Great days at Hooke Court Dorset

We have just returned from Hooke Court – happy and tired 😊😌. The children were amazing and had so much fun. During the first evening we settled quickly, making our beds (which was interesting!! How do we get the duvet into the duvet cover!!) and then eating before being taken on a night walk. We visited an agricultural college in the depths of the forest, beautifully peaceful. We saw evidence of badger, fox and deer tracks, and even found the smallest of frogs.

We returned full of excitement, ready to bed down so us teachers thought!!! And looking forward to the following day.

Up bright and breezy – first pitter patter of steps was at 5.30 am 😳 and then showers before a team meeting in the common room. Here, we mapped the day out and then had breakfast. Shelter making was fun, we spoke about triangular based pyramids, prisms and ridge poles. We then proceeded to make a den that would fit us all in, before accustomising it and creating our own chants …. I’m sure we could be heard by the village if Hooke at this point. Kayaking was fab, I don’t think the children could have got wetter and only two fell in the lake! The crocodile game was the favourite 😀😀.

In the evening we had campfire fun, all I will say to that is, children have you asked your parents how they booga loo????

Our final morning on site gave us the opportunity to bridge a moat. The children had to problem solve in groups of 10 whilst their island was gradually getting smaller. They had to make a stucture that would support all of them when the tide had come in- some interesting thoughts and designs before at last, Dan our instructor, guided them through. After this they were taught how to make a slack line. Excellent tight ropes were made and used at this point. All these newly acquired skills then supported the children in making a bridge across the moat to save half their team!

A set of tired children climbed back on the coach with lots of memories to take with them.

Thank you Year 5, definitely a highlight of the  year 😀.

See Facebook or twitter for photos 😊