. One of the highlights of the morning was getting to slide down the banking in their water proofs like a huge water slide, before getting back into the canoes and heading back to camp in time for lunch.

Mr Hewitt, Rob and Group 2, which consists of Sara, Amy G, Lorna H, Rosie, Tara, Lorna W, Rohan, Saquib and Phillipp, had a lovely morning out on the moutain bikes, navigating the local tracks. Everyone had a great time, including Saquib, despite his tumble into the heather half way through. After about 1 1/2 hour cyclying tough tracks and trails, they stopped for a drink, a snack and took in the views and local surroundings, appreciating how different it is from Edinburgh. They continued on for another few hours before heading back to camp for lunch and preparation for skiing this afternoon with Gael.

Abseiling and Climbing

GROUP 5 abseiled and climbed with their instructor Martin and Ms Gallagher. Cara, Hannah and Maddy B were confident climbers. Erin, Martin and Jamie Stark overcame their fear of heights and Rishi, Gauis, Kartik also enjoyed the challenge of climbing up and abseiling down a steep, slippery rockface. Great team work and great company.

In the afternoon one group did some archery with Mr McKenna. Kai was a consistent shot and scored really highly, well done! Mr McKenna, of course, shot a bullseye!

Jenny, Katy M, Isla, Katie C, Macjec, Navid, Callum L, Ben J, Callum H, and Phillipp worked well as a team and had a fabulous time. on the gorge walk with Nick and Ms Gallagher.

The sun shone and the views were spectacular as we guddled in the clear water. The two Katies' were so excited and joyful as they clambered through the winter falls. Phillipp was keen to get soaking wet and Jenny thoroughly enjoyed the water slides.

Jason, Jamie S, Anna S, Moses, Fergus, Clare B, Maddy, Jessica, Ellen, instructor Kevin and Gael had a great day out on the hills. They got the bus up to the Cairngorm ski centre, passing a herd of Reindeer on the way, and then walked the rest of the way through the resort to the summit at 1250m. They stopped half way for lunch, after a huge last effort up a steep hill by Fergus, Maddy, Clare B and Ellen. Soggy pieces were on the menu before a short snow ball fight insued, initiated by Jamie and Moses, and avoided by the girls, before everyone descended into the mist, fog and thick snow to get to the top. The descent was much more fun, with a lot of sliding on bottoms but Jason was nursing some sore feet, but soldiered on and got there in the end. A great time was had by all and it was topped off with a visit to the shop before getting on the bus to come home! Well done troupers!

Some First Day Activities-lots more to come!

Also on Loch Insh was a band of canoeists, led by Mrs Christie (and an experienced instructor of course!). This group consisted of Caitlin Hayes, Abbie, Mia, Will, Cameron, Lewis, Sam, Mattie and Matthew Walker. They were out in Canadian canoes and had to master a different style of paddling. Although it was cold they made it out to the island and had lots of fun.

After a hearty breakfast we set off for morning activities. Mrs Brown went kayaking at Loch Insh with Daisy, Leona, Captiva, Rebecca, Duncan, Vanya, Bhuvan, Callum Eastwood and Wenbo. They all had a go and only Duncan went for a swim but he bravely got right back into his kayak and carried on. Mr Hewitt went for a tree climb with Jenny, Katie Martin, Isla, Katie Campbell, Macjei, Navid, Callum Lennie, Ben Jackson Hamilton, Callum Harper and Philip Gentz. They all had to work hard and co-operate to reach the top. Both Callum's made it easily to the tree top.
Mr McKenna went for a off road cycle with Mairi Thiam, Rosa, Lauren, Natasha, Elena, Kai, Jordy, James Haley and John. The went up hill and down dale, through the puddles and mud! Against a stunning backdrop of the Cairngorms. John, Jordy and Billy were great and were skilled cyclists.