Barcaple Day #3: Oh no...is it done already?

After a fabulous evening spent under the stars and the warmth of the bonfire warming our hands and feet, it was always going to be a difficult task to set the tone for the final half day of our stay.

Yet by the time the bell rang at 8am for breakfast every one of our 51 children were sitting at their tables eagerly awaiting the official start of their day. This clearly was on the basis that they were so eager to complete their activities and had nothing to do with the fact they had been up from 7am that morning to ensure they had all been showered, packed and stripped their beds.

As was the case every morning of our stay, the hearty breakfasts were demolished and by 9am sharp all children were given their brief for the day.

Mrs Kay, Mr Murphy, Miss Currie and Mrs Brooks set about their duties ensuring everything was packed away and nothing was left behind before joining their teams for the final round of events. Before lunch at 12, and our 12:30 departure, the challenge was set for all children to have undertaken all activities; Zip Wire, Archery, Raft Building, Rope Trail, Abseiling, The Challenge and The Blind Trail by the end of their stay, this was duly achieved with all children at the very least attempting or attending each activity to 'have a go.'

Lunch was set out at 12 and before preparing to leave all children were commended for their excellent behaviour throughout their stay but also their willingness and determination to support and help one another through the tasks.

It really was heart warming to see our new P7 children take on leadership roles and help support one another. Just before boarding the bus for our long journey back to Glasgow,

the kind staff in Barcaple presented Olivia with a selection of cupcakes to mark her birthday. Renditions of 'Happy Birthday' were sung and Olivia, along with some of the staff were left a little overwhelmed by it all.

Overall, an absolutely fantastic experience for all involved. We hope as a school that the experience allows the children to further develop their skills for learning life and work while also helping to set the tone for the remainder of their final year here at Lourdes Primary School.

Barcaple Day #2: Knock knock on the door, it's Mrs Brooks and it's only 7:15am!

By 8am, 51 of our finest kids are showered, dressed and making their way down to the dining room for breakfast ready to begin Day 2 of their Barcaple adventure.

The menu consisted of a selection of cereals or toast, or if a warm breakfast was required to fuel your day then the sausages and spaghetti hoops appeared to fulfil our needs.

Before long the food was eaten, the group meetings finished and the children were on their way to their activities.

Another glorious day in the grounds allowed for some fabulous opportunities none more so than the kids down at the water or up at the abseiling wall.

A special mention must go to the kids who attempted to conquer their fear of heights at either the abseiling or zip line. Both would strike fear into any acrophobic adults yet the children did a stellar job in giving the activities a go at the very least.

Lunch was next on the agenda, home made rolls with a selection of fillings and a satisfying side of crisps cemented the smiles on all participants before the afternoon session.

If the smiles were anything to go by during the day session they proved to be nothing in comparison to what lit the sky in the evening.

A night set out beneath the stars, warmed by a supervised bonfire, was the choice of entertainment for the evening.

Mrs Brooks and Mrs Kay's surprise marshmallows were duly toasted and  along with the tasty treats the children entertained each other with performances and jokes.

An absolutely fantastic end to our first and last full day here at Barcaple that has most certainly left memories and built friendships that will last a lifetime.

Barcaple Day #1: Are We There Yet?

Have you ever had the pleasure of hearing that statement be echoed while on a journey? Once, maybe twice, perhaps? Try it repeatedly by 51 enthusiastic Primary 7 pupils, desperate to arrive at their destination for the next 3 days - Abernethy, Barcaple. 

Day one kicked off with a fun filled sing-a-long journey from Lourdes Primary to our destination just outside of Castle Douglas, some two hours from our city roots. 

In the blink of an eye, our children were welcomed, allocated rooms and gathered for their induction meeting. There enthusiasm on the bus being minuscule in comparison to hearing their groups and initial activities. 

Mrs Kay had the pleasure of assisting the Orange and Purple groups in the raft building activity that produced its very own version of Bear Grylls - 'Bear Girls Andrea', who was the fountain of knowledge for her team. 

For Mr Murphy and the Blue group, it was a trip to the zip wire, followed by a masterclass in archery which the girls duly triumphed in over the boys. 

Mrs Brooks was taking on the ultimate challenge helping her Yellow group to successfully negotiate their way through the obstacle course, while Miss Currie took her Red group to the abseiling where everybody successfully took part. 

After a hearty dinner of chicken and potatoes or macaroni cheese there were smiley faces all around as the warm chocolate brownies were served with ice cold vanilla ice cream. Delicious!

Some free time ensued before the children grouped together again for a meeting and a "Cops n' Robbers" torch game out in the woods. 

By the time night had fallen, the tuck shop had been emptied and the enthusiasm the children had shown earlier was replaced by sleepy eyes and yawns. 

It's a 7:30am wake up call tomorrow, lets see who manages to wake up on the first call.